- State: published
"The dream of creating a color music for the eye, comparable with auditory music for the ear, dates to antiquity…”
--- William Moritz
| Welcome | to iota, a public benefit arts organization devoted to Abstract Cinema and Visual Music. We preserve classic abstract films, release DVDs, and produce screenings of contemporary and historical work. More about who we are and what we do is here: [About Us] [Programs]. |
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Derek haugen
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11.07.2008 |
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An international experimental animation festival dedicated to the point and line.
MAD-Actions and the iotaCenter present the West Coast tour of PUNTO Y RAYA 0.4.The festival "explores the ultimate synthesis of the form·movement duality in different spheres of human endeavor" and "uses abstraction's prime matter to reveal the limitations and achievements of our representation systems." The US festival tour begins on November 13 in Seattle, WA with stops in: Eugene, OR San Jose, CA San Francisco, CA and Los Angeles, CA courtesy of moviment d'alliberament digital and the iotaCenter. The complete festival schedule: iota's full Punto y Raya page |
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Derek haugen
|
11.04.2008 |
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A co-presentation with the iotaCenter
Stephanie Maxwell in person!! When: Sunday, November 9, 2008, 7:00 pm Place: The Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA Website: LA Filmforum; Stephanie Maxwell; The Egyptian Theatre Stephanie Maxwell specializes in hand-painted experimental abstract animation. After performing a variety of painting, marking and engraving techniques directly onto 35mm film stock, Maxwell rephotographs each frame of the film using a digital feed camera and digital frame capture, sometimes employing additional manipulations such as bending and twisting the film, layering film frames together, and progressive alterations of the image during the frame by frame rephotography. This screening will feature selections from Maxwell’s work from 1984 through her two newest works from 2008, as well as a twelve-minute short documentary about Maxwell’s filmmaking process, with footage of the artist at work. The aesthetic of Maxwell’s films has changed since she began creating films in the 1980’s, and the transformation of her techniques and style will be apparent by viewing her films chronologically. The themes and imagery in her films vary widely – from that of a biological nature (GA, 1984), to staged, but painterly, graphical works (Somewhere, 1999) to interpretations of the metaphysical – time, reality, existence (Time Streams, 2003 and Runa’s Spell, 2007). Some of the combinations of sound and imagery in Maxwell’s work are haunting and lovely, as in Runa’s Spell where a close-up of what appears to be a colorful microscopic organism is accompanied by the distant sound of a woman lamenting in musical form. In Reflecting Pool (2006), a dark, ominous background is lit up with neon reflections of sand animation combined with images of microscopic organisms in a watery matrix. The music reflects and reacts to the evolving revelations in this three-movement work. “Stephanie Maxwell's work gets me. Her work is fuelled by a breathless, giddy energy and passion that seeps through every whore of a pore. Like a child, she is excited by a seemingly minute discovery — like an anthill, river or a rock. Maxwell's work is an extension of that explorative part of our childhood. She has a tenacious fascination with the natural world; a world that too many of us (myself included) have left behind in favor of simulated realities.” – Chris Robinson, Animation World Magazine Films include: GA (1984, 5 mins, miniDV) Please Don’t Stop (1989, 5 mins, miniDV) Outermost (1998, 5 mins, miniDV) Somewhere (1999, 5 mins, miniDV) Fragments (2000, 7 mins, miniDV) terra incognita (2001, 4 ½ mins, miniDV) passe-partout (2002, 6 mins, miniDV) Time Streams (2003, 5 ½ mins, miniDV) Reflecting Pool (2004, 9 mins, miniDV) Second Sight (2005, 5 ½ mins, miniDV) All That Remains (2006, 6 mins, miniDV) Runa’s Spell (2007, 3 ½ mins, miniDV) Currents (2008, 6 mins, miniDV) End To End (2008, 4 ½ mins, miniDV) The Art Form of Stephanie Maxwell (2007, 12 mins, miniDV) Total Running Time: 89 minutes Stephanie Maxwell is Professor in the School of Film and Animation at the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York. Her teaching includes courses in film, video and animation production (including experimental processes), and history of animation. She has curated and presented film programs internationally and taught abroad on several occasions. Ms. Maxwell has been producing her unusual animated works for over 20 years. Numerous exhibitions of her award-winning work include international film, multimedia, and television programs and festivals. Her works are collected by museums and universities as works of art. |
