Flux @ the Hammer
Wisps of grass wave in gentle sunlight, dragon flies hover in verdant forests and a river of blue glistens cheerfully. Then, unexpectedly, a hulking clay figure appears, eyes widening and mouth grimacing before dissolving into a primordial pool of colored silicone. This is the opening of the music video for Grizzly Bear's track "Able, Ready," by the LA-based artist Allison Shulnik. The CalArts grad captures the song's wistful vibe, and crosses fearlessly back and forth between lyrical images of nature and the almost monstrous clay figures, which are disconcerting in their constant oozing and morphing, and yet strangely human in their facial expressions and movement. The video, which will screen as part of the Flux Screening Series at the Hammer Museum this Thursday night, is jut one of a terrific line-up of projects, which includes the premiere of a new colorful and ever clever Michel Gondry video ("Open Your Heart" by Mia Doi Tood), Keith Schofield's delightfully strange story snippets for "Heaven Can Wait" by Charlotte Gainsbourg and Beck, and a new, moody animated project that could be from the turn of the last century by Stefan Nadelman, "I Say Fever" by Ramonoa Falls. The mandate for Flux is to highlight new talent in music video, animation and motion graphics, and this month's program will not disappoint; indeed, the Flux team goes beyond LA and even the US this time by including three new videos from France fresh from a scouting trip to Paris. [Image from "Able, Ready."]
the details:
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Hammer Museum
Box office opens @ 7:00 p.m.
Screening @ 8:00 p.m.
After party, with live performance by Mia Doi Todd, Michel Gondry and friends, 10:00 p.m.
Free, but arrive early, and RSVP
More information here.