Red/White/Blue: New American Fringe Film and Video

When: July 13th—15th, 20th, 21st, various times
Where: SAW Video Media Art Centre, 67 Nicholas St., Ottawa

The public is invited to attend. Admission to all events is free.

Through the co-sponsorship of the United States Embassy and the SAW Video Media Art Centre, three young American artists will present their films at “Red/White/Blue: New American Fringe Film and Video”. This six-part series is free and open to the public, featuring screenings of fringe genre films, a Master Class, and an artist talk. The three artists—Michael Robinson, Jesse McLean, and Penny Lane—will personally present their videos and short films.

The first artist to be featured is Michael Robinson of West Danby, New York. Six of his short films will be screened starting at 8pm on Friday, July 13th. SAW Video describes his films as “characterized by a looseness of time, space, cause and effect.” Robinson and fellow artist Jesse McLean will lead an artist discussion on Sunday, July 15th at noon to discuss their use of recycled footage in their films along with other commonalities between their works. Jesse McLean, who hails from Iowa City, Iowa, is known for recycling images and clips from other sources, especially popular culture. Her films focus on presenting emotions, especially “emotional release.”

During the second weekend of showings, Penny Lane of Lexington, Kentucky, will present six of her videos. Her films, which “[ask] us to consider whether found objects, documents, texts, photographs, sound recordings and archival films can reliably tell the truth,” are a “hybrid of narrative, documentary, and animation.” On Saturday, July 21st, Lane will lead a Master Class featuring her documentary film “The Abortion Diaries.”

The series of films will conclude on July 21st with eight films by other young American fringe artists. Learn more about the artists, films, and events.