The Spencer Museum of Art will screen all eight programs of the PBS documentary series “Art:21-Art in the 21st Century” between Thursday and Feb. 8 in the museum auditorium.

In conjunction with the series, the museum will have works on view throughout the spring semester by many of the artists featured in these films. Each month, visitors are invited pick up a gallery card at the Information Desk that will consider two of the series’ themes in relation to works on view in the galleries.

After Feb. 8, the “Art:21” DVD’s will be available for viewing in the Central Court during gallery hours.

The series premiered with four episodes in September 2001 and concluded with four more programs this fall. “Art:21” introduces viewers to 37 artists working in the United States today. They work in such media as steel, graffiti, textiles, helium light, marble, video, paint, glitter, chocolate and soap. Each one-hour program revolves around a broad theme — such as humor, spirituality, or consumption –that links individual segments on three or four artists.

In a 2001 review of the series premiere, the New York Times opined: “When the artists do the talking, something fascinating happens. The world opens out and begins resonating with the unexpected. Artists may charm, irritate, instruct, entertain, confound. But they achieve their effectiveness, essentially, just by being themselves.”

For more information about “Art:21,” including artist biographies and teacher resources, visit www.pbs.org/art21.

Here’s a look at the screening schedule:

• Place and Spirituality, 7 p.m.-9 p.m. Thursday. Features artists Laurie Anderson, Richard Serra, Sally Mann, Margaret Kilgallen, Barry McGee, Pepón Osorio, Beryl Korot Ann Hamilton, John Feodorov, Shahzia Sikander and James Turrell.
• Identity and Consumption, 2 p.m.-4 p.m. Feb. 1. Features artists William Wegman, Bruce Nauman, Kerry James Marshall, Louise Bourgeois, Maya Lin, Barbara Kruger, Michael Ray Charles, Matthew Barney, Andrea Zittel and Mel Chin.
• Stories and Loss & Desire, 7 p.m.-9 p.m. Feb. 5. Features artists Trenton Doyle Hancock, Kiki Smith, Do-Ho Suh, Kara Walker, Janine Antoni, Gabriel Orozco and Collier Schorr.
• Time and Humor, 2 p.m.-4 p.m. Feb. 8. Features artists Vija Celmins, Tim Hawkinson, Paul Pfeiffer, Martin Puryear, Eleanor Antin, Walton Ford, Elizabeth Murray and Raymond Pettibon.