From June through mid-July, 1997, Artists Space will present a six-week film and video program in the Main Gallery and Project Space, titled Tampering with the Reel. This project combines three curated and non-curated video and film events, and will constitute a mini film and video festival.
On alternate Thursday evenings, Artists Space will present screenings of new video and film works by artists who were selected by more established film and video artists. When possible the artists and selectors will be present to speak about the work and answer questions from the audience. The first component of the curated program will feature works chosen by Marina Abramovic, Judith Barry, and Alix Pearlstein.
The second curated program will be an exhibition of film and video installations organized by Artists Space Curator, Pip Day. Artists under consideration for the exhibition include Mark Lewis, Jalal Toufic, Jennifer Bornstein and Andrew Bordwin, and will feature several works by each artist. This exhibition follows a preoccupation in the work of many video and film artists with exploring the 'language' of the medium in which they work. The medium is considered on a structural level and is mined for the psychological that is infused in the structure itself. By manipulating visual, audio, temporal and narrative filmic devices, the work challenges the viewer by exposing familiar systems employed in Hollywood films or TV, thereby subtly activating what often seduces us into a passive viewing experience.
Thirdly, the program will feature three Open Call to Video Artists: First Come First Served events. During these events anyone can come to Artists Space, take a number, wait their turn and show new work for ten minutes. The Open Call will be from 7:00 to 9:00 pm during each evening. Artists Space will program as many video pieces as possible during each Open Call and these will be on view at the video stations set up in the Project Space. Tentative dates for Open Calls will be on June 9th, June 26th and July 10th, in the evening.