Screening program:

• Everyman as Anyman, or Putting On, On, On, On, On (1969) by Esta Nesbitt, from the Esta Nesbitt papers, 1941–1981, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution (20 minutes)

A 5-screen film and sound performance reconstructed and performed as a video and sound performance by the artist and filmmaker Kristen Anchor.

• Face-Off (1979) by Robert and Ingrid Wiegand, from the Robert Wiegand papers and video art, 1953–1994, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution (9 minutes)

A 2-channel video performance in which the artists playfully explain to viewers the mechanical nature of video while simultaneously exploring the nature of relationships.

• Claudia (1972) by Jorge Preloran, from the Jorge Preloran Collection, Human Studies Film Archive, National Museum of Natural History (6.5 minutes x 2)

Experimental film described by Preloran as "a free improvisation with a child of 5 who plays, has fun, gets mad, and ends up in frenetic activity, all enhanced with superimposed animation". The film has four versions, each with a different musical score. Preloran's intention was that all four versions would be viewed together in order to compare how the character of the child changes according to the music. Tonight’s program will screen version 1, with music by Jose Luis Castaneira, and version 2, with a song by Poldy Bird and music by Rodrigo Montero.

Organized by the Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution
Held in the Nan Tucker McEvoy Auditorium, D.W. Reynolds Center, (National Portrait Gallery) 8th and G Streets, Washington, D.C.
Sponsored by the Council on Library and Information Resources

Photo Credit: Everyman as anyman, or putting on, on, on, on, on, 1969 / Esta Nesbitt. Super 8 mm : 24 film reels ; 1 sound tape reel. Esta Nesbitt papers. Archives of American Art.