Videofreex: Our Day In NYC (1973) by Skip Blumberg

Recently spotted over at Gothamist, Our Day In NYC (see it below) is seemingly random NYC footage shot in 1973 by Skip Blumberg. About the film, Blumberg says, "This tape is like the Seinfeld show of video art: it's about nothing. I was practicing camera moves, following action, and editing in camera." 

Blumberg shot for the early independent video collective, Videofreex, in the seventies. Like the work of Anton Perich (and others whom I don't yet know about, I'm sure) Videofreex just pre-dated the Metropolis Video collective from which was eventually born the Nightclubbing team, as well as Paul Dougherty. 

After a little research (way to go Gothamist), I've found out that not only is there an official website for Videofreex (see it here), but there is also a documentary in the works about the collective. Fantastic! 

Videofreex - official website

Videofreex film - official website

Videofreex - facebook

Lastly, if you watch this, and explore the websites, and are looking for more, there's a book available called Videofreex: America's First Pirate TV Station & the Catskills Collective That Turned It On. On a personal note, what's really surprising to me is that this entire thing was apparently started not very far from where I sit at this very moment...

Anton Perich: In The Fabulous Underground

In The Fabulous Underground is a documentary from Minimal Cinema, by Italian filmmakers Claudio Romano & Mauro John Capece, about the life of the NYC-based artist Anton Perich. Perich came to New York in the early 70's from Croatia via Paris, and has been here ever since. He's an artist, photographer and filmmaker, and founded Night Magazine as well. Its not easy to tell if this is a finished project yet, or not, but I'll be keeping an eye out for more info from Minimal Cinema.

Minimal Cinema - official website
In The Fabulous Underground - facebook

Andrea, Jackie, Candy, Danny, Jason, Taylor, and Mickey

Live and in color! This is Max's Kansas City video shot by Anton Perich including Andrea Feldman, Jackie Curtis, Candy Darling, Danny Fields, Jason Holiday, Taylor Mead, Mickey Ruskin, and a plethora of others. At 14 minutes & 15 seconds, there isn't any sound until about the 13 minute mark, but it's worth going through for the you-are-there-ness of it. Color photographs from this scene are difficult enough to come by, never mind color film!

This is the edited version of a series of short clips by Perich, and currently being shown at the Steven Kasher Gallery from September 15, 2010-October 9, 2010. See more images from the show here.



Speaking of color, lets give another plug to the other Max's-related exhibition happening now as well at the Loretta Howard Gallery. Click this link or the JPEG below for more info.