Page 73 - Studio International - January February 1975

body of frustrated independent the idea has now been replaced by which he founded at MIT; have uncoiled slowly to its
film-makers swelled by a the much safer Festival of Student Michael Noll of Bell Laboratories; original rectangle. (The idea is
declining film industry. In Films (allowing the 'it's only the computer scientist who did much the same as John Dugger's
Germany, this problem has been student work' cop-out). This is to the classic experiment with a Snow drop tubing, 1970, but
recognized for some time, with be run by Mike Wooller, Head of Mondrian image (see 'Cybernetic Dugger's piece as I remember it
subsidies available for the Arts Features at the BBC, but I Serendipity', London, 1968, p. took only a few seconds to uncoil.)
presentation of work in cinemas hope that the major film schools 74); John Whitney (Los Angeles), Spitzer's idea is not a great work
and a more adventurous policy of will come to see it as the ploy to pioneer of computer-animated of art, and it is not going to save
tv presentation. Film-makers like evade the more important films; and Abraham Moles Israel; but at a very simple level it
Steve Dwoskin who are working commitment to independent (Strasbourg) who is an exemplifies the process of
in London, and have shown and cinema which I think it represents. entertaining speaker but rather humanizing technology — which is
even been commissioned to Partly stimulated by the BBC hard to pin down. It is clear that the challenge that a 'programme
produce work on German tv, are moves, a new Independent Film within the field which is too in art and science' must surely set
considered much too outspoken Makers Association was loosely called 'science and art' are itself at a vastly more sophisticated
or risky for British audiences. established towards the end of the two tendencies more in conflict level.
Though the basic problems of year. This includes almost all the with each other than in harmony: Rudi Fuchs has been appointed
filtering do, of course, exist in independent film-makers' groups, the desire to humanize or Director of the Stedelijk van
Germany, at least some genuinely co-ops and collectives which have aestheticize science and Abbemuseum, Eindhoven.
independent works of film and grown up over the last few years, technology, and the desire to Prizes: Ben Nicholson has been
video art have been presented as well as a large number of adapt art to a scientistic or awarded the Rembrandt Prize
there, notably work by unattached individuals. A major technicist model. The danger of for 1975. Last artist to win it was
Markopoulos and tapes task of this association will be to strongly emphasizing computers Paul Delvaux in 1973. Sir Ernst
produced by Shumm: Dibbets has pressure the tv companies for a as a focus of research, as Bonacic Gombrich has been awarded the
been shown in Holland and the much greater presentation of does, is that they may force the 1975 Erasmus Prize. Half the
proliferation of, admittedly independent film. To this end it latter option rather than the £14,000 prize money has to be
commercial, channels has given will make submission to the former. However, the plans now devoted to the promotion of the
some increase in range for Annan Commission on the afoot for a Jerusalem visual arts. SPACE Ltd, the
American tv. From the point of structure of broadcasting in Programme in Art and Science organization that provides studio
view of film or video art, probably general. Hopefully this also allow for some funds to be space for artists in Britain, was
the only British example is the association will provide a much devoted to higher education and launched in 1968 with the aid of
showing of David Hall's specially stronger base for future to individual research projects in Henry Moore's half. Andrew
prepared short pieces for Scottish negotiations with bodies like the fields such as urban environmental Mylius has won the Livingstone
tv. Otherwise, the record sheet is a British Film Institute and tv design, land-use etc. This is Development Corporation's
blank. 'The Old Grey Whistle companies than has been possible intended to balance the computer competition for an open air
Test' shows heavily chewed for the smaller groups. systems side. Kepes suggested that sculpture to be sited in the
psychedelia as a background for Membership is on an individual a suitable theme for environmental Regional Centre of the town.
pop music, 'Film Night' has film-maker basis, costs £1.00 per research in Israel could be This is the largest public
advertised the odd showing of year and the address is 12 Little `Water', because of its great commission ever granted in
experimental film with short Newport Street, London WC2. historical and economic Scotland. The piece will be a
excerpts. Early last year someone Malcolm Le Grice importance to the country. fabricated steel and aluminium
must have whispered 'independent It was odd and rather disturbing structure incorporating the use
cinema' loudly in the ear of some to be debating such rarefied of water and measuring 80 x 20
BBC producers. In May, under subjects as visualizing the fourth feet.
the production of Tony Stavacre, News dimension, or the display of The Museum Voor Denkbeelden
`2nd House' presented a selection functioning water-filtration has opened in Middelburg,
of British Independent Cinema. and Notes equipment as kinetic sculpture, established to house the ideas,
Ranging through daft films on while Israel was getting to grips memory and conscience of
dalmatians to Bill Douglas's dated with a great economic,ethnic, Conceptual Art.
