Glowlab

Canal Zone

Canal Zone is showing at the Storefront for Art and Architecture February 22, 2005 at 7:30pm and it's free.

"Canal Zone is about the people who live and work in the Panama Canal Zone and shows both the operation of the Canal and the various governmental agencies ñ business, military, and civilian ñ related to the functioning of the Canal and the lives of the Americans in the zone. The film includes sequences of ships in transit, the work of special canal pilots, aspects of the civil government, work of the military, and the social, religious and recreational life of the Zonians."

"The Gift"

"The Gift" shows works by Norwegian artists Marianne Heier, Jesper Alvaer as well as commentary work by Arve Roed, a Norwegian critic and artist. "The Gift" is currently displayed at Sparwasser HQ located in Berlin.

Quality of Life

Glowlab attended the first New York screening of the new film Quality of Life, and we're crossing our fingers that this movie makes it into theaters soon.

There's a good article in the SF Chronicle about the film. From the synopsis: "Meet Michael "Heir" Rosario and Curtis "Vain" Smith, the most prolific and talented graffiti writers from the Mission District in San Francisco. At age ten, in a desperate search for fame and identity, the young friends began writing their names on surrounding urban landscapes. More than a decade later, the duo have evolved into a brilliant team of street artists. The two have covertly decorated the canvases of concrete and steel throughout the Bay Area. However, when Heir and Vain are arrested for painting, their secret identities are revealed and creative outlets are abruptly severed. "

The ever-amazing Wooster Collective is supporting "Quality of Life" and on a related note, there's a great post on their site today about digital analysis of graf writers' tags.

Laurel Beckman

Laurel Beckman, a Conflux participant and Southern California resident, is making use of California's obsenely large auto mall LED screens on the 101. The project is called "Flow" and includes  Phane Calligent, Jane Mulfinger, Danny Lewis, Annie Shaw, Jay Lizo, Teja Ream and Laurel Beckman.

“FLOW presents six art projects based on the theme of “transportation and movement” to be displayed on the Oxnard Auto Center’s video billboard on the 101 near Rose Avenue”, Beckman said. “Each of the talented artists involved bring a unique perspective and energy to the project”.

OXNARD AUTO CENTER’S “BIG SIGN” DISPLAYS
UNIQUE ART EXHIBITION

Local Artists use Center’s LED Screen as their Canvas
Art Presentation runs from January 10 -28

 OXNARD, Calif. – January 3, 2005 –When the Oxnard Auto Center was contacted by UCSB Art Professor Laurel Beckman concerning an art exhibit that would utilize the Center’s large video display LED screen on the 101 Freeway, the dealers thought it would be a good opportunity for local artists to show their work, and for the center to show-off their Big Sign.

 “The idea of using the sign to showcase local artists is a nice fit for the Oxnard Auto Center, considering the direction we have taken regarding community involvement”, said Randy Haddock President of Vista Ford of Oxnard and President of the Oxnard Auto Center Association.

 “We have always felt that supporting school programs is an important thing to do. That’s why you’ll often see local students featured on the Big Sign,” Haddock said.

 The name of the art exhibition is “FLOW” and is the brainchild of Laurel Beckman, a professor of art at the University of California Santa Barbara. Ms. Beckman is also the curator of this unique display that features works of art created especially for this project and particular sign.

 “FLOW presents six art projects based on the theme of “transportation and movement” to be displayed on the Oxnard Auto Center’s video billboard on the 101 near Rose Avenue”, Beckman said. “Each of the talented artists involved bring a unique perspective and energy to the project”.

The artists participating in this event are Phane Calligent, Jane Mulfinger, Danny Lewis, Annie Shaw, Jay Lizo, Teja Ream and Laurel Beckman.

 “The Oxnard Auto Center Association is happy to be working with the art community in celebrating expression and achievement,” Haddock said. “All of our members have a strong sense of community, as witnessed by the fact that all that we are all supportive of this project.”

The FLOW Art Exhibition will run Monday, January 10 through Friday, January 28. Art works will appear in rotation at the top of the hour and on the half hour.

new from Somniscope

Our friends at Somniscope have a new "audio-visual ep" titled Treasured Seconds, released on a net.label called Conv. This is a collection of 6 films made from March to June 2004, which are "meant to seem like day dreams or moments in time that you pause and watch."

. s o m n i s c o p e . n e w s .

Somniscope is a collaboration of Liam Frankland from Suffolk, England and Dave Fyans of Perth, Scotland. Liam and Dave have just released their first film for 2004. Check out these guys to see how psychogrographers interpret through the mediums of film and sound.

"Our love of the abstract, the ambient and the obscure brought us together. We explore our enviroments through the means of psychogeography, vibrant colours, natural and unnatural movements, soft focus, white noise and bleeps."