GBH Openvault

Rockefeller Artists in Television; City Motion Space Game

Part of New Television Workshop.

Approximate date: 1968


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Series
Rockefeller Artists in Television
Program
City Motion Space Game
Series Description

The "Rockefeller Artists-in-Television" residency program was created to support artists working in television. It was funded by the Rockefeller Foundation from 1967 through 1970. It was replaced by "The WGBH Project for New Television." While some of the Rockefeller artists, such as Nam June Paik, were already very committed to the medium of video, others were coming to the medium for the first time or from a film background. Paik developed the Paik-Abe videosynthesizer, with Shuya Abe, while working as a Rockefeller artist (though additional funding for the synthesizer's construction was provided by WGBH). The device was used to generate special effects and color enhancements. Artists supported by this program included: Mary Feldhaus-Weber, Marie Cosindas, Lee Lockwood, Stan Vanderbeek, David Wheeler, Nam June Paik, Zone, Newton Wayland, Shoshana Dubiner, Theo Wolfe, Dick Bartlett, Tim Mayer, The Propositions, Tim Hunter, David Silver, and Jean Shepherd. Many of these artists worked collaboratively to create one or more works. Series release date: 1967

Program Description

In "City Motion Space Game," a double-channel work, choreographer Gus Solomons, Jr., provides narration and movement for a work created in collaboration with writer Mary Feldhaus-Weber and composer John Morris. Solomons is seen dancing at the Prudential Center, on Boston Common, and in the WGBH studios. When the two channels are viewed side by side, the movements and locations overlap to create a dense tapestry of associated images. Solomons' narration provides a backdrop to the movement. He describes his interest in dance and movement to the viewer and makes suggestions as to how to view the piece. "See what you are interested in looking at at any given moment," he proposes. His tall, lanky frame alternates between everyday pedestrian movements and a technical dance vocabulary. In the studio he works with a complicated grid he has laid out on the floor. John Morris composed the sound score. Produced by Rick Hauser. Directed by Peter Downey. The work was originally created when composer John Morris, writer Mary Feldhaus-Weber, and choreographer Gus Solomons, Jr. were all Rockefeller Artists-in-Television at WGBH. When the work was broadcast on channels 2 and 44, viewers were asked to take two television sets and place them side-by-side. "City Motion Space Game" was eventually rebroadcast as an episode of "Artist's Showcase."

Asset Type

Broadcast program

Media Type

Video

Subjects
Dance
Modern dance
Interviews
Topics
Film and Television
Creators
Morris, John ()
Solomons, Gus ()
Feldhaus-Weber, Mary ()
Hauser, Richard (Producer)
Richard Hauser (Producer)
Citation
Chicago: “Rockefeller Artists in Television; City Motion Space Game,” GBH Archives, accessed March 29, 2024, http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_83433573DA4543F4B11784496EB8256B.
MLA: “Rockefeller Artists in Television; City Motion Space Game.” GBH Archives. Web. March 29, 2024. <http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_83433573DA4543F4B11784496EB8256B>.
APA: Rockefeller Artists in Television; City Motion Space Game. Boston, MA: GBH Archives. Retrieved from http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_83433573DA4543F4B11784496EB8256B
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