The Mecca at Modella is an artist made film series that explores cinematic work and the moving image made in an artisanal or experimental mode of production that is motivated by artistic, cultural and intellectual concerns first, with monetary reward and popularity being secondary or negligible issues. These artist’s experiments with the moving-image range from abstract animation that is hand-made and drawn or painted directly on the filmstrip, photographically produced material that is edited in-camera without post-production, found-footage work that recontextualizes familiar and spectacular imagery and lyrical abstraction that combines novel photographic techniques with painted, hand-processed and expressive layers of imagery.
Described variously as avant-garde, experimental, underground or independent, these films were not commodities for mass consumption as they were self-financed and produced with the small-gauge, amateur film formats of 8mm, Super-8 and 16mm film. Each event will be programmed and presented by Jared Ashburn a doctoral student in the Screen Studies Department at OSU.
Many thanks to our sponsors Daddy O’s Music Co, Stillwater, OK and to the Stillwater Arts and Humanities Council.
Upcoming MECCA Film Series Dates: October 26th at 8:00pm November 30th at 8:00pm December 14th at 8:00pm
The September showing included: Grazing (1974 / 2006) by Woody Vasulka, 8:30 min, 16mm film, analog and digital video Urban Episodes (1980) by Steina Vasulka, 9:00 min, analog video Orka (1997) by Steina Vasulka, 15:00 min, analog and digital video Participation (1969 - 1971) by Steina and Woody Vasulka, 62:00 min, analog video Total Running Time: 95 minutes
More information about the films Participation is an anthology, which was screened in 1977 at the Third Annual Video Documentary Festival in New York City, that consists of excerpts from videos shot in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Participation reveals the Portapak's impact on documentary filmmaking of the time. Launched by Sony in 1965, the Portapak included a camera, a tape recorder and often a portable sound recorder. Although for the Vasulkas, the documentary style gave way to more formal experiments, they first used the Portapak to capture a New York teeming with counterculture movements.
Participation (1969-1971) focuses on the main players of these different movements. At the time, Steina and Woody taped indiscriminately and accumulated hours of videotape. The anthology incorporates scenes shot at Fillmore East and CBGB in New York and featuring such musical legends as Jimi Hendrix, Jethro Tull, Miles Davis and Keith Jarret.
Complete list of performers : Paul Ambrose, Ian Anderson, Billy Andrews, Gary Bartz, Tally Brown, Larry Chaplan, Don Cherry, Kevin Coe, Jackie Curtis, Candy Darling, Miles Davis, Jack DeJohnette, Eric Emerson, Estelle, Christmas Eve, Michael Enderson, Jimi Hendrix, Stephen Holt, Keith Jarret, Jay Johnson, Aunt Josie, Agosto Machado, Taylor Mead, Buddy Miles, Geri Miller, Mario Montez, Airto Moreira, Paul Morrissey, Ondine, Ritta Redd, Al Sayegh, Silva, Ekathrina Sobechanskaya, Steve Stanwick, Steina, Artchie Strips, David Susskind, Tinkerbelle, Jethro Tull, Richard Weinstock, Holly Woodlawn.