On the surface, there would seem few films less illustrative of andre bazins point than james bennings lakes 2004. James benning and richard linklater gabe klinger, 20. As part of my research leading up to our conversation, i watched the germanmade tv documentary circling the image, which chronicles part of his journey shooting lakes, a journey which spanned 2,300 miles and two weeks. Joseph benning historical records and family trees myheritage. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. In james bennings environments a range of international scholars highlight the thematic and formal coherence of. The spielberg theatre at the egyptian theatre lakes 2004, 16mm.
Although structure is a major concern in most of them, they are not structural films. Ten skies, lakes, 15 pools structure, immanence and eco. Since the 1970s james benning has been tirelessly breaking the habits of even the more indiscriminate fans of nonnarrative film. I was born in milwaukee, wisconsin, during world war ii in a german working class community that sent its sons to fight their cousins. I played baseball for the first 20 years of my life receiving a degree in. James bennings films have always been difficult to classify. The american film maker james benning has been one of the outstanding exponents of the structural film since the mid1970s. Shots of great lakes in the usa, with each shot containing half water and half sky or. Subjectivities and structure, ecology and economy in james bennings documentaries at the third international deleuze studies conference, amsterdam, july 2010 and at the visible evidence xvii conference, bogazici university, istanbul, 11. More recently, benning has branched out to work with photography, archival materials, installation, and multimedia works, and he has perfected the art of stillness and meditative imagery in his often landscapeoriented works. An installation view of the group show macho man, tell it to my heart, running through sunday at artists space, which includes four drawings by james benning that invoke others works. He played for england at under15 level, and in 2003 he won the award for surreys most promising newscomer. As indicated by the title, benning shot his film at different lakes, all in america, and those who saw reinhard wulfs documentary james benning circling the. His 16mm films are known for their rigorous treatment of the american landscape and their critical exploration of history.
Accepting the invitation, benning met linklater and immediately the two began to develop a personal and intellectual bond, leading to future screenings and encounters. A portrait of an art institution as a cinematic landscape. Like the short film nothing which is currently doing the rounds on letterboxd, james bennings easy rider redefines our meaning of the world around us, redefines our understanding of the word remake as well. Historical records and family trees related to joseph benning. James benning is an allrounder, albeit one who is more of a batsman than bowler. The never ending waves of passing trains and the quiet permanence of the train tracks affect how the location in bnsf is perceived. It is an instance of slow cinema, placing emphasis on introspection and. Shots of great lakes in the usa, with each shot containing half water and half sky or land.
By 20, the end of its first decade, the sensory ethnography lab sel at harvard university had revived interest in ethnographic cinema by instigating the production of engaging, revealing, immersive syncsound films, video installations, and sound works by young anthropologistsartists committed to using media as a means of communicating the broadest range of human experience film. He dispensed with a classic story in his feature debut, which was thoroughly restored last year, four decades after it was made. The film is 5 minutes long and consists of tenminute static shots of lakes from. Since at least the early 1970s, james benning has committed himself to a. Records may include photos, original documents, family history, relatives, specific dates, locations and full names. He is a director and editor, known for rr 2007, lakes 2004 and casting a glance 2007. Several years ago, filmmaker james benning built first one, then another small cabin on property he owns in california. James benning estate agents, ex33 property to rent from. I had bought a turnkey property in the mountains, and as. Sep 14, 2016 16mm film by american independent filmmaker james benning. The chapter offers a close reading of james benning s lakes 2004, exploring its relationship to the traditions and conventions of american landscape art and the effects of transposing these to a durational medium, as well as considering the film in relation to conceptual and performative practices in contemporary landscape art.
The film was added to the us national film registry as a culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant film in 2014 summary. After all, lakes is no more than what it promises. In james bennings environments a range of international scholars highlight the thematic and formal coherence of bennings practice, whilst providing readers with. The film was added to the us national film registry as a culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant film in 2014.
With his new project lakes, james benning goes one step further towards reducing things to a minimum. Over the course of his 40year career benning has made over twentyfive featurelength films that have shown in many different venues across the world. In this sense, bennings materialist lmmaking style lakes 2004. Landscape suicide by james benning on vod lacinetek. The chapter offers a close reading of james bennings lakes 2004, exploring its relationship to the traditions and conventions of american landscape art and the effects of transposing these to a durational medium, as well as considering the film in relation to conceptual and performative practices in contemporary landscape art. James benning estate agents, ex33 property for sale from. My father worked on the assembly line for a heavy industry corporation that was then building landing gear for the u. Als ich mit dem filmemachen begann, wurde mir sehr schnell klar, dass. James benning lakes 2004 documentary experimental youtube. Modeled on the redoubts constructed by henry david thoreau and ted kaczynski aka the unabomber, bennings cabins are the subjects of two cabins, a new book edited by julie ault and published by a. You will receive a link to create a new password via email. James benning president knutson construction services.
Like the short film nothing which is currently doing the rounds on letterboxd, james benning s easy rider redefines our meaning of the world around us, redefines our understanding of the word remake as well. James benning was born on december 28, 1942 in milwaukee, wisconsin, usa. Inhalt biographie credits links interview pressematerial. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. Works by james benning and others at artists space the new. Bennings artistic position has been strongly influenced by mathematics and by the creativity of mathematical thinking. Accompanying him during the making of his newest work lakes not yet released, we see the care and time with which he frames each shot, and the process of filming on 16mm and recording the sound on tape. A series of views of nature filmed in the surrounding park and woods transitions into images of. James benning born 1942 is an independent filmmaker from milwaukee, wisconsin. James benning is an independent filmmaker who has been exploring the medium for more than forty years. Most of them are built from long, unedited takes and dealing with a certain subject for example ten skies, thirteen lakes or twenty cigarettes.
Frederick carl frieseke, the garden parasol, 1910, oil on canvas, 57 18 x 77 in. Returning back from six weeks travel crammed with too much to ponder, a cloud of personal anxiety for marcella who is still in italy with medical problems which make me feel i should be there with her, the gray envelope of aloneness here in seoul jangled only by the pressing matter of getting ready for academic chores, i found myself looking through computer files for something else. James benning talks about two cabins artforum international. It is a reverent piece, nearly as poetic as bennings own work. Mar 28, 2012 several years ago, filmmaker james benning built first one, then another small cabin on property he owns in california. Before earning an mfa in filmmaking from the university of wisconsin at the age of thirtythree, james benning studied mathematics at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Each is a static composition, framing sky and water in equal measure.
Apr 19, 2018 as part of my research leading up to our conversation, i watched the germanmade tv documentary circling the image, which chronicles part of his journey shooting lakes, a journey which spanned 2,300 miles and two weeks. Feb 22, 2014 an installation view of the group show macho man, tell it to my heart, running through sunday at artists space, which includes four drawings by james benning that invoke others works. View james bennings profile on linkedin, the worlds largest professional community. Domit, director of the north carolina museum of art 19741980, by the ncma board of trustees. See the complete profile on linkedin and discover james.
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