On the Contrary: Artists' Videos Regarding War in the Middle East

Press Release Feb. 13, 2009/For Immediate Release Media Contact: Meredith Drum, 917.723.5242, [email protected]

SCOPE ART FAIR AT LINCOLN CENTER PRESENTS
ON THE CONTRARY:
ARTISTS’ VIDEOS CONCERNING WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST

New York, N.Y. – On Thursday, March 5, 2009, from noon to 8 p.m., the SCOPE Art Fair Pavilion at Lincoln Center presents “On the Contrary,” a six-hour screening of recent works by artists responding to war in the Middle East. Co-organized by Mary Billyou and Meredith Drum, the event presents a diverse range of cinema projects, each offering distinctive critiques of military occupation by the U.S. and its allies in the Middle East. Immediately after the screening, there will be a panel discussion deliberating the issues raised by the collected works. Moderated by Mary Billyou and Meredith Drum, panelists include several of the program’s filmmakers and associated independent curators.

The SCOPE Pavilion is located at Damrosch Park, on 62ndStreet, between Amsterdam and Columbus avenues. Admission to the Scope Pavilion is $15 for regular admission or $10 for students; this price includes the screening in addition to other SCOPE events. The videos will be screened in three time blocks followed by the discussion:

Program 1
12-2 p.m.
Iraq
“Baghdad in No Particular Order,” 2003, by Paul Chan, 51:00
“Cheney & Powell, January 1991”, Mary Patten, 2003, 1:00
“Because There Are So Many: Iraq,” by Benj Gerdes and Jennifer Hayashida, 2007, 8:00
“Headlines: Baghdad,” by Sabine Gruffat, 2007, 3:00
“All the House (Haditha Massacre),” by Caroline Koebel, 2008, 5:50
“Eye/Machine II,” by Harun Farocki, 2002, 15:00
“Box Office,” 2007, by Jenny Perlin, 2:30
“News Release,” by The Yes Men, 2008, 2:00

Program 2
2-4 p.m.
Atropos
“Operation Atropos,” by Coco Fusco, 2006, 59:00
“LOST,” by Jeanne Finley and John Muse, 2006, 4:00
“Summer Rain,” by Francisca Caporali and Brandon Jourdan, 2007, 4:00
“Mohamed Yousry: A Life Stands Still,” by Mary Billyou and Annelisse Fifi, 2008, 20:00
“Frozen War,” by John Smith, 2002, 11:00
“Headlines: Bomb Parts,” by Sabine Gruffat, 2007, 3:00
“Hit on the Head with a 1000 Anvils,” by Gabriel Fowler, 2001, :45

Program 3
4-6:30 p.m.
Upside Down Worlds
“Beyond Guilt Trilogy,” by Ruti Sela and Maayan Amir, 2003, 41:00
“Strategic Cyber Defense,” by Dara Greenwald, 2006, 4:18
“An Army of Dreamers: Not an Alternative,” by NYC Ya Basta, 2007, 4:22
“Hostage: The Bachar Tapes,” by Walid Ra'ad, 2001, 16:00
“Forbidden to Wander,” by Susan Youssef, 2004, 35:00
“Prototype (God Bless America!),” by Martha Rosler, 2006, 1:00
“G.I. Joe PSAs,” by Eric Fensler, 2003, 6:00 “State of the Union,” by Bryan Boyce, 2001, 1:43
“Meet Me in Wichita,” by Martha Colburn, 2007, 5:00
“Scenes from an Endless War,” by Norman Cowie, 2002, 32:00

Panel Discussion 6:30-8 p.m.
Shifting Alliances
A round table discussion moderated by Mary Billyou and Meredith Drum with Martha Rosler, Benj Gerdes, Chen Tamir, Judy Ditner, Caroline Koebel, Maayan Amir and Ruti Sela.

For a complete list of videos, with descriptions, and biographies of panelists, please visit: http://concerningwarinthemiddleeast.wordpress.com/

SCOPE is the largest and most global art fair in the world featuring emerging contemporary art with seven markets worldwide. It’s goal is to present the most innovative galleries, artists and curators while networking them with patrons through a unique program of solo and thematic group shows presented alongside museum-quality exhibitions, collector tours, screenings, and special events.

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