Two University of Southern Indiana alums, Jordan Barclay and Kevin Titzer, have been traveling to film festivals around the country and overseas this past year showing their documentary Sack Race With Knives: The Curious Art of Kevin Titzer to the world and racking up an impressive list of accolades along the way.
In 2018, alumnus Kevin Titzer, a 1997 graduate in studio art, created a unique installation on campus called Sack Race with Knives. The exhibit featured Titzer as the first-ever artist-in-residence, sponsored by the USI Art and Design Department. Titzer used the McCutchan/Pace Galleries to create Chapter 23: Sack Race with Knives, a large-scale installation made from reclaimed materials from the Evansville area. The creation of this installation took two weeks to complete.
Over five years, local photographer, videographer and fellow USI alumnus, Jordan Barclay, a 2005 graduate in photography, produced a 25-minute documentary about Titzer and the art installation. He received partial financial assistance from the USI Foundation to complete the documentary.
“Shortly after screening our film at the USI Performance Center in March 2024, we celebrated its film festival World Premiere in Atlanta. The past year has been a non-stop circuit of film festivals, averaging two per month—a challenging, overwhelming, yet a very fulfilling experience,” says Barclay.
Barclay is proud of the work that went into the documentary and the collaboration with local artists and USI faculty. Thomas Bernardin, a 2008 USI graduate; Katie Waters, Professor Emerita of Art at USI; and Lenny Dowhie, Professor Emeritus of Art at USI, were all involved in conducting the interviews, filming and editing the documentary.
“Kevin was self-directed and generally only needed some technical advice. His aesthetic was specific and consistent,” says David Huebner, Art Workshop Supervisor. “I recall he worked with a couple of others to organize an exhibition at Jennings Station in Newburgh called Medicine Show. It was a good show, and it was impressive that they took initiative to go out and make things happen!”
Barclay goes on to say, “The documentary is interwoven with the USI community: our editor, Thomas Bernardin, Kevin and I are all alumni, and most of those interviewed have ties as graduates or faculty. We were also grateful to feature the Pace McCutchan Gallery (at USI) prominently as a main location.”
With 22 Official Selections and seven wins, the short documentary has made a big splash at film festivals and will be available to the public to see this summer on WNIN.
WNIN will air an interview with Kevin Titzer and Dr. Del Doughty, Dean of USI’s College of Liberal Arts, this May. Catch the documentary and interview at 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 15, at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 17 and at 4 p.m. Monday, May 19.
Barclay is on the lookout for his next award-winning artist-focused documentary, but he’s in no hurry. “It needs to be the right idea and a good story. I’ve talked to some nationally known artists and asked them to think of me if they have a big project coming up,” says Barclay. “I’m still working on my photography business. I also make one short, documentary-style video for a local business each year. I just finished a video that will be released next week for the Franklin Street Bazaar farmers market that I shot last season. And this summer, I’ll finish a micro documentary for Montessori Academy.”
Achievements from film festivals include:
Atlanta Docufest (World Premiere): March 24, 2024
Winner – Best Director Documentary Short
Georgia Shorts: April 14, 2024
Official Selection
Benson Film Festival: April 27, 2024
Official Selection
Thin Line Fest: April 28, 2024
Best Emerging Filmmaker Nomination
Bare Bones International Film & Music Festival: May 4, 2024
Winner – Best Director Documentary
The Fine Arts Film Festival in Los Angeles, California: June 8, 2024
Winner – Best Short Documentary
Beyond The Curve International Film Festival in Paris, France: June 13, 2024
Winner – Best First Time Filmmaker
Flyover Film Festival: June 28, 2024
Official Selection
Indy Shorts International Film Festival (Oscar Qualifying festival): July 28, 2024
Official Selection
Madison Film Festival: August 24, 2024
Best Documentary Short Nominee
Victory International Film Festival: September 14, 2024
Winner – Best Documentary
Hobnobben Film Festival: October 5, 2024
Official Selection
Chagrin Falls Documentary Film Festival: October 5, 2024
Official Selection
Raleigh Film Festival: October 5, 2024
Official Selection
Louisville International Film Festival: October 12, 2024
Official Selection
Tourchfire Film Festival: October 17, 2024
Official Selection
Sky Arts Film Festival: October 18, 2024
Winner – Best Documentary Short
Tennessee International Indie Film Festival: November 16, 2024
Winner – Best Documentary Short
Los Angeles Cinefest: January 12, 2025
Official Selection
St Auggie Shorts Film Festival: February 7, 2025
Official Selection
DocUtah International Film Festival: February 28, 2025
Official Selection
Lake Michigan Film Festival: March 1, 2025
Official Selection
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