His work has been exhibited in museums and festivals worldwide. We often talk, a bit blithely, about art as a place, a haven. Oct 18, 2015 jonas mekas took his first photograph at age 17, when soviet tanks rolled into his village in lithuania. Conversation jonas mekas with stuart comer swiss institute. I never did anything because i was interested in it, but from a certain kind of compulsion. Disconnected is a show about the quarantine shot during the quarantine may 4, 2020. You see the final farewell at the buddhist temple, 118 west 22nd street, new york city, and some of his close friends. Patti smith, gregory corso, leroy jonesbaraka, hiro yamagata, anne waldman, and many others. Jonas mekas is widely regarded as a key proponent in experimental cinema in the united states, both for his own adventurous filmmaking and. New york is the home and workplace of another lithuanian artist who, as a matter of fact, was closely involved with george maciunas, andy warhol, nico, allen ginsberg, yoko ono, john lennon and salvador dali. Delivered at commencement exercises, philadelphia college of art, 11 june, 1966. Oct 10, 2017 october 10, 2017 born in lithuania in 1922, jonas mekas is a filmmaker, writer, critic, and poet. Read all poems of jonas mekas and infos about jonas mekas. Born in lithuania in 1922, chased west by soviet and nazi forces, mekas and his brother spent four years in german displaced persons camps before arriving in new york in 1949 where they started shooting 16mm films on exile, military.
You hear jonas description of his last conversation with allen, three days earlier. Film screenings programs retrospectives jonas mekas. Apr 21, 2016 jonas mekas was the cofounder, in 1954, of the seminal publication film culture. His work has been exhibited in museums and at festivals worldwide. Im paraphrasing citizen kane, but the line seems apt for my conversation with jonas mekas the 94yearold. Walden by jonas mekas a movie to download, on vod and legal streaming lacinetek. Jul 24, 2017 jonas mekas, with his extravagant lithuanian enthusiasm, loved sleep, hailed it as a work of genius, put a stillphoto on the cover of the next issue of film culture, and arranged for the world premiere of sleep at the filmmakers showcase at 8 east 27th street. The first screening for jonas mekas, on an old clacking projector on wynns. Jonas mekas is often referred to as the godfather of american avantgarde filmmaking, having fulfilled numerous roles in promoting and cultivating experimental film in america.
Jonas mekas took his first photograph at age 17, when soviet tanks rolled into his village in lithuania. Jan 23, 2019 jonas mekas is a lithuanianamerican filmmaker, poet and artist who has often been called the godfather of american avantgarde cinema. He was the first film critic of the village voice, and his selfchosen beat was the noncommercial cinema. Diaries, notes, and sketches aka walden directed by jonas mekas an excerpt from the pioneering filmmakers first completed video diary, a portrait of the avantgarde art scene in 60s new york. He remains one of the most influential figures in independent and underground cinema. Nov 02, 2018 jonas mekas and friends in concert berlin july 7, 2018. He immigrated to new york when he was almost 27, made his first autobiographical film at 46. Jonas mekas, champion of the poetic cinema the new yorker. Poet and hero of the american counterculture, jonas mekas, born in lithuania in 1922, invented the diary form of filmmaking. December 24, 1922 january 23, 2019 was a lithuanianamerican filmmaker, poet, and artist who has often been called the godfather of american avantgarde cinema. In the february 9, 1961, issue of the voice, jonas mekas mused on a major studio production and the ultimate hollywood star. Walden, his first completed diary film, shot between 19641969, is an epic portrait of the new york avantgarde art scene of the 60s and a groundbreaking work of personal cinema.
Walden, his first completed diary film, an epic portrait of the new york avant garde. Jonas mekas and friends in concert berlin july 7, 2018. Among his many accomplishments, the avantgarde film champion jonas mekas, now 92, pioneered the socalled diary film, based on the idea. Jonas mekas walden, also known as diaries, notes and sketches 1969 16mm, color, 180min available on vod here disponible en vod. He was often called the godfather of american avantgarde cinema. Jonas mekas simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Born in lithuania in 1922, chased west by soviet and nazi forces, mekas and his brother spent four years in german displaced persons camps before arriving in new york in 1949 where they started shooting 16mm films on exile, military domination and poetic freedom.
