This exhibition is based on a call for works for short form media that in some way represent the subject of water.
To program an Independent Exposure series based on a thematic call for works posed an exciting challenge to the established curatorial mission and methods of Microcinema International – a mission that has evolved through hundreds of screening programs over the last nine years. Microcinema typically selects films and videos from its ongoing call which have no thematic restrictions – only a time limit of fifteen minutes maximum. So, it was with a great deal of curiosity that we viewed over 100 submissions from around the world to see how the artists would interpret the subject of water.
In 1996, we created the Independent Exposure screening series to provide a venue for artists whose filmmaking approach pushed the boundaries of the medium. These artists experiment with new electronic technologies and use existing analog techniques in novel ways. At the same time, the Internet enabled us to discover and communicate with artists and curators throughout the world. The nexus of our activity was the venue; a small, alternative space such as a cafe, gallery, warehouse, or church. While the “film industry” was busy co-opting the “independent filmmaker,” a new culture of truly independent artists was emerging. Out of necessity and equipped with new technology, these artists tackled the art of filmmaking on a highly personal level. Enthusiastic audiences quickly developed to support these artists and the microcinema movement was born.
To produce this exhibition, we followed our typical curatorial mission: to produce a program that entertains and challenges the viewer with an eclectic mix of international works. We look for quality works that contextualize the vibrant and constantly evolving art forms of film and video and works that present the oftentimes deeply personal expressions of artists working within the Microcinema movement. The twelve works presented in this special water-themed program represent the breadth and scope of the challenging works being created by today’s moving image artists.
Many of the artists presented in this program bridge the gap between the moving image arts and the visual, photographic arts. They use water as an artistic medium itself. Netherlands-based Ingeberg Verleisdonk, opens the compilation with a simple, short, yet powerful piece symbolizing our interactions with water. England’s Patricia Townsend transforms the everyday occurrence of draining water into a beautiful and thought provoking study. Seattle artist Mark O’Connell concludes the program with his impressionistic vision of snow falling outside the window of his production studio.
Water also is used as a powerful vehicle to convey social, political, and personal messages. Michigan artist Dylan Seuss Brakeman uses the literal imagery of a river to tell the story of a death of a friend. Portland, Oregon-based filmmaker Chel White’s Passage pits the poetic against the pathetic in a visual poem utilizing water “portraits”. Virginia Valdez experiments with the imagery of a sunken ship to portray our endless struggle against the current of life.
As water flows through all of us and everything around us, this program will satisfy your thirst for discovery while exposing you to yet more un-chartered territory.
111 Minna Gallery is a dynamic ‘contemporary art salon’ that provides an arena for multi-dimensional artistic expression in a community atmosphere. The goal of the ‘gallery-as salon’ concept is to nurture and support a communal gathering of artists and a collaboration between diverse art forms. This goal is achieved through six-week rotations of visual art exhibitions curated by the staff combined with a variety of music and film events. ‘Minna’ is not only the name of the street on which the gallery is found but also translates from Japanese as "everybody," an all-inclusive term that symbolizes the embracing environment of the space. The gallery, which also offers two bars, is crafted in an eclectic, contemporary design with ample furniture inviting guests to leisurely relax and enjoy conversation among friends. The combination of art, music, film, dance and conversation found at 111 Minna Gallery creates a unique gathering place for a multi-sensory experience.
Artist and entrepreneur Eiming Jung opened 111 Minna Gallery in September 1993. The successful evolution of the gallery over the years has allowed for the opportunity to expand the space from its original 1,600 square feet to over 4,000 square feet. The new space has abundant natural light from nearly floor to ceiling windows that face bustling Second Street in the South of Market district in downtown San Francisco. Lighting designer Terry Ohm, of Impact Lighting, has created and installed a multi-use theatrical lighting design adaptable for gallery exhibits, installations and ambient event lighting. The gallery has also commissioned Bay Area bronze sculptor Jud Bergeron to craft a 25 foot steel and copper patinated bar.
