Releases
San Francisco Film Society Presents New KinoTek Exhibit, Brent Green: 'To Many Men Strange Fates Are Given,' September 15–October 20 at Steven Wolf Fine Arts
Animator and Fine Artist Brent Green’s Latest Project is a Multimedia Sculpture Inspired by the Spacesuit Worn by Laika, the Canine Russian Cosmonaut
8/7/2012
The San Francisco Film Society presents a new KinoTek program featuring work by animator and fine artist Brent Green, September 15–October 20, at Steven Wolf Fine Arts, 2747 19th Street Suite A, San Francisco. The Film Society will host an opening night reception in honor of Green Saturday September 15, 6:00–8:00 pm. Gallery hours are Wednesday–Friday 10:30 am–5:30 pm, Saturday 11:00 am–5:00 pm or by appointment. Admission is free.
On Monday September 17, 7:30 pm at San Francisco Art Institute, Green will present an artist’s talk on the development of his latest work in collaboration with the Experimental and Media Performing Arts Center at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The talk is free and open to the public.
“I am thrilled to be able to work with Brent Green, whose vision and persistence are tempered with an admirable integrity,” said SFFS KinoTek programmer Sean Uyehara. “His projects have helped me to clarify what I think qualifies as ‘important work,’ and I hope his approach can likewise inspire others. I am also beyond pleased to be able to work with Steven Wolf of Steven Wolf Fine Arts and Glen Helfand of San Francisco Art Institute in bringing Brent to San Francisco.”
Continuing his tradition of applying new technologies to his staunchly DIY, American folk roots, Green’s sculpture To Many Men Strange Fates Are Given is built with deconstructed LCD screens, an elaborate welded steel frame, polarized lenses and sets of delicate machine-milled wooden audio horns, all serving as a platform for a new hand-drawn three-dimensional animation displayed on two layered panels simultaneously, harkening back to the tradition of animating on glass. The animation can only be seen when the viewer looks through the polarized lenses located at three stations around the sculpture; otherwise, Green’s film is invisible. The story centers on the tale of the woman who sewed the spacesuit for Laika, the dog sent into space by the Russians in 1957. Pulsating with the intensity of the artist’s own signature narration, the sound track articulates themes of progress and insight, of invention, wonder and faith. To Many Men Strange Fates Are Given demonstrates both the technical and formal progress in Green’s artistic journey and reflects the increasing deftness with which he handles humanistic themes in his storytelling, carving out from his self-taught roots a new and sophisticated handmade aesthetic, sustained by a stark political agenda that runs through his lyrically composed allegories.
Brent Green (b. 1978) is a self-taught animator living and working in the Appalachian hills of Pennsylvania. A 2005 Creative Capital grantee, Green’s sculptures, films, live performances and drawings have been exhibited in venues ranging from rooftops across the globe to renowned art institutions such as MoMA and the J. Paul Getty Center. Recent solo shows of his work include large scale installations at Site Santa Fe, the Berkeley Art Museum and DiverseWorks Art Space (Houston) along with various stagings of his last feature film project, Gravity Was Everywhere Back Then, including exhibitions at the ASU Art Museum (Tempe), Art Without Walls (Louisville), Andrew Edlin Gallery (New York) and a screening at the 2010 San Francisco International Animation Festival. Live performances of Gravity were held at The Kitchen (New York), the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, the Hammer Museum, the Walker Art Center, the Indianapolis Museum of Art and the Wexner Center for the Arts, to name just a few. His next feature film project, Anatomical Maps With Battle Plans, will interpret the mythic tale of his grandfather in collage, live action and animated form.
For complete program information visit sffs.org/Exhibition/KinoTek.
KinoTek is a programming stream presenting nontraditional, cross-platform and emergent media. Throughout 2011 and 2012 the Film Society will present eight KinoTek programs, each featuring the work of an artist or practice that challenges the boundaries of screen-based art. Previous programs in the series have featured video artist/sculptor Nate Boyce, fine artist Adriane Colburn, interactive installation designer Karolina Sobecka, Brooklyn-based writer/performer Erin Markey, pioneering software artist Marius Watz and American multimedia artist Laurel Nakadate.