Jonas mekas december 24, 1922 january 23, 2019 was a lithuanianamerican filmmaker, poet and artist. With jonas mekas, adolfas mekas, pola chapelle, ken jacobs. Born in lithuania in 1922, chased west by soviet and nazi forces, mekas and his brother spent four years in german displaced persons camps before arriving in new york in 1949 where they started shooting 16mm films on exile, military domination and. Jonas mekas poems, quotations and biography on jonas mekas poet page. Peter kubelka, annette michelson, jonas mekas, jane brakhage, stan brakhage, robert breer, hollis frampton, ken jacobs, adolfas mekas, oona mekas, jonas. Nov 04, 2012 this box brings together the key works of jonas mekas, one of the most prolific avantgarde film artists and an acclaimed poet. Jonas mekas is often referred to as the godfather of american avantgarde filmmaking, having. Im paraphrasing citizen kane, but the line seems apt for my.
After nearly thirty years jonas mekas walden looms as a central cinematic document of daily life in the new york community of artists during one of its moments of splendor. Apr 22, 2015 after nearly thirty years jonas mekas walden looms as a central cinematic document of daily life in the new york community of artists during one of its moments of splendor. Jonas mekas on documenting your life the creative independent. Jonas mekas, the godfather of avantgarde cinema, talks to sean ohagan about working with andy warhol, salvador dali and jackie kennedy sean ohagan sat 1 dec 2012 14. This box brings together the key works of jonas mekas, one of the most prolific avantgarde film artists and an acclaimed poet. Jonas mekas, with his extravagant lithuanian enthusiasm, loved sleep, hailed it as a work of genius, put a stillphoto on the cover of the next issue of film culture, and arranged for the world premiere of sleep at the filmmakers showcase at 8 east 27th street. On richard foremans new film once every day jonas mekas february 12, 20. Jonas mekas is a lithuanianamerican filmmaker, poet and artist who has often been called the godfather of american avantgarde cinema. More than 60 years of tireless work in film, arts and media has earned him the epithet the godfather of american avantgarde cinema. Walden, his first completed diary film, an epic portrait of the new york avantgarde art scene of the 60s, is also a groundbreaking work of personal cinema.
In the first part jonas mekas tells about his time as emigrant in new york in 1950s, after leaving the home country of lithuania. Mekas was born in semeniskiai, the son of elzbieta. In 1944 jonas mekas left lithuania, with his brother adolfas. Oct 02, 2017 jonas mekas died this week at the age of 96. His work has been exhibited in museums and festivals across europe and america. Dec 01, 2012 jonas mekas, the godfather of avantgarde cinema, talks to sean ohagan about working with andy warhol, salvador dali and jackie kennedy sean ohagan sat 1 dec 2012 14. Sep 21, 2017 y ou were here before the beginning, and youre still here, after the end. Nobody will tell you to tirelessly, impulsively pursue your dreams without first thinking them through, or formulating a backup plan. Jonas mekas, born december 24, 1922, semeniskiai, birzai, lithuania, is a director, cinematographer, editor, writer, actor, poet, artist and publicist. The view is of a displaced persons dp camp in kassel, germany, in the aftermath of the second world war, and the figure depicted is 26yearold refugee jonas mekas. He survived a world war ii labor camp and postwar displacement before immigrating to new york in 1949 to embark upon a career in the arts. Walden, originally titled diaries, notes and sketches also known as walden, is a 1968 american film by experimental filmmaker jonas mekas.
Jonas mekas was the cofounder, in 1954, of the seminal publication film culture. Discussion and info on people in film, ranging from directors to actors to cinematographers to writers. October 10, 2017 born in lithuania in 1922, jonas mekas is a filmmaker, writer, critic, and poet. The official facebook page of jonas mekas 19222019. Courtesy of tiff t he villain is the 20th century, says emigre filmmaker jonas mekas in douglas gordons pompous, empty feature film about. Jonas mekas is a lithuanian filmmaker, writer, and curator who has often been called the godfather of american avantgarde cinema. At first i processed it as an atmospheric street scene with a movie theater. Y ou were here before the beginning, and youre still here, after the end. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. Jonas mekas is a filmmaker, artist, poet and writer.
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