The filmmaker, and former Maclean’s film critic Brian D. Johnson discusses his new documentary The Colour of Ink, a fascinating look at ink, and Toronto inkmaker Jason Logan, with Joseph Planta.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.

Starting last week, the feature documentary The Colour of Ink has been opening in cities across the country. It opens April 7^th 2023 here in Vancouver at the VIFF Centre, and joining me now is its director and producer Brian D. Johnson. The film is a mesmerising and moving look at ink, and the visionary inkmaker Jason Logan, who harvests colours from the natural world: bark, flowers, rocks, rust, weeds, and berries, among other sources. He supplies ink to various artists, including Margaret Atwood, who appears in the film. Mr. Logan’s ink goes around the world too, including the Japanese artist Koji Kakinuma, and what we see in that relationship in particular, is how involved the inkmaker is in the process of creating art, even though he’s half the world away. It’s a compelling film, that makes us look at the outside world a little more reverently, and ponder ink and its uses, not just in the artistic, but the legal, the historical and even the mythical. The film reveals the humanity in life and art, through the artists and artisans featured therein. There were events this past weekend in Toronto featuring Mr. Logan, who I’ll ask Brian about, like what he was like to follow, and what his workspace was like, and how he goes about his work. I’ll also ask Brian about the impetus to make this film, and the travels he and/or his cameras made for it. Brian D. Johnson is a writer, filmmaker and cultural commentator. He is best known for his three decades at Maclean’s magazine, where he was film critic and senior arts writer. He remains a Contributing Editor there. He is the producer and director of the 2015 documentary Al Purdy Was Here. The website for more is at www.nfb.ca. The film is co-produced by Sphinx Productions and the National Film Board of Canada. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Brian Johnson; Mr. Johnson, good morning.

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