Blog | videoclub is a platform for artists’ film, video and moving image

Washington DC, Hillyer Art Space, the capital

October 31, 2014

Cohesion - Daniel Shanken — Cohesion – Daniel Shanken

Hillyer Art Space, 15/05/14

This is my first time in DC and I’m surprised by how much I like it, the low rise buildings and handsome architecture, combined with the unavoidable sense of intrigue, make it feel warm and dynamic at the same time.

Hillyer Art Space is centrally located at Dupont Circle, it sits nestled behind hotels and embassies, right in the middle of the capital. I realise it’s the first contemporary art gallery that I’ve shown the programme at, and it feels very welcome.

The space is managed by two full-time staff, Allie Frazier (Events and Public Programme Coordinator) and Allison Nance (Gallery Director), working alongside interns to deliver the programme, which is a combination of short-term exhibitions, screenings and artist talks.

We sit in the gallery space with iced coffee (it is a warm, muggy day) and talk about the funding situation in Washington DC and the infrastructure for film in the city. It appears the main support structure for showing film in the city is via festivals, including DC Shorts Festival, DC Independent Film Festival and 48 Hour Film Project. A couple of other gallery spaces show artists’ film, but mainly as exhibited work, rather than as screenings, these are: Hamiltonian Gallery and Project 4 Gallery.

We talk about funding for the arts. DC Commission for the Arts sounds like a god-send for the city, which funds individual artists and organisations with non-project funding, received following an application to the commission. Unusually the city has a decent amount of funding, compared to other US cities. Finance is gathered by the commission through the city’s planning gain programme, i.e. by requiring new construction in the city to provide funds towards cultural activity in exchange for being given planning rights.

I have a good conversation with Allie and Allison about the possibility of working together, and I’m hoping there might be a way for us to collaborate in the future. I hope so, because the Hillyer Arts Space team and space are inspiring. And I like Washington DC – a lot.

The screening takes place in the centre of the gallery space in the evening, and has an excellent turn out; helped along, I am sure, by the free, freshly made popcorn. The films are received really well, lots of discussion ensues afterwards and I feel really proud of the programme and the artists who made the work.

Afterwards, the Hillyer guys take me to an amazing dive bar, which I am failing to remember the name of. It sold the most wonderful variety of craft beers, including banana beer, which was surprisingly very good. I’ll update with a name when I have one. Allie, Allison?

And now, home…

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New York, Spectacle Theater, Brooklyn

October 11, 2014

Boys by Piotr Krzymowski on screen at Spectacle Theater

Spectacle Theater, 13/05/14

This is my first time in Brooklyn, and I’m struck by certain similarities it has to Brighton, at least the Williamsburg part that I’m in. Independent bars and stores, cute coffee shops with tech heads working away, and the ‘local’ feeling of a town. It’s very heart-warming after the swarms of Manhattan.

Spectacle Theater is a volunteer-run independent space, set up by a group of individuals who wanted to get more diverse, challenging and foreign language work shown in New York. The space has windows covered in posters from current and previous shows, it looks like the wrong type of exciting might happen inside; it’s stimulating after the shiny, clean downtown spaces.

John Dieringer, one of the programmers and projectionists for the space – who has been amazing in helping me out with showing the work – meets me at Spectacle. We test the films and talk about Spectacle’s work. Incredibly, the volunteer run space does a seven day a week programme, with sometimes three screenings per day. I am stunned by this, in awe. Ten volunteers are on the programme committee and research and deliver a seven day programme, this has been happening for three and a half years. Something to be said for the sustainability of voluntary-led organisations…

We have a small crowd, but they’re ideal; including one of the Selected 4 (2014’s programme) artists, Ian Giles, who brings along some friends. Films are received well, there’s some discussion at the end and we pack up.

I go for a drink with John following the screening and we talk about opportunities for seeing artists’ film as a screening, and, as has been usual, it’s not a common practice, even in New York. Light Industry is probably the most well know, a similar organisation to the Lux in UK. I’m also referred to Union Docs for interesting work going on in the city. There is also New York Film Anthology. I was told by another New York resident that Flux Factory and Silent Barn also do screenings from time to time.

And finally, Washington DC.