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Derek haugen
|
10.07.2008 |
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Three Nights of Visual Music Events in Los Angeles, CA
Thursday, October 9, 2008 Goethe-Institut Los Angeles Presents: Style in Motion - DJ Christine Lang w/VJ Safy Sniper Christine Lang, since the 90s, she has been working as independent filmmaker, curator and DJ. Her short films and music videos have been shown at international film festivals. She is currently curating the exhibition 'FEMMES 'R' US - Feminism In Pop, Music, Art, Film Today' in Berlin and is preparing her first feature film. Safy Sniper is one of the pioneers of video scratching with a unique technique and style. He was born in 1960 in Haifa, Israel, and has been working and living in Berlin since 1985. Time: 10:00pm-Midnight Place: The Knitting Factory, 7021 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028 Website: Goethe-Institut Los Angeles; The Knitting Factory Friday, October 10, 2008 Opening of Uncensored A program of uncensored Freewaves’ videos Time: 8:00pm-10:00pm Place: World of Wonder, 6650 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028 Website: Freewaves; World of Wonder Goethe-Institut Los Angeles Presents: Style in Motion - Music Videos 2002-2008 A screening of artistically exceptional music videos from 2002 – 2008 curated by Christoph Dreher. Time: 8:00pm-10:00pm Place: Musicians Institute-The Green Room, 6752 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028 Website: Goethe-Institut Los Angeles; Musicians Institute Goethe-Institut Los Angeles Presents: Style in Motion - Pfadfindereie A Berlin-based design collective exploring various visual styles, they set their individual mark in each project they are involved in. Always creating a more than unique style with their seamless mixture of graphic design, video, typography, print, photography and of course vjing. Time: 10:00pm-Midnight Place: The Knitting Factory, 7021 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028 Website: Goethe-Institut Los Angeles; The Knitting Factory Saturday, October 11, 2008 Goethe-Institut Los Angeles Presents: Style in Motion - Panel Discussion Christoph Dreher, Christine Lang, and Safy Sniper will be joined by Alan Calzatti to discuss the effects of music video on international culture. Time: 2:00pm-4:00pm Place: Musicians Institute-The Passage, 6752 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028 Website: Goethe-Institut Los Angeles; Musicians Institute |
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Derek haugen
|
09.09.2008 |
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Everyone is invited to post comments, start discussions, upload videos, or simply tell some stories about Jules, whether you personally knew Jules or not ... it's a day of remembrance to honor a mentor to four generations of students as the Founding Director of Experimental Animation at Cal Arts.
September 6, 2003 is the fifth-year anniversary of Jules' death. In null, on Saturday, September 13, 2008 please tell us a story you have to tell ... and many likely have one! Add to the discussion already started, start a new discussion thread, or post drawings or animations or photos or video tales to share with those who knew him and with those who did not. If you want to be inspired, re-read the AWN tribute edition from 2003. Especially if you didn't have an opportunity to contribute to the AWN publication, contribute to this event. PLEASE ENTER YOUR STORIES ON THE ENGEL APPRECIATION PAGE PAGE RATHER THAN THE EVENT PAGE. If you are not a Facebook member and you don't want to be, please go to the IIACI site and enter stories to be told there in the Guestbook. Once julesengel.com launches in November, those comments on IIACI will be either duplicated or transferred to the dedicated Engel site to serve as a living archive. Hope you'll participate! [A Message From Dr. Janeann Dill] When: September 13, 2008 Where: Facebook Event Page; The Engel Appreciation Page; Institute for Interdiscplinary Arts and Creative Intelligence Guestbook |
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Derek haugen
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09.05.2008 |
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Exhibition at the WRO Art Center, Wrocław, Poland
"Orphics" is a two-decades old cycle of graphical compositions inspired by music. The works are interpretations of renowned 20th century composers (Satie, Bartók, Ravel) in terms of form and color, however, not in the manner of traditional animation, but through systemic transformation. The result is a relationship between elements in space and time: every frame of the compositions portrays exactly these two dimensions of sound organization of subsequent metres. The exhibition also includes "glAmor," a visual ode to the powers making the geometry move us in emotional, cerebral and spiritual ways.
