Lamplightings

The Flicker and Tony Conrad: DreaMinimalist
Various Directors

Sunday, September 21, 1 pm | BUY TICKETS
$12 | $8 Speed members

An essential figure of both underground film and music, Tony Conrad’s explorations of minimalism in image and sounds defined such movements as structuralism in cinema and sonically influenced the likes of Lou Reed and Terry Riley. Conrad’s artistic voice is one of utmost humanity with work that is as challenging as it is playful, remaining accessible as it eschews tradition and disregards what might be considered comfortable for viewers. In this program, Conrad’s defining film The Flicker is paired with the lovingly absurd Tony Conrad: DreaMimimalist, a kinetic later-in-life portrait of the artist by the deft French documentarian Marie Losier. Total running time: 56 minutes.

NOTE: This program contains bright flashing lights.

The Flicker
Directed by Tony Conrad

This is a notorious film; it moves audiences into some space and time in which they may look around and find the movie happening in the room there with them. Much has been written about The Flicker. It is a library of peculiar visual materials, referenced to the frame-pulse at 24 frames per second. All flickering light is potentially hazardous for photogenic epileptics or photogenic migraine sufferers. 1966, U.S., 16mm, 30 minutes.

Tony Conrad: DreaMiminalist
Directed by Marie Losier

This is a dream portrait of Tony Conrad playing in his studio with costumes and wigs, jumping on beds with Joe Gibbons, playing violin in his home town Buffalo, cooking pickled films, performing at Tonic in NYC, recalling his first hand puppet performances with his mother, his first meeting with Jack Smith and his involvement with Flaming Creatures. Two years of footage and stories and laughter to share. 2008, U.S., video, 26 minutes.