The Alchemy of Film: Experiments with the Medium

A program of FMC works, in collaboration with the James Cohan gallery, that highlight women filmmakers who experiment with the physical medium
7 films
On Friday, June 23rd, 2023, at 6:30pm, join us at the James Cohan gallery (52 Walker Street) for "The Alchemy of Film: Experiments with the Medium," a stunning program of avant-garde works from our archive, curated by Julia Curl, on the occasion of Mary Grigoriadis at Cohan, that highlight women filmmakers who experiment with the physical medium.

Films

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    Peyote Queen
    Experimental

    Peyote Queen
    Storm De Hirsch

    16mm, color, sound, 9 min
    Rental formats: 16mm, Digital file
    • Arts / Artists
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    Pesca Pisca
    Animation
    Experimental

    Pesca Pisca
    Irene Duga

    16mm, color, sound, 3.5 min
    Rental format: 16mm
    • Erotic
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    Popple's Feet
    Experimental

    Popple's Feet
    Katherine Bauer

    color, sound, 4 min
    Rental formats: 16mm, Digital file
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    Pilgrim's Progress
    Experimental

    Pilgrim's Progress
    Caroline Avery

    16mm, color, silent, 8.75 min
    Rental format: 16mm
    • Cameraless / Handmade
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    Hand Tinting
    Experimental

    Hand Tinting
    Joyce Wieland

    16mm, color, silent, 6 min
    Rental formats: 16mm, Digital file
    • Found Footage
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    Alchemy Blues
    Experimental

    Alchemy Blues
    Olga Spiegel

    color, sound, 10 min
    Rental format: 16mm
    • Cameraless / Handmade
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    Landfill 16
    Experimental

    Landfill 16
    Jennifer Reeves

    color, sound, 9 min
    Rental format: 16mm
    • Environment / Nature
    • Films About Film
    • Cameraless / Handmade
    • Found Footage

Description

On Friday, June 23rd, 2023, at 6:30pm, join us at the James Cohan gallery (52 Walker Street) for "The Alchemy of Film: Experiments with the Medium," a stunning program of avant-garde works from our archive, curated by Julia Curl, on the occasion of Mary Grigoriadis at Cohan, that highlight women filmmakers who experiment with the physical medium.

Like Grigoriadis’s attention to the material quality of her paintings, these filmmakers intervene directly on the surface of their films, scratching, painting, tinting, and even deliberately eroding the emulsion by burying it in a landfill. Works like Storm De Hirsch’s psychedelic classic Peyote Queen (1964) and Irene Duga’s Pesca Pisca (1968) explore the female form, abstracting it in paint. Others employ inventive processes, like Carolyn Avery’s experiments with using scotch tape to pull ink off of magazines before adhering the tape to the surface of Pilgrim's Progress (1985).

This screening will take place on 16mm film and features rare vintage prints. (Photosensitivity warning: this program includes some strobe-like visuals).