LA, Echo Park Film Center, Tom of Finland

May 26, 2014

Echo Park Film Center, 08/05/14

Echo Park Film Center is jewel of a place, the walls are lined with film canisters, DVDs and information about films and processing films. When I arrive the education coordinator for Echo Park is hand processing some film in readiness for a youth session on film processing. I like this place, it feels rare and rather magical.

Rick Bahto (or Dicky), Echo Park’s curator and programmer, is sparkling with energy and enthusiasm for film, I feel immediately inspired on meeting him. We do a test run of the films and decide to go get a drink together to talk about LA and artists here.

Rick talks to me about some of the other spaces that are receptive to experimental film in LA, these include: Redcat (an interdisciplinary arts centre, with exhibitions, screenings and performances), LA Filmforum (the longest running not-for-profit organisation screening experimental and independent films in Southern California) and Human Resources (a mixed arts space, with screening programmes). Rick also suggests, for inspiration for artists, the New Works Salons, which he curates, and which showcases new work for discussion.

Echo Park’s audience feeds back positively on the films, several questions regarding Naheed Raza’s Silk – a visceral, affective film, which explores the environment of spiders being raised for silk harvesting and the process used to do this – arise. It’s an appreciative audience, and I would really like to work with Echo Park again on other programmes or future work. Rick’s obvious passion and knowledge of artists and the sector is really valuable, and it would be good to work with someone who is so committed to film and video.

After the screening we go to the Tom of Finland House for Tom of Finland’s birthday party, organised by my friend Stuart Sandford who is artist in residence there. My final evening in LA, and I am sad to leave.

Now for a flight to the east coast, and New York.

Selected IV

May 21, 2014

“If you thought the Jarman Award was where you’d find the next big thing in British film art, you’re one step behind.” – The Guardian

Various screening dates

(full details at the bottom)

20 May 2014 : Nottingham Contemporary
11 June 2014 : Star and Shadow Cinema, Newcastle
12 June 2014 : CCA, Glasgow
16 June 2014 : Fabrica, Brighton
18 June 2014 : FACT, Liverpool
05 July 2014 : Whitechapel Gallery, London

Selected is a new collection of artists’ film and video touring the UK in June 2014, taking place at some of the UK’s leading venues for showcasing artists’ film.

Chosen by the artists shortlisted for the Film London Jarman Award 2013, Selected brings together some of the best emerging film and video artists from the UK in an exciting and diverse programme of new artists’ moving image.

Shortlisted artists for the 2013 Award – Ed Atkins; Beatrice Gibson; Emma Hart; Rachel Maclean; Uriel Orlow; Charlotte Prodger; Hannah Sawtell; Grace Schwindt; John Smith; and Jessica Warboys – have selected work by up-and-coming, fresh filmmaking talent, to develop an invigorating new programme of work.

Artists in the Selected 4 programme are: Ian Giles, Anne Haaning, Morten Halvorsen, Jonathan Long, Katherine MacBride, Heather Phillipson, Kerstin Schroedinger & Mareike Bernien, Marianna Simnett, Chooc Ly Tan and Stina Wirfelt.

Selected will be touring to six venues in the UK, including: Centre for Contemporary Art, Glasgow; Duke of York’s Cinema, Brighton; FACT, Liverpool; Nottingham Contemporary; Star and Shadow Cinema, Newcastle; and Whitechapel Gallery, London.

Selected has been produced in partnership by videoclub and Film London Artists’ Moving Image Network (FLAMIN), with the aim of showcasing and celebrating some of the most innovative emerging talent in artists’ moving image.

Film London Artists’ Moving Image Network

Film London Artists’ Moving Image Network (FLAMIN) supports London-based artists working in moving image, working in partnership to deliver a comprehensive programme including production award schemes, regular screenings, talks and events, as well as the prestigious annual Film London Jarman Award. The Jarman Award honours the legacy of avant-garde film-maker Derek Jarman. It recognises and rewards the exceptional creativity of today’s UK artist film-makers whose work, like Jarman’s, resists conventional definition.

