(EMAILWIRE.COM, August 22, 2002 ) What is art, anyway? That is what award-winning actress Candice Bergen asks herself in this week's episode of "Candice Checks It Out," Oxygen's new half-hour weekly series in which host Candice Bergen takes to the streets to explore the latest trends and look into unfamiliar territory. Premiering Sunday, August 25, at 9:30 pm, "What is Art?" checks out the current art scene in the 21st century only to discover its not hanging on a museum wall.

The former "Murphy Brown" star visits three artists in the episode including street artist James De La Vega. De La Vega takes Ms. Bergen through the streets of Spanish Harlem to show her his murals, paintings and sidewalk writings, while explaining how he sees art as a unifying force in the neighborhood.

"I'm definitely one of the most important artists in New York today," says the former art teacher. "My stuff has a bigger audience than most of the paintings in the MET because it touches a lot of people's lives."

The Oxygen host also meets public space artist Tom Otterness in his studio and at New York City's Battery Park where his bronze sculptures are on display. Mr. Otterness intrigues Ms. Bergen as he explains how his cartoon-like structures, in parks, subways and other public areas, are designed to be commentaries on society.

Ms. Bergen talks with performance artist Karin Campbell while examining women's place in the current artistic landscape. One of the female artists featured in the famed Whitney Biennial, Ms. Campbell explains art also can be displayed on one's body - including eyelids. With eyes painted on her closed eyelids, Ms. Campbell sits in The Whitney and puts herself on display for the public to see, touch and speak with her - proving that any means of personal expression is art.

Linda Corradina serves as the executive producer for "Candice Checks It Out." The series' episodes repeat during the week on Oxygen on Mondays at 7 pm and Saturdays at 4 pm.

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Produced for Oxygen Media

Contact:

Christina Campanile
212-651-9305
ccampanile@oxygen.com

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