A Conversation with Helen De Michiel (Co-Director, NAMAC), “THE BEST AND WORST OF TIMES...”

Sun, 10 Jan 2010 12:20:59 -0800

As an artist and Co-Director of NAMAC, the National Alliance for Media Art + Culture, Helen De Michiel has been an active participant in ongoing conversations amongst diverse groups about the current state of media arts and the impact of digital technology on artists, arts practice, and culture.

True to the spirit of Helen’s own art work, when I asked to interview her about contemporary media she suggested instead a “dialogue.” We discussed a number of issues that make digital culture “the best and worst of times” for artists, activists, and concerned citizens: technological, aesthetic, and generational divides, new forms and definitions of creativity, the shifting roles of curators, copyright and fair use questions, and the issue of “holistic literacy.” We hope this inspires further conversations.

Joan Myers and the Search for Virginia Rappe in Film History

Wed, 1 Jul 2009 16:31:28 -0700

Independent researcher, Joan Myers, tells us of her findings from her search for information regarding the silent film actress, Virginia Rappe -- mainly known in film history as the woman who “destroyed” Arbuckle’s career through her death following a party in his hotel room.

Myers examines the received history of the subsequent trial(s) investigating Rappe’s death (and Arbuckle’s participation/responsibility) and the factors that contributed to how we understand those events today.

A non-canonical reading of silent film history, Myers’s account is an important one for feminist scholars.

Many thanks to Joan Myers and Marilyn Slater for their photos/materials used in the
podcast.

The Studio for Southern California History

Sat, 3 Jan 2009 16:05:13 -0800

An Interview with Sharon Sekhon, Founder and Director of The Studio for Southern California History.

The Studio is a community based cultural history museum, which focuses on overlooked histories/stories from the region. The Studio is unique not only for the kinds of stories told but also for its emphasis on interactive multimedia employed in historical writing. Located in the Chinatown area of Los Angeles, The Studio for Southern California History is another innovative “archive for the future.”

Cecelia Condit

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 18:27:01 -0700

Cecelia Condit is a media artist whose work pays particular attention to women’s voices and desires -- especially those at the margins of accepted speech and action. Her career is a long and highly distinguished one with videos from the early 1980s to today. She is the recipient of numerous awards for her work including NEA and Guggenheim fellowships.

Professor Condit was kind enough to talk about her work while in the final stages of completing her latest piece, ANNIE LLOYD -- a moving portrait of her mother as both parent and artist.

Cecelia Condit’s video works include:
BENEATH THE SKIN, 1981
POSSIBLY IN MICHIGAN, 1983
NOT A JEALOUS BONE, 1987
SUBURBS OF EDEN 1992
OH RAPUNZEL, 1996
WHY NOT A SPARROW, 2003
ALL ABOUT A GIRL, 2004
LITTLE SPIRITS, 2005
ANNIE LLOYD, 2008

All images seen in the podcast are courtesy of Cecelia Condit, with the exception of one image, which is courtesy of Mary Lucier (from a forthcoming work). Ms. Lucier’s image appears during the discussion of her work in our interview.