William Wegman: Video Works 1970-1999

http://www.microcinemadvd.com A definitive 2-DVD compilation of over 150 videos made by the artist William Wegman and re-mastered by him exclusively for ARTPIX in 2006. From the earliest black and white reel-to-reel tapes to the most recent digital color videos this collection has not been previously assembled and available on disc. It is an exhaustive archive of the innovative and influential, and often hilarious, performances of the artist both with and without his Weimeraner friend, Man Ray. Inspired by the oblique humor of the 1950s radio program Bob and Ray as much as by the atmosphere of experimentation in the art of the 1960s, Wegman created a cross-over form of visual art that had almost no precedent and that received favorable critical notice from a wide audience of art lovers. Wegman and ARTPIX has re-introduced some of the earliest clips that have not been available as well as produced definitive versions of other segments through restoration of the original tapes. Included are Spit Sandwich (1970), Reels 1-7 (1970-77), Gray Hairs (1976) and Reels 8 and 9 (1997-99) for a total running time of 3 hours and 56 minutes. Memorable sequences included are “Dog Duet”, “Milk/Floor”, “Massage Chair” and “Stomach Song.” Included with the discs is a reprint of Kim Levin’s essay from 1982 for an exhibition at the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis titled "Wegman’s Video: Funny Instead of Formal" along with a definitive chronology of the complete videos.

The publication of this DVD coincides with the opening of the retrospective exhibition, William Wegman: Funney/Strange at the Brooklyn Museum of Art, New York (March 10-May 28, 2006).