[WRO Art Center] When: Opening: September 12, 2008, 6:30pm; Exhibition: September 13, 2008 - October 11, 2008 Place: WRO Art Center, Wrocław, Poland Website: WRO Art Center Email: info@wrocenter.pl |
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Larry cuba
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08.05.2008 |
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Free Screening in Fort Wayne, IN
"Selections from the Northeastern University Visual Music Special Collection" will travel to Fort Wayne, IN this week.
Concert #4 of the Sweetwater Electroacoustic Music Concert Series will be presented on Friday, August 8th @ 8:00 pm in the Performance Theater at the Sweetwater facility.
The concert is free and the public is encouraged to attend.
This program of innovative, cutting edge music videos was curated by Dennis Miller from NEU's special collection of visual music which grew out of his Visual Music Marathon held in April of last year.Date: August 8, 2008 Time: 8:00 pm Place: Sweetwater Performance Theater, Fort Wayne, IN Website: Visual Music Marathon; Sweetwater Theater |
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Larry cuba
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07.14.2008 |
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Cecile Starr turns 87
Throughout her life Cecile has been a been a devoted guardian and advocate of independent film. Her writing, teaching, promoting, and preserving of independent film has helped pave the way for many artists, filmmakers, and writers working within independent cinema. She is perhaps best known to many for her invaluable text, Experimental Animation (1976, reprinted in 1988 and now out of print) co-written with Robert Russett. Her career began in the news industry, which led to writing about films. She soon realized that there were works – art films and shorts – that were being overshadowed and ignored; films by people such as Hans Richter, Len Lye, Mary Ellen Bute, and Oskar Fischinger.
Her love of such films and her spirited work to see that they have an audience and that they endure is her great gift to all of us. We invite you all to raise a glass, light a candle, or perhaps project a film in her honor. From your friends at iota - Happy Birthday Cecile! |
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Dawn h
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03.12.2008 |
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Audio-visual roller-coaster ride
iota is proud to announce its latest release in the Kinetica Video Library series:Stephanie Maxwell, Animated Works (1984-2007) This collection of short films is a testament to the artist's ingenuity. Experimental music scores by collaborators such as Allan Schindler and Greg Wilder, in tandem with Maxwell's propulsive vision, make for truly exhilarating viewing. |
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Dawn h
|
02.01.2008 |
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Visual Music by Randy Jones
Six Axioms is an intricate work created using Max/MSP/Jitter. Working from the awe-inspiring experience of scientific discovery, Jones explores the overwhelming breadth and variety of the universe, based on the mathematical axiom. Six basic motives are mixed and matched to create this elegant visual music world.DVD: 33min Website: Randy Jones |
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Dawn h
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01.28.2008 |
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From the Artist's Website: Sabinium is a short abstract animation loosely based on an early Roman mythological tale: the historical legend of the founding of Rome by Romulus and his followers. DVD: 9min Website: www.harveygoldman.com |
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Dawn h
|
07.12.2007 |
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Precision and perception
These early films by animator Paul Glabicki are unique examples of artistic exactitude. Glabicki immerses us in an analysis and breakdown of the world that surrounds us, deconstructing our understanding of form and motion. His 2D works display a meticulousness rarely seen in hand-drawn animation.DVD: 54min Website: Paul Glabicki |
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Dawn h
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07.10.2007 |
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Short animations by Sara Petty
In three films we get a glimpse of the early works of 2D animator, Sara Petty. At times playful, at times introspective, Petty's images are rich in texture as well as aesthetics. These works are beautiful motion studies that flow with quiet ease and grace that has not faded with age. Included are: Furies, Picture Window, and ShadracDVD: 9min |
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Dawn h
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07.09.2007 |
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Five works from 1998 to 1999
Ying Tan is an artist and professor at the University of Oregon whose visual computer artworks have been extensively screened worldwide. Frequently collaborating with composer Jeffrey Stolet, Tan's films are elegant both in design and spirit. This collection includes: Elements in Transformation nos. 1 & 2, Un Albor, Mi Vida, and A Swarm of Angry Bees.DVD: 13min Website: Ying Tan |
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Dawn h
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07.09.2007 |
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Diverting and delightful
