LUX MRES Public Lecture: Distribution as Preservation

 LUX Mres Art: Moving Image Public Lecture Series: Distribution as Preservation, Rebecca Cleman

At its origin in the 1960s and 70s, “video art” was intrinsically linked to television – both technologically, and conceptually. Television also provided an alternative presentation and distribution paradigm for artists to consider. Though artist-controlled television was a utopic idea that was never fully realized, the concept had a lasting impact on how artists related to media art – encouraging them to experiment with art making in a new context, concurrent with a general interest in working outside of a traditional studio practice, and exploring ephemeral forms such as performance and event-oriented projects. Four decades later, the question of preservation has become pressing, especially for works that are so reliant on technology trends. At the heart of this is a television-nurtured idea of distribution and broadcast, with a mission to keep works in active circulation as a form of preservation, alongside the physical cleaning and repairing of tapes. Rebecca Cleman, Director of Distribution EAI, will present a selection of rarely-to-never screened titles form the EAI catalog to discuss EAI’s preservation and distribution.

Jean Dupuy, Three Evenings on a Revolving Stage (excerpted performances by Nam June Paik and Julia Heyward (1976)
Jaime Davidovich, Adventures of the Avant-Garde (1981)
Michael Smith, Secret Horror (1980)
Hannah Wilke, My Country ‘tis of Thee (1976)
Cynthia Maughan, I Tell Three Cats about Jail (1977-78), Zebra Skin Clutch (1977-78), Tamale Pie (1978)

Rebecca Cleman is the Director of Distribution of Electronic Arts Intermix (EAI), New York. She has programmed screenings and events for such venues as the New York Underground Film Festival, Light Industry, the Museum of Art and Design, Anthology Film Archives, and Andrea Rosen Gallery. In 2012, she curated the group show “VHS The Exhibition” for Franklin Street Works, Stamford, Connecticut, and published a related article about analog video culture in the Moving Image Source. Most recently, she led a roundtable discussion about the legacy of “video art” for the ICA in Philadelphia, and co-organized a screening of films by Tommy Turner for Spectacle Theater, Brooklyn.

Founded in 1971, Electronic Arts Intermix (EAI) is one of the world’s leading nonprofit resources for video art. A pioneering advocate for media art and artists, EAI fosters the creation, exhibition, distribution, and preservation of video art and digital art. EAI’s core program is the distribution and preservation of a major collection of over 3,500 new and historical media works by artists. EAI’s activities include viewing access, educational services, extensive online resources, and public programs such as artists’ talks, exhibitions and panels. The Online Catalogue is a comprehensive resource on the artists and works in the EAI collection, and also features extensive materials on exhibiting, collecting and preserving media art: www.eai.org

---

LUX Mres Art: Moving Image Public Lecture Series is an ongoing series of presentations by key thinkers on contemporary moving image practice sponsored by the LUX / Central Saint Martins Mres Art: Moving Image programme

Over the past two decades, artists moving image has proven itself a dynamic and thriving area of art practice, to be encountered in the gallery, museum, cinema auditorium, and a host of other unexpected venues. But what about the rich and fascinating histories, theories and aesthetics that have led to artists turn to film and video? And what insights can a study of artists moving image offer us for understanding the diverse practices that now fill art spaces internationally as well as in the UK? A unique collaboration between LUX and Central St Martins College of Art has created a research led masters degree to address these questions lead by Dr Lucy Reynolds. The Mres Art: Moving Image programme is now open for applications for 2015/16 For more information see CSM website or contact Lucy Reynolds directly at [email protected]