FLAMIN website: www.filmlondon.org.uk/flamin

Venue and screening details:

Nottingham Contemporary

Date and time: Tuesday, 20 May 2014, 7pm Price: FREE Address: Nottingham Contemporary, Weekday Cross, Nottingham NG1 2GB Web / contact: www.nottinghamcontemporary.org / 0115 948 9750

Star and Shadow Cinema

Date and time: Wednesday, 11 June 2014, 7:30pm Price: £5 full / £3.50 concessions. Star and Shadow membership is required for entry; £1 for a year, available on the door. Address: Star and Shadow Cinema, Stepney Bank, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 2NP Web / contact: www.starandshadow.org.uk / 0191 261 0066

CCA Glasgow

Date and time: Thursday, 12 June 2014, 7pm Price: £5 full / £3 concessions Address: CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow G2 3JD To book tickets (tickets also on door): www.cca-glasgow.com / 0141 352 4900

Fabrica

Date and time: 16 June 2014, 6.30pm Price: Free / voluntary donation Address: Fabrica, Duke Street, Brighton BN1 1AG Web / contact: www.fabrica.org.uk / 01273 778646

FACT (Foundation for Art and Creative Technology)

Date and time: Wednesday, 18 June 2014, 6.30pm Price: FREE – Booking required. Please book at: www.fact.co.uk or in person at box office. Address: The Box, FACT, 88 Wood Street, Liverpool, L1 4DQ Web / box office: www.fact.co.uk / 0871 902 5737 Selected forms part of FACT’s Artist Cine Club programme.

Whitechapel Gallery

Date and time: Thursday, 05 July 2014, Time TBC Price: £6 full / £4 concessions Address: Whitechapel Gallery, 77-82 Whitechapel High Street, London E1 7QX Web / tickets / contact: www.whitechapelgallery.org / 020 7522 78889

Supported by Arts Council England and Film London

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Selected III – USA Tour

May 21, 2014

“It’s never easy to keep abreast of artists working in film, but
here’s a great way in for those looking to explore.” – The
Guardian

Various screening dates across the US

(Full details further down)

15 April 14 : Northwest Film Center, Portland
17 April 14 : Seattle International Film Festival
25 April 14 : Artists’ Television Access, San Francisco
29 April 14 : No Festival Required at Space 55, Phoenix
30 April 14 : Exploded View Gallery, Tucson
08 May 14 : Echo Park Film Center, LA
13 May 14 : Spectacle Theater, New York
15 May 14 : Hillyer Art Space, Washington DC

Selected 3 is a new collection of artists’ film and video touring the US in
April and May 2014, following a successful tour of the programme in the UK.

Chosen by the artists shortlisted for the Film London Jarman Award 2012, Selected
brings together some of the best emerging film and video artists from the UK in a
diverse programme of new artists’ moving image.

Shortlisted artists for the 2012 Film London Jarman Award – Brad Butler & Karen
Mirza; Aura Satz; Ben Rivers; Benedict Drew; James Richards; Shezad Dawood; Nathaniel
Mellors; Matt Stokes; Marcus Coates and Jon Thomson & Alison Craighead. – have
selected work by up-and-coming, fresh filmmaking talent, to develop an invigorating new
programme of work.

Artists in the Selected 3 programme include: Emma Alonze, Sophie Beresford, Nicholas
Brooks, Mat Fleming, Piotr Krzymowski, Naheed Raza, Frances Scott, Daniel Shanken,
Cheryl Simmons and Edward Thomasson.

Selected has been produced in partnership by videoclub and Film London Artists’
Moving Image Network (FLAMIN), with the aim of showcasing and celebrating some of the
most innovative emerging talent in artists’ moving image.

Film London Artists’ Moving Image Network

Film London Artists’ Moving Image Network (FLAMIN) supports London-based artists
working in moving image, working in partnership to deliver a comprehensive programme
including production award schemes, regular screenings, talks and events, as well as
the prestigious annual Film London Jarman Award. The Jarman Award honours the legacy of
avant-garde film-maker Derek Jarman. It recognises and rewards the exceptional
creativity of today’s UK artist film-makers whose work, like Jarman’s,
resists conventional definition.

