New Media Artists Maine at Railroad Square Cinema

PRESENTATION OF NMAM EXPERIMENTAL FILMS AT RAILROAD SQUARE CINEMA

On Sunday, May 31, 2009 at 12:30 PM there will be a film showing of the experimental works of new media artists Nancy Andrews, Abbott Meader, Amanda Donta-Ransom and Walter Ungerer at Railroad Square Cinema, 17 Railroad Square, Waterville, ME 04901. These artists are members of an association called New Media Artists Maine (NMAM) that all live and work in Maine.

The approximately two hour presentation will consist of screening a selection of their short films (none longer than 35 minutes) ranging in style and technique from live action, stop motion, stills, animation, puppetry, found footage, electronic feeds, multi-screen, to a combination of techniques or other systems, which they have devised to produce their art. Three of the artists will be present to speak about their working methods, and engage in dialogue with the audience.

This is an opportunity for viewers to experience work not so readily available to the public. This is not conventional documentary filmmaking or story-telling though these genres may be incorporated into their work. These films are experimental in nature. They are challenging, provocative, outrageous and funny. The artists have chosen as their mission the exploration of the creative realm within their discipline/s to produce new media art.

New media art has become closely associated with the term digital art. It refers to an art genre that encompasses artworks created with new media technologies, including digital art, computer graphics, computer animation, Internet art, interactive art technologies, computer robotics, and art as biotechnology.

Presently five artists comprise NMAM. It is hoped in time this will increase as other media artists working in Maine are identified and take part in the initiative to heighten the awareness of the art form. Of the members Nancy Andrews teaches performance art and video production at the College Of The Atlantic. She is a recent recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, and an award winner at the Ann Arbor Film Festival. Huey is a longtime Maine media artist, and namesake of the Huey award, given each year by the State to a deserving Maine media artist. He is adjunct faculty in new media at Southern Maine Community College. Huey is an award winner at the Ann Arbor Film Festival and the Chicago Film Festival. Abbott Meader is a recipient of the Huey Award, and award winner at the Ann Arbor Film Festival. He is a retired faculty member of Colby College; and member of the now defunct MICA (Maine Independent Cine Arc), a loose association of filmmakers during the 1970’s. Amanda Donta-Ransom is on the faculty of Siena College, NY, teaching art and media. She is a recipient of a Fulbright Fellowship and a Simon Foundation Award For Innovation In The Arts. Her work was just showcased at the Nanjing Museum, China. Walter Ungerer is a longtime media artist of international reputation. He is a recipient of an American Film Institute Independent Filmmaker Award, and a National Endowment On The Arts Fellowship. Presently he is on the faculty of the University Of Vermont.

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Railroad Square Cinema is one stop on the tour NMAM will make throughout Maine. Other venues later in the year will include the Center For Maine Contemporary Art, Maine Media Workshops, and Waterfall Arts.

The Program:
WEST BY NORTH (1977, 25:14 min.) – Abbott Meader
MONKEYS AND LUMPS (2003, 37:35 min.) – Nancy Andrews
PUNG CHUCK (2004, 7:36 min.) – Amanda Donta-Ransom
ALCHEMY (2003, 6:24 min.) – Amanda Donta-Ransom
HOUSE OF WONDER (2007, 4:21 min.) – Amanda Donta-Ransom
THE BIRD FEEDERS (2008, 11:47 min.) – Walter Ungerer
SUCH AS IT IS (2007, 13:47 min.) – Walter Ungerer

For more information please contact:

Sam Sanborn
Railroad Square Cinema
17 Railroad Square
Waterville, ME 04901
Tel. 207-873-6526
sam@railroadsquare.com

Walter Ungerer
Dark Horse Films, Inc.
91 Le Grand Drive
Camden, ME 04843
207-236-0278
dhf@darkhorsefilms.org