KinoTek is supported by the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts and the Phyllis C. Wattis Foundation.
For interviews contact bproctor@sffs.org.
For photos and press materials visit sffs.org/pressdownloads.
More upcoming San Francisco Film Society programs
Through August 11: KinoTek: Nate Boyce
Through August 9: The Devil, Probably
Opening August 10: The Moth Diaries
Also opening August 10: Battle Royale
August 11 only: Special Family Screening of James and the Giant Peach followed by a Q&A and show-and-tell with artists who worked on the film—and some of the puppets and props they used.
Opening August 17: Love in the City
August 24: Master Class: Les Blank on Documentary
August 28 only: SFFS Global Threats Film Series: Global Pandemic Double Feature, Soderbergh’s Contagion and Kazan’s Panic in the Streets with discussion led by Mark Smolinski, Director of Global Health Threats with the Skoll Global Threats Fund.
September 21–23: Hong Kong Cinema Presenting recent works from one of the world’s most exciting film industries.
October 12–14: Taiwan Film Days A showcase of the best contemporary Taiwanese cinema.
October 24–30: French Cinema Now Significant new works of international francophone cinema.
November 9–11: Cinema by the Bay Celebrating the passion, innovation and diversity of Bay Area filmmaking.
November 11–18: New Italian Cinema Celebrating the rich cinematic tradition of Italy and its newest generation of filmmakers.
December: KinoTek: Kota Ezawa, animation
San Francisco Film Society
Building on a legacy of more than 50 years of bringing the best in world cinema to the Bay Area, the San Francisco Film Society is a national leader in exhibition, education and filmmaker services.
The Film Society presents 365 days of exhibition each year, reaching a total audience of 130,000 people. Its acclaimed education program introduces international, independent and documentary cinema and media literacy to more than 10,000 teachers and students and presents more than 100 classes and workshops annually. Through Filmmaker360, the Film Society’s filmmaker services program, essential creative and business services and funding totaling millions of dollars are provided to deserving filmmakers of all levels.
The Film Society seeks to elevate all aspects of film culture, offering a wide range of activities that engage emotions, inspire action, change perceptions and advance knowledge. A 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation, it is largely donor and member supported. Patronage and membership provides discounted prices, access to grants and residencies, private events and a wealth of other benefits.
For more information visit sffs.org.
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On Monday September 17, 7:30 pm at San Francisco Art Institute, Green will present an artist’s talk on the development of his latest work in collaboration with the Experimental and Media Performing Arts Center at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The talk is free and open to the public.
“I am thrilled to be able to work with Brent Green, whose vision and persistence are tempered with an admirable integrity,” said SFFS KinoTek programmer Sean Uyehara. “His projects have helped me to clarify what I think qualifies as ‘important work,’ and I hope his approach can likewise inspire others. I am also beyond pleased to be able to work with Steven Wolf of Steven Wolf Fine Arts and Glen Helfand of San Francisco Art Institute in bringing Brent to San Francisco.”
Continuing his tradition of applying new technologies to his staunchly DIY, American folk roots, Green’s sculpture To Many Men Strange Fates Are Given is built with deconstructed LCD screens, an elaborate welded steel frame, polarized lenses and sets of delicate machine-milled wooden audio horns, all serving as a platform for a new hand-drawn three-dimensional animation displayed on two layered panels simultaneously, harkening back to the tradition of animating on glass. The animation can only be seen when the viewer looks through the polarized lenses located at three stations around the sculpture; otherwise, Green’s film is invisible. The story centers on the tale of the woman who sewed the spacesuit for Laika, the dog sent into space by the Russians in 1957. Pulsating with the intensity of the artist’s own signature narration, the sound track articulates themes of progress and insight, of invention, wonder and faith. To Many Men Strange Fates Are Given demonstrates both the technical and formal progress in Green’s artistic journey and reflects the increasing deftness with which he handles humanistic themes in his storytelling, carving out from his self-taught roots a new and sophisticated handmade aesthetic, sustained by a stark political agenda that runs through his lyrically composed allegories.
