Sonic Textures, Shattered Scenes

A selection of landmark films by Black artists working in independent cinema in the 1970s-90s.

This season showcases truly groundbreaking cinema by artists and thinkers that expanded the ways the Black American experience could be represented, examined, and cherished. These are experimental, personal, and radical films by academics, musicians, poets, writers, actors, photographers, and visual artists who changed cinema forever. In turns thrilling, cerebral, and sensuous, this diverse programme of films spanning various genres are united by invoking the richness of the lives we live. In recent years many of these previously-overlooked films have been restored, and even re-cut, enabling new generations to see these films as they were originally intended.

Please note that many of the films in this season reflect historical attitudes that audiences may find outdated and offensive.

The season title is taken from the article Cosmic Freeze Frames: A Poetics of Bill Gunn by Carlos Valladares on gagosian.com (Spring 2021)

Film

6.30pm £6 (or £30 for season ticket)

A thoughtful philosophy professor and her charismatic artist husband decide to rent a house for the summer. Whilst he is enamoured with the local inhabitants and takes a muse, she researches ecstatic worship and is convinced by one of her students to be in his short experimental film. In her delicious, funny, smart and vibrant film, Collins explores the nature of artistic practice, creative and intellectual ambition, desire and being desired, and how all this bleeds into how we live our lives. Losing Ground truly deserves to be revered as one of the best American independent films.

After its premiere, Losing Ground did not secure general distribution and was not widely seen beyond the festival circuit. In 2015 the Lincoln Center restored the film, and it was released by Kino Lorber.

Kathleen Collins was a poet, playwright, writer, filmmaker, director, civil rights activist, and educator. Her book Notes from a Black Woman's Diary shows her as a free thinker who explored the human condition masterfully, with playfulness and depth. Losing Ground was the first US feature film made by a Black woman and she paved the way for others in this season.

Access

This event is inclusive for wheelchair users; our building is wheelchair accessible with lift access to all floors. If you require a wheelchair space, please email info@nottinghamcontemporary.org or phone 0115 948 9750 so we can ensure a space is set up for you.

If you require a free ticket for a carer, please contact us using the details above to arrange this.

This event will take place in The Space. Find information about getting here, our building access and facilities by clicking here.

If you have any questions around access or have specific access requirements we can accommodate, please get in touch with us by emailing info@nottinghamcontemporary.org or phoning 0115 948 9750.