Thursday, January 31, 2008

Favrrite Failurrs #3

A New Year Sadie Benning (1989)



One of Sadie Benning's first videos. She was about 16 when she made this. Can't you just feel it all with her? I can.

Also, last night I went to the Austin Film Society screening of local artist Scott Stark's films, many of which playfully address failure in a beautifully subtle way. His remake of a Jane Fonda workout video planted the idea in my head to remake Sadie Benning's music video for Aerobicide by Julie Ruin. Maybe in another ten years.

P.S. Hey, if anyone else has a Favorite Failure to add, please do!!

Sunday, January 27, 2008

Favorite Failures #2

I was looking for a particular Pipilotti Rist video to embed, but couldn't get it.

So here is another Pipi video that I like a lot which also captures a frenetic sense of struggle and a constant falling-short. I like to watch her exploding the promise of pop music into a repetitive parody. It's almost joyful.

I'm Not the Girl Who Misses Much Pipilotti Rist (1986)



Searching for that video I found this video, which is fun to think about as also exploding the promise of pop music.

I'm Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman Britney Spears- Sims 2 (2001)



But the Pipilotti Rist video I really wanted to show you can be seen here:

(Absolution) Pipilotti's Mistakes (1988)

Rist made this video while working at a commercial video production facility, using the equipment in her time off to make things like this. She pushes the technology to its limit, eking out the wonderful interference and feedback she wants. This video scramble she intercuts with images of herself randomly falling, being held underwater and sometimes emphatically dancing with large flowers. Like in I'm Not the Girl Who Misses Much she is exuberantly celebrating and destroying the kingly commercial power of video!

What I love about these videos (and what you'll hear more about if you get the new AVB DVD and read the insert(!!)) is how eloquently she uses and manipulates the faults of the medium. Working in video often times feels like you're coaxing a reluctant muse. It's frustrating but, ultimately rewarding when you're able to embrace the lucky mistakes you stumble into, not to mention the patience you learn.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Favorite Failures #1

Just over two weeks until the very first AVB DVD RLP (Austin Video Bee Digital Video/Versatile Disc Re Lease Party)!!

The theme of our much anticipated first compilation is : FAILURE. And it's sure to deliver!

In the next couple weeks I'll be sharing with you all some of my all time favorite works of art and video on the subject of the "F" word.

This is gonna be a fun two weeks, I hope you're as excited as I am.

Enjoy:

I'm Too Sad to Tell You Bas Jan Ader (1971)



Lee's comments:
Bear with me. I know it's a sad one. But tonight I want to know, can art compensate life?

Monday, January 21, 2008

Yes.

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

I-BE AREA by Ryan Trecartin



Finally, ONLINE! ON YOUTUBE!

from ryan: I-Be Area on Youtube watch in any order--for a DVD home entertainment experience in original feature length flow and order,, Get the bootleg. If you have a copy burn it for your friends.