FLAMIN website: “http://www.filmlondon.org.uk/flamin”>www.filmlondon.org.uk/flamin

Venue and screening details:

Northwest Film Center

Date and time: Tuesday, 15 April 2014, 7pm
Price: $9 General admission; $8 for Portland Art Museum members, students, and seniors;
$6 Friend members
Address: Northwest Film Center, 934 SW Salmon St, Portland, OR 97205, USA
Web: www.nwfilm.org

Seattle International Film Festival, Film Center

Date and time: Thursday, 17 April 2014, 7pm
Price: $11 full / $6 SIFF member
Address: SIFF Film Center, Seattle Center
Web: www.siff.net

Artists’ Television Access

Date and time: Friday, 25 April 2014, 8pm
Price: $7 / $10
Address: ATA, 992 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110
Web: www.atasite.org

No Festival Required @ Space 55

Date and time: Tuesday, 29 April 2014
Price: $6 cash on door
Address: Space 55, 636 E Pierce St, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Web: “http://nofestivalrequired.wordpress.com/upcoming-screenings/”>http://nofestivalrequired.wordpress.com

Exploded View Gallery

Date and time: Wednesday, 30 April 2014, 7.30pm
Price: TBC
Address: Exploded View Gallery, 197 E Toole, Tucson, AZ
Web / box office: “http://explodedviewgallery.org/”>http://explodedviewgallery.org

Echo Park Film Center

Date and time: Thursday, 08 May 2014, 8pm
Price: TBC
Address: Echo Park Film Center, 1200 N Alvarado St. (@ Sunset Blvd.) Los Angeles, CA.
90026
Web: “http://echoparkfilmcenter.org/”>http://echoparkfilmcenter.org

Spectacle Theater

Date and time: Tuesday, 13 May 2014, 8pm
Price: TBC
Address: Spectacle Theater, 124 South 3rd St, Brooklyn, NY, 11211
Web: “http://www.spectacletheater.com/”>www.spectacletheater.com / 0141 352 4900

Hillyer Art Space

Date and time: Thursday, 15 May 2014, 7pm
Price: TBC
Address: Hillyer Art Space, 9 Hillyer Ct NW, Washington, DC 20008
Web: “http://hillyerartspace.org/”>http://hillyerartspace.org / 0141 352 4900

Supported by Arts Council England and Film London

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Tucson, Exploded View Gallery, desert

May 8, 2014

Exploded View Gallery, Tucson, AZ

Here I was expecting Tucson to be a hard sell, and the type of town I would feel most alien too. But no, if anything, I felt most comfortable here. Tucsonians are generous, beautiful, creative and friendly people. If you want to feel welcome, come here.

Reception of the Selected 3 programme at Exploded View Gallery was exceptional; applause after each film, whistles, appreciative laughter, sighs – everything in compliment. I was over the moon by the end with a deeply embedded grin on my face.

The screening was followed by interested questions; all the films were talked about, again Sophie Beresford’s Making Adidas Mermaid got attention – loved very much. Lots of curiosity about Cheryl Simmons’ film What are you doing man? They’re cooking my men like sausages. A glorious collage piece that examines reinterpretation and memory.

Exploded View is unique in Tucson; opportunities to show artists’ film and experimental work rely on Rebecca and David’s commitment to the gallery, which is an inspirational example. The University of Arizona’s Center for Creative Photography is worth checking out (the archive gets shown off to the public every Friday), and, off the arts track, there is also the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research, a superb department for those interested in dendrochronology.

Tucson also has an amazing desert surrounding it, with huge Saguaro cacti soaring into the sky, perched on the mountain slopes like armies of headless triffids. I was driven into the desert by Carl Hanni, a devoted Tucsonian, who generously took me on a hike to see the Saguaros, desert sunset and endless mountainous landscape.

I leave Tucson with a heavy heart, but with eyes set on LA for Echo Park Film Center and to see some good friends.

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Phoenix, No Festival Required, old and new

May 7, 2014

Cohesion by Daniel Shanken on screen at Space 55 with No Festival Required

Cloudy LA skies are welcome today following the brilliant, burning desert skies of Phoenix and Tucson for the past week. I even, perversely, imagined British winter chill for a moment in the deep heating sun. Just for a moment.

