What happens when a visionary French artist meets the creative spirit of a former Tobacco Road town in the midst of downtown revitalization? A singular grassroots arts project emerges that confounds expectations and takes the city of Durham, North Carolina by storm as buildings from a past incarnation of the city are transformed into temporary canvases for dramatic public art.

BENDING SPACE: GEORGES ROUSSE AND THE DURHAM PROJECT captures the genius of French photographer and installation artist Georges Rousse and follows the artist and hundreds of volunteers during a September 2006 public art event in Durham, North Caroliona.

The film reveals the mind bending process of creating Rousse’s signature illusions of color and shape that ultimately become stunning large format color photographs exhibited in galleries, museums, and homes around the world. The film bears witness to the energy that is unleashed when a remarkable photographer and an art-loving community join forces.