Posted in Exhibitions, Experimental film, Experimental video, Multimedia, Thinking, Watching on February 5, 2012 |
My short film, “American Arabesque” will have its first public screening in Berlin at Directors Lounge 8. The screening takes place on Saturday February 11 at 10pm.
Directors Lounge has previously screened “A season of wants” Embarkation” at DL 6 2010 and “Winter wind” and “The sick passenger” at DL 7 in 2011.
Posted in Experimental film, Experimental video, Multimedia, Thinking, Watching on June 11, 2011 | 1 Comment »
This ongoing series, currently made up of six short videos fit for the twenty-first century and all its attendant anxieties of vigilance and control.
It is a composite world, where time, place and premonitions collapse and context continually shifts. Overtones of hysteria and self-identification reproduced from memories on digital cards. It does not directly hold a single narrative instead opting to explore multiple notions of cinema.
Re-presented and estranged histories, memories and meanings conflate those stereotyped by popular culture blurring the boundary between the imaginary and the real. The societal impulse that draws us to the subtle, intimate and extremely personal darker side of life becomes historical but arguably unauthenticated.
What I did during the war
Part 1: Fear
Part 2: Money
Part 3: Sex
Part 4: Art
Part 5: Blood chit
Part 6: Dreaming (not sleeping)
Posted in Exhibitions, Experimental film, Experimental video, Making, Thinking on June 6, 2011 | 1 Comment »
I have three works in Currents 2011. Here is a short text that I contributed to the program:
In my time based work I continue to explore the artificiality of the image adding the layering of text, voice and sound. I have continued to approach the work from a DIY, hand crafted perspective. I work the short format because I like the bony “only what is essential” feel. I read that Italo Calvino described Fellini’s work as “forcing of the photographic image in a direction that carries it from an image of caricature toward that of the visionary”. I like that idea.
I was introduced by a colleague at work to people who were writing poetry from snippets of Google search results. ‘Nightlight’ started as one of these “Poegles” which was recorded and then collaged with images. ‘An American tragedy’ was assembled in much the same way, only in this case using text from the Dreiser novel. ‘Someone to rob’ is like a cheap video game putting the viewer in the position to decide who it will be. Another virtual petty theft.
All of the these pieces are about choice. Falling from grace. The potential for redemption, forgiveness. Sometimes you are redeemed, sometimes you go to hell. These three films are moments where those decisions are made.
Posted in Reading, Thinking, Watching, tagged #NYFF, Avant garde, Hanging upside down in the branches, Nathaniel Dorsky, Ouverture Christopher Becks, Pastourelle, Robert Beavers, The Suppliant, Ute Aurand on October 11, 2010 | 1 Comment »
Song Cycle
Pastourelle Nathaniel Dorsky, USA, 2010, 16.5m.
There was some buzz in line about seeing “Nathaniel’s” new film so I was happy to know that as the first film in this set I would see it before I was going leave. I felt like I had been dropped into a midtown church in the middle of the afternoon, first recognizing the slow, quiet thoughtfulness of the moment and followed after a while by how uncomfortable slow, quiet thoughtfulness can be for this city boy.
Ouverture Christopher Becks, France, 2010, 5m.
One of the interesting things about this film was that I felt Mr. Becks had captured the feeling of “discovery” in these five minutes. As I sat and watched his movements and edits it seemed more like a recollection than a recording. A bit magical.
The Suppliant Robert Beavers, USA/Switzerland, 2010, 5m.
I had been looking forward to Mr. Beavers film having read some positive reviews. However I had a hard time seeing it. It seemed to project too dark – the film stills seemed clearer. I was disappointed.
Hanging upside down in the branches Ute Aurand, Germany, 2009, 15m.
One last film. Ms. Aurand spoke briefly before the showing about losing her parents and her implied regrets for having not captured enough on film. Loss, love, life – a remembrance.
I ended my marathon here. Apologies to the other artists below for not getting to see their films, I will track them down on the web over the next few weeks.
Film for Invisible Ink, case no. 323: ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST David Gatten, USA, 2010, 20m.
In a Year with 13 Deaths Jonathan Schwartz, USA, 2008, 3m.
One Eve Heller, USA/Austria, 2010, 4m.
Shibiyu-Tokyo Tomanari Nishikawa, Japan, 2010, 10m.
Beneath Your Skin of Deep Hollow Malena Szlam, Chile/Canada, 2010, 3m.
Gesturings Peter Herwitz, USA, 2010, 5m.
Day Dream Jim Jennings, USA, 2010, 7m.
Fatal Attractions: An Introduction to Black and White Magic
These Blaezing Starrs Deborah Stratman, USA, 2010, 14.4m.
Tranquility Sigfried A. Fruhauf, Austria, 2010, 6.30m.
To Another Josh Mabe, USA, 2010, 48sec.
Sugar Slim Says Lewis Klahr, USA, 2010, 7m.
Sorry Luther Price, USA, 2010, 14m.
Shutter Alexi Mani, Canada, 2009, 7m.
Floor of the World Janie Geiser, USA, 2010, 8m.
Toads Milena Gierke, Germany, 1997/2008, 6m.
Pigs Pavel Wojtasik, U.S., 2010, 7.45m.
Shadow Cut Martin Arnold, Austria, 2010, 4m.
Coming Attractions Peter Tscherkassky, Austria, 2010, 23.40m.
Exhibitions
Directors Lounge 8
Nightlight
One minute Vol 5, Feb 15, 9pm
Publication
Empire City
Book, print and 3 video works on DVD
Limited edition of 50
Signed and numbered
Published by Peter Hay Halpert Fine Art
Oct 2011
(ISBN 978-0-9839698-0-8)
Comin' around again
Limited Edition Book and Print
Published by Peter Hay Halpert Fine Art
April 2010
(ISBN 978-0-615-35269-5)