Model audiences. If you want model artists’ film audiences go to Tucson’s Exploded View Gallery and also arrange a screening with No Festival Required in Phoenix. My enormous thanks to Rebecca and David at Exploded View and to Steve Weiss of No Festival Required (who got me totally drunk in a Tiki bar in Phoenix, so drunk I woke up sideways on the hotel bed with my clothes and shoes still on).

Phoenix, with its mixture of sparkly new cultural venues (Phoenix Art Museum is well worth a visit, a mixture of permanent and temporary, contemporary and historic exhibits in a very nice building) and more raw, established and experimental spaces (Modified/Arts being a classic example), has a rich seam of art and culture running through it. The screening of Selected 3 takes place at one of the latter type of venues, an exciting performing arts space entitled Space 55; its delightful bar space with old couches and memorabilia beckons drinking.

The screening goes well, and the audience receives the work with pleasure; lots of discussion follows, with much interest in Sophie Beresford’s work, Making Adidas Mermaid, which fascinates, and with Nicholas Brook’s Arrastre. I’m deeply appreciative of Steve Weiss’s gathering of such model AMI fans. Other suggested organisations to consider from Steve include: Arizona State University, which has an excellent Intermedia programme; Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (where No Festival Required has a regular programme); and, as mentioned, Modified/Arts.

I’m going to update on Tucson in a second post to follow…

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San Francisco, Artists’ Television Access, gentrification

April 29, 2014

Making Adidas Mermaid - Sophie Beresford on screen at ATA, San Francisco — Making Adidas Mermaid – Sophie Beresford on screen at ATA, San Francisco

Artists’ Television Access – or ATA is it’s better known – is based in the Mission District of San Francisco, a popular area that is seeing a lot of regeneration and gentrification. The development of the area, the increase in new bars, and the loss of the old neighbourhood comes up frequently in conversations with ATA staff and visitors. ATA’s programmer, Fara Akrami, mentions the change in the area several times, saying much of the character and culture has gone, with rising rents, techies and posh shops taking their place.

It comes as no surprise that ATA is seen as a bastion of cultural hope; it sits on Valencia St, now surrounded by bars and stores that you obviously need cash to visit. ATA sparkles with bright artists’ video on screens in its window, filtered orange, they crackle onto the street. ATA is volunteer run, much like Star and Shadow in Newcastle, or The Cube in Bristol; it is obviously run with passion and love for the alternative culture it nurtures.

The ATA audience is lively, talkative and engaging; most of the audience is made up of volunteers for the space; Fara insists this is the most volunteers that have attended a screening. It seems to go well, there’s a mixed response at the end, some cool responses, but some positive ones. I did get a great question asking if all films like this in the UK are of such great quality, and was told it’s not often that the whole of a film programme is of such a high standard for all the films.

Fara and I talked before the screening, he had several recommendations to check out in San Francisco: San Francisco Cinematheque, which has a prolific programme, including an experimental programme called Crossroads; Pacific Film Archive at University of California, Berkeley shows lots of international film programmes and themed programmes of artists’ film and other cinema; Other Cinema programme, which takes place at ATA, curated by Craig Baldwin; SF Exploratorium has a screening room showing expanded cinema and docs; Black Hole Cinematheque in City of Oakland; and Shapeshifters Cinema, Oakland, showing a monthly programme of expanded cinema.

Now, we move on to Phoenix for Selected with No Festival Required.

25/04/14

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Seattle, traditional audiences and artists’ film…

April 25, 2014

Miracle Methods by Frances Scott on screen at SIFF

Sophie Beresford stretches half-naked on screen to seemingly consider the next act in her film ‘Making Adidas Mermaid’, one of over 50 similar films she made in one day. Adding to the soundtrack is a deep sigh from the back of the theatre, along with a few chuckles. I’m in the company of a traditional film audience, it feels tense and awkward, especially having convinced several of the people waiting outside the cinema to join in watching the films.

