The Italian film theoretician Ricciotto Canudo saw cinema as as “plastic art in motion”. He also gave cinema the label “the Seventh Art”, a term that is probably still used in France but not at all in Hollywood. Cinema is a different kind of business, far removed from collecting as an investment. That might explain why finding video art, art film or interactive art is more like a scavenger hunt than a walkthrough the museum at everyone’s favourite week, December 1 through 7, Miami Art Week.
So, if your religion is cinema and images needs to be in motion, here is a guide:
ART VIDEO 2k14
Organized in association with David Gryn, Director of Londonʼs Artprojx, the Film sector presents a dynamic program of films by and about artists. Screenings take place at the outdoor setting of SoundScape Park, where works are shown on the 7,000-square-foot outdoor projection wall of the Frank Gehry-designed New World Center; and inside the Miami Beach Convention Center. It begins on Wednesday, December 3rd, 8 to 9pm with the short program “Playfulness”. The intelligence, wit and humor of artists such as Turner Prize winners Mark Leckey, Elizabeth Price, Martin Creed and Laure Prouvost are punctuated by the brief digitally-animated paintings of Hayal Pozanti and the slapstick ‘human sculptural intervention’ clips of Wood & Harrison. Our favourite animator, David Shrigley, has not one but two shorts screening that week.
In addition to Art Basel’s film program this year, Zurich film connoisseur This Brunner selected a feature length film for a special screening at the Colony Theatre. Tim Burton’s new movie Big Eyes is based on the true story of Walter Keane, who presented his wife Margaret Keane’s works as his. Her paintings of children with big eyes caught on in the 1950s and 1960s. The special Dec. 5th screening is open to the public and free, but there is limited seating. It starts at 8:30 p.m. at the Colony Theater, 1040 Lincoln Road, in Miami Beach.
For an interactive experience, here is one we should all do, In Search of the Truth (The Truth Booth) is an installation comprised of a touring, portable, inflatable ‘Truth Booth’ that was launched in 2011 at the Galway Arts Festival (IRL). The exterior is iconically shaped like a giant cartoon speech bubble with the word ‘TRUTH’ boldly printed on the side. The interior acts much like a photo booth, but serves to compile 2 minute long video responses from the public.
Once seated inside they will then be invited to record their opinions and thoughts as they finish the statement: “The truth is…”. Throughout this long-term project the video footage will be compiled and edited into a video artwork. To expand and engage with audiences, the movements of TheTruth Booth and sample responses will be tracked, edited, discussed and categorised on this website.
CINEMA AL FRESSCO
The long awaited Cinema Al Fresco program launches at O Cinema during Art Basel with three curated programs by the local collectives Indie Film Club Miami, Borscht Film Festival and coll Monday. Welcome to O Cinema’s newest outdoor movie series! Cine Al Fresco creates a place for people to come together & enjoy free, outdoor films as a community. Saturday night’s featured directors include: Egon Von Schirach, Christian Proa, Carlos de Varona & Michael Valencia, Tina Francisco, Abdulrahman Khawj, Kara McCormack, Carl Knickerbocker, Diliana Alexander, Gianfranco Bianchi and Benito Portes, Featuring a special free tasting from Hiro Sake! This event is free to the public. Supported by Art Place.
