cities of peace

Shortly, I'll be editing video about Ellen Franks's remarkable new series of paintings -- tapes (raw footage) arrive by Fed.Ex. Friday. So many video projects are "in progress" (problem with video: easier to shoot things than to complete editing; this is a burden in my life at present). Deadline pressure sometimes serves to get one focused. In this case: needed for show in November.

The footage (showing work in Ellen's atelier) was shot by Don Lenzer -- noted cinematographer. (Ellen says he's quite good.) In his filmography, I'm astonished to see he shot Woodstock (1970). So: he's been a documentary cinematographer for 35 years -- starting w/ Woodstock. Now, this short work on Cities of Peace. The cities (depicted in large-scale paintings) include Jerusalem, Kabul, Baghdad and Beijing. All have been sites of major human conflict, and nerve centers of history. Ellen is dynamic. The video should be likewise.

There'll be another, final shoot later in October.