Polyphonic Portraits of a New America (Natalie Bookchin, 2016/17)

“An absolutely staggering work of art.”
—Los Angeles Times on Now he’s out in public…

Comprising two short films by acclaimed artist Natalie Bookchin, Polyphonic Portraits of a New America is a major work by a deft and innovative artist attuned to the rhythms and tropes of a deeply divided America. Now he’s out in public and everyone can see presents a fractured narrative about an unnamed man whose racial identity is constantly redrawn. Made up entirely of clips from YouTube and other online sources, the intricately edited video explores questions of racism and racial identity in the post-Obama world. The award-winning Long Story Short was filmed in food banks, adult literacy programs, homeless shelters, and job training centers, where people are asked about their encounters with—and solutions for—endemic poverty in the US. Bookchin then layers and synchronizes these interviews with a unique, multi-image editing technique to deepen the original material. (70 mins., DCP)

Presented in conjunction with The Flyover Fest, a three-day arts festival featuring literature, film, music, panel discussions, and more May 11–13.