Brent Green (b. 1978) is a self-taught animator living and working in the Appalachian hills of Pennsylvania. A 2005 Creative Capital grantee, Green’s sculptures, films, live performances and drawings have been exhibited in venues ranging from rooftops across the globe to renowned art institutions such as MoMA and the J. Paul Getty Center. Recent solo shows of his work include large scale installations at Site Santa Fe, the Berkeley Art Museum and DiverseWorks Art Space (Houston) along with various stagings of his last feature film project, Gravity Was Everywhere Back Then, including exhibitions at the ASU Art Museum (Tempe), Art Without Walls (Louisville), Andrew Edlin Gallery (New York) and a screening at the 2010 San Francisco International Animation Festival. Live performances of Gravity were held at The Kitchen (New York), the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, the Hammer Museum, the Walker Art Center, the Indianapolis Museum of Art and the Wexner Center for the Arts, to name just a few. His next feature film project, Anatomical Maps With Battle Plans, will interpret the mythic tale of his grandfather in collage, live action and animated form.
For complete program information visit sffs.org/Exhibition/KinoTek.
KinoTek is a programming stream presenting nontraditional, cross-platform and emergent media. Throughout 2011 and 2012 the Film Society will present eight KinoTek programs, each featuring the work of an artist or practice that challenges the boundaries of screen-based art. Previous programs in the series have featured video artist/sculptor Nate Boyce, fine artist Adriane Colburn, interactive installation designer Karolina Sobecka, Brooklyn-based writer/performer Erin Markey, pioneering software artist Marius Watz and American multimedia artist Laurel Nakadate.
KinoTek is supported by the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts and the Phyllis C. Wattis Foundation.
For interviews contact bproctor@sffs.org.
For photos and press materials visit sffs.org/pressdownloads.
More upcoming San Francisco Film Society programs
Through August 11: KinoTek: Nate Boyce
Through August 9: The Devil, Probably
Opening August 10: The Moth Diaries
Also opening August 10: Battle Royale
August 11 only: Special Family Screening of James and the Giant Peach followed by a Q&A and show-and-tell with artists who worked on the film—and some of the puppets and props they used.
Opening August 17: Love in the City
August 24: Master Class: Les Blank on Documentary
August 28 only: SFFS Global Threats Film Series: Global Pandemic Double Feature, Soderbergh’s Contagion and Kazan’s Panic in the Streets with discussion led by Mark Smolinski, Director of Global Health Threats with the Skoll Global Threats Fund.
September 21–23: Hong Kong Cinema Presenting recent works from one of the world’s most exciting film industries.
October 12–14: Taiwan Film Days A showcase of the best contemporary Taiwanese cinema.
October 24–30: French Cinema Now Significant new works of international francophone cinema.
November 9–11: Cinema by the Bay Celebrating the passion, innovation and diversity of Bay Area filmmaking.
November 11–18: New Italian Cinema Celebrating the rich cinematic tradition of Italy and its newest generation of filmmakers.
December: KinoTek: Kota Ezawa, animation
San Francisco Film Society
Building on a legacy of more than 50 years of bringing the best in world cinema to the Bay Area, the San Francisco Film Society is a national leader in exhibition, education and filmmaker services.
The Film Society presents 365 days of exhibition each year, reaching a total audience of 130,000 people. Its acclaimed education program introduces international, independent and documentary cinema and media literacy to more than 10,000 teachers and students and presents more than 100 classes and workshops annually. Through Filmmaker360, the Film Society’s filmmaker services program, essential creative and business services and funding totaling millions of dollars are provided to deserving filmmakers of all levels.
The Film Society seeks to elevate all aspects of film culture, offering a wide range of activities that engage emotions, inspire action, change perceptions and advance knowledge. A 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation, it is largely donor and member supported. Patronage and membership provides discounted prices, access to grants and residencies, private events and a wealth of other benefits.
For more information visit sffs.org.
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