NLoops is an early work by computer animation artist Vibeke Sorensen, with music by Rand Steiger. In this joyful work Sorensen creates parallel spaces containing cycling shapes and patterns. Their dynamic movement turns happily in perfect harmony with the looping music to produce an elated counterpoint between eye and ear.DVD: 7min Website: Vibeke Sorensen |
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Dawn h
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07.07.2007 |
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Rob Tyler demonstrates the power of simplicity
This work is hand painted desktop computer enhanced 16mm film, consisting of simple shapes with modulating concentric colors. With a thoroughly moody musical soundtrack provided by Marc Fisher & Matthew Jones, Brad Ketchen, and Solar Marquardt, the fluctuation of these images can be compared to the hypnotic motion of clay on a potter’s wheel.From Rob Tyler’s website: “Color + Modulation is an alluring collection of eight 16mm films that have been painstakingly hand painted frame-by-frame and digitally manipulated on a desktop computer – creating an optically smooth ambient experience. Described as both visually stunning and atmospherically beautiful, Color + Modulation transforms a television or video screen into an abstract canvas full of playful motion and smooth explosions of color and shape.” DVD: 60 min Website: www.vcr100.com |
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Dawn h
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07.06.2007 |
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A collection of visual music shorts by Nancy Herman
Varying styles of music, ranging from Classical to Jazz to somewhere in between, serve as the backdrop to six short works. For In the Key of Blue Nancy Herman creates a geometric landscape which constantly shifts its designs and colors to evolve with these different musical pieces.
DVD: 20min Website: www.nancyherman.com |
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Dawn h
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07.05.2007 |
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A collage of image and electronic sound
Overlapping images of degraded film and video mixed with a distressing music score creating an overall environment of unease.Excerpt from the DVD materials: "A collaboration between video artist Brandon Bauer and electronic musician Franz Bucholtz, A DAY UNDER THE CITY is the result of digital versus analog fighting for space within a dense structure of sight and sounds." DVD: 60min Website: www.lowave.com |
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Jeremy schwartz
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06.30.2007 |
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Different Skies is an annual meeting of electronic musicians in Acrosanti in the Arizona desert. Their music takes two forms -- precomposed material for debut performance and improvisation. The week-long workshop is designed to help usually solitary electronic musicians gain connections and form a community.
These performances are accompanied by visuals developed by viviographer David Tristram. He uses a combination of 3D computer graphics and prerecorded video to enhance the often serene and wandering music with stunning colorful visuals. The DVD "Arcs and Angles" is comprised of recordings of 8 improvisations from the 2004 workshop, each accompanied by improvised visuals from David Tristram. Website: Different Skies |
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Dawn h
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06.28.2007 |
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A digital lumia work by George O. Stadnik
With Flame, George Stadnik displays his skill as a lumia artist. Flame is evocative and delicate, where light undulates sinuously and ceaselessly as though trapped underwater. The images are perfectly matched to a calm ambient music track, creating an aesthetic universe unto itself. DVD: 49min Purchase: iota Store Website: www.photonlightguitars.com |
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Dawn h
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06.27.2007 |
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Honorary award winner at the Kunst Film Biennale 2004
Excerpt from the DVD materials: “_grau is a mesmerizing, beautiful and disturbing work of art that fuses dark and light to create organic forms and amorphous shapes. The scenes unfold slowly, elegantly revealing tensions between seemingly simple fragments of life. It feels like a long look at some primordial soup giving birth to some of the world's first life forms, or one-celled organisms that can't quite fully resolve themselves. The soundtrack, with its lonely drones rising and falling, makes us believe we are witnessing a dark creation. The director's most impressive accomplishment was in going beyond the technology of the computer to create something that feels as if it is made of real moments in time, inside a reality only slightly offset from our own.” -Motion Theory “…_grau is a personal reflection on memories coming up during a car accident, where past events emerge, fuse, erode and finally vanish ethereally. Various real sources were distorted, filtered and fitted into a sculptural structure to create not a plain abstract, but a very private snapshot of a whole life within its last seconds…” -Robert Seidel, on his inspiration for _grau DVD 10 min Website: Robert Seidel |
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