`Ain Folk', linked by inane chat Science and Art political and military crisis. To Information required: The
and shallow interviews, even the Jonathan Benthall writes: A travel from the lecture-hall into Victoria and Albert Museum are
dreary selection which they made ten-day seminar on the Interaction Arab areas in the occupied holding a show of international
had no chance to be properly seen of Art and Science was held, territories — often dissident, 20th-century landscape
or thought about. under the auspices of the Bat- representing a vitality very far photography later this year and
The failure of the programme Sheva de Rothschild Foundation, removed from the desiccated would be very grateful to hear
was predictable as was the at Zichron Ya'acov and world of the computer — was from anyone who has, or knows
exclusion of the most controversial Jerusalem in the early November inevitably to ask whether Israel of, photographs. Please contact
work-political, sexual or formal. of last year. Previous seminars should be concerned at all with Mark Haworth Booth/Elizabeth
The researchers saw very little organized by the Foundation in the arts at present. The question Bailey, Victoria and Albert
genuine 'strong' work, and met Israel have been mainly concerned is not for a foreigner to answer. Museum, London SW7 2RL.
few informed people — those with specialized aspects of science But where the sciences are Tel 01-589 6371. Ext 292. 291. or 299.
whom they met they mostly and technology. The energetic concerned it is worth remembering Books: Nigel Greenwood Inc
ignored. Simon Hartog, who has coordinator of this seminar was that Israel is justly proud of its Books Ltd have a list out of their
been a consistent spokesman for Vladimir Bonacic, a computer scientific achievements; and currently available artists' books,
the whole range of independent scientist who has recently migrated could it not eventually, when it is contemporary art catalogues,
film, and a number of others to Israel from Zagreb in less isolated, set a lead to the magazines etc. Address: 41 Sloane
followed the programme with Yugoslavia, where he had Third World in diverting the Gardens, London SW1W 8EB.
complaints to the editor Bill constructed two ambitious course of Western technology Tel 01-730 8824.
Morton, who defended choices programmed light-spectacles in into new, less socially harmful 1975 Competitions: Savannah
and exclusions on the basis of public squares. channels? The influence of some Arts Association. Open to all
`taste'. He denied censorship but The 'science/art overlap' is an wise artists could be beneficial. artists and craftsmen,
explained that he was subject to intensely difficult and complicated During the seminar a young Unspecified awards and prizes
`very rigid rules of language and field, and it was not surprising and talented artist-designer called given. Write: Savannah Arts Ass.,
behaviour' which he was 'not that ideological conflict broke out Serge Spitzer, recently emigrated 119 Jefferson St., Savannah,
allowed to disobey under any among the participants. These from Romania to Jerusalem, Georgia 31401, USA . . . The
circumstances' . . . that's not ranged from A. A. Buzzatti- showed me a simple piece of his Corporation of Glasgow. Open to
censorship? Following the Traverso (Rome) who read a which could be used as an artists practising in Scotland.
complaints, further approaches paper summarizing recent illustration of an artist's Design for one free standing
and suggestions have been passed critiques of scientism and `divergent thinking' at work with sculpture. £5,000 available for
down the heirarchy from Aubrey technocracy in the West, to technology — but without a realization of winning design;
Singer for another stab at Herbert Franke (Munich), a requirement for expensive three other prizes £250 each.
independent cinema. The, most chronicler of computer graphics computer installations. Spitzer Write: The Director, Art Gallery
important of these has been a and technological art, who also has made some eight-inch-long & Museum, Kelvingrove,
proposal for a Festival of believes in the mathematization of rectangular 'rods' out of a Glasgow G3 8AG ... Budapest
Independent Cinema; which was aesthetics. Somewhere between spongey, rather sticky material Arts Festival. Biennial exhibition
quickly dropped after discussions these extremes were (to start at used for industrial insulation. You of small sculptures. Open to all
with film-makers when it became the humanistic end of the can crush the 'rod' between your artists. Prizes unspecified. Write:
evident that they may have to spectrum) Gyorgy Kepes, fingers into a spherical mass or Ursula MacLean, Press Section,
include some real independent recently retired from the Center into a swiss-roll shape; within Hungarian Embassy, 16 Lowndes
films in the presentation. Instead, for Advanced Visual Studies twenty-five minutes or so it will Sq., London SW1X 8BZ