PureScreen 7: A Beautiful Virus Inside the Machine: Animation works by Lillian Schwartz, 1970–8

21 January 2005

19:00 - 21:00

PureScreen presents ‘A Beautiful Virus Inside The Machine’, curated by Lumen in collaboration with Gregory Kurcewicz. Funded by Arts Council England, Yorkshire (2003)

This touring film and video programme highlights the pioneering work of Lillian Schwartz, resident artist and consultant at Bell Laboratories (New Jersey), 1969—2002.

Venue: King’s Arms, Salford.

During the 70s and 80s Schwartz developed a catalogue of visionary techniques for the use of the computer system by artists. Her formal explorations in abstract animation involved the marriage of film, computers and music in collaboration with such luminaries as computer programmer Kenneth Knowlton and computer musicians Jean–Claude Risset, Max Mathews and Richard Moore.

Schwartz’s films have been shown and won awards at the Venice Biennale, Zagreb, Cannes, The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, and nominated and received Emmy nominations and awards. Her work has been exhibited at, and is owned by, The Museum of Modern Art (New York), The Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York), The Whitney Museum of American Art (New York), The Moderna Museet (Stockholm), Centre Beauborg (Paris), Stedlijk Museum of Art (Amsterdam), and the Grand Palais Museum (Paris).

Over the last year Lumen have collaborated with Lillian Schwartz and curator Gregory Kurcewicz to compile a programme of these important works. The 55 minute programme features 11 animations restored to video.

MORE ON GREGORY KURCEWICZ:
Gregory Kurcewicz is an artist and independent curator. He has programmed artist’s film in the UK and Europe, and most recently was the co–curator of Shoot! Shoot! Shoot!, a major, internationally touring, exhibition of film highlighting the work of the London Filmmakers Co–operative, 1966–76.