Early Abstractions (1946) by Harry Smith
Thursday, May 19, 1988, 7:30 pm
The Magic and Alchemy of Harry Smith
Alchemist and saint, lyricist and madman: these are just a few descriptions of Harry Smith by friends and colleagues which have appeared over the years. Tonight’s program offers a rare opportunity to view the major works of this unique, legendary figure of avant-garde film, and includes all of Smith’s completed films as of 1975. The results of 30 years’ labor, these extraordinarily beautiful films cover a wide range of cinematic styles: from color batiking and painting on film in Early Abstractions, black and white cut-out collage animation of Heaven and Earth Magic Feature, to the photographic multiple layerings of Late Superimpositions.