Speed Cinema Presents: Tony Conrad: Completely in the Present
Sunday, May 14, 3 p.m.
Speed Art Museum Cinema
Directed by Tyler Hubby
“An unpretentious portrait of a singular artist.”—The WIRE
Filmed over the past two decades, director Tyler Hubby captures the freewheeling creativity of the groundbreaking avant-garde multimedia artist Tony Conrad, whose work in experimental film and video, music and sound art—even public television—spanned more than 50 years. From his early seminal film The Flicker (1966) consisting entirely of alternating solid black and white frames to his acting and soundtrack composition for Jack Smith’s Flaming Creatures (1963), Conrad was always pushing boundaries.
In music, he worked with Karlheinz Stockhausen and La Monte Young on Just Intonation and Minimalist scores. He also played a pivotal role in the formation of the Velvet Underground and late in life created new musical instruments as art works.
Utilizing intimate footage of Conrad and his collaborators, as well as his own archive of recordings and films, this documentary captures his playful, radical approach to art making. 2016, U.K., DCP, 95 minutes. Recommended for 16+.
Don’t forget to bring your Speed Art Museum membership card to verify your membership.