At the end of the screening I talk to a couple of the people who came and they ask me why I decided to show the films in a cinema rather than a gallery. Not the first time I’ve been asked this; I don’t believe artists’ film should sit only in a gallery, I think the showing of a film, especially something as rich and heart-suspending as Naheed Raza’s ‘Silk’, should take place in a cinema, where it can exist gloriously. And artists’ film is not just a gallery experience, artists’ films are to be experienced, from beginning to end, rather than walked past and glimpsed at, which often happens in a(n) (unsympathetic) gallery setting. The Seattle audience (for this screening) is small and conservative, and I had suspected that might be the case, but it’s still a bash at my / videoclub‘s confidence. Especially when I know this programme is so excellent.

San Francisco is next. I have great faith in Artists’ Television Access and the San Francisco audience; Ruth Jarman from Semiconductor sang their praises so well when I mentioned I was going there. I’m also excited to hear what artists they’ll propose for the UK tour of StateLand, a programme of new work from the States videoclub will be curating and touring in the UK in October 14.

Clinton McClung from SIFF, who has been so super in helping making this tour happen, recommended a few filmmakers I should take a look at, including Karl Lind, Janice Findley and Kelly Sears, who Clinton described as an ‘Experimental Filmmaker and curator with great connections and taste.’

I would also recommend Northwest Film Forum for showing experimental work, and great for Capitol Hill and Seattle University audiences.

And now, San Francisco.

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Moving image, Northwest Film Center, Portland

April 24, 2014

Arrastre by Nicholas Brooks on screen at Northwest Film Centre, Portland

Portland was a joy. The guys at Northwest Film Center are such a wonderfully friendly and generous group of professionals. I really enjoyed the experience of working with them.

Before the screening I had coffee with Morgen Ruff, one of the Northwest Film Center team, and we spoke about the moving image infrastructure and artists in the city. There’s the Experimental Film Festival that takes place in Portland, which shows varied experimental works by artists and traditional filmmakers. Apparently both Pacific Northwest College of Art and Portland State University have great programmes for film and interdisciplinary practice, a good place to promote to for audiences – as I keep getting told, spring break’s not a great time for showing films, watch out for the student holidays next time.

40 Frames in Portland is a great place to get any restoration / conservation work done for film. Also, the Cinema Project in Portland does a roving curated programme of films, taking place in various venues, another really good potential collaborator. Morgen also recommended I contact filmmaker Jessie Malmed to get a better idea of the infrastructure in Chicago.

Seeing the Selected 3 programme on a big screen in the States was truly happy making; I didn’t get a lot of feedback at the end of the screening, but the few people who engaged with me said they loved the programme. I’m going to make sure I promote the screening better through all my contacts over here, including using the Art House Convergence Google Group. (Apparently there is some essential etiquette for posting up on here, which I am hoping to learn about shortly, I will post up details in a later blogpost.)

Next, Seattle.

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Selected III

June 5, 2013

“If you thought the Jarman Award was where you’d find the next big thing in British film art, you’re one step behind.” – The Guardian

Various screening dates

(full details at the bottom)

29 May 2013 : Nottingham Contemporary
02 June 2013 : Duke of York’s Cinema, Brighton
05 June 2013 : Star and Shadow Cinema, Newcastle
13 June 2013 : CCA, Glasgow
18 June 2013 : FACT, Liverpool
20 June 2013 : Whitechapel Gallery, London

Selected 3 is a new collection of artists’ film and video touring the UK in May and June 2013, taking place at some of the UK’s leading venues for showcasing artists’ film.

Chosen by the artists shortlisted for the Jarman Award 2012, Selected brings together some of the best emerging film and video artists from the UK in an excellent and diverse programme of new artists’ moving image.

Shortlisted artists for the 2012 Film London Jarman Award – Brad Butler & Karen Mirza; Aura Satz; Ben Rivers; Benedict Drew; James Richards; Shezad Dawood; Nathaniel Mellors; Matt Stokes; Marcus Coates and Jon Thomson & Alison Craighead. – have selected work by up-and-coming, fresh filmmaking talent, to develop an invigorating new programme of work.

Artists in the Selected 3 programme include: Emma Alonze, Sophie Beresford, Nicholas Brooks, Mat Fleming, Piotr Krzymowski, Naheed Raza, Frances Scott, Daniel Shanken, Cheryl Simmons and Edward Thomasson.

Film London Artists’ Moving Image Network

FLAMIN website: www.filmlondon.org.uk/flamin