Internationally acclaimed American filmmaker Phil Solomon (1952-2019) created a body of cinematic virtuosity and poetic resonance that profoundly expanded the found footage genre, as he explored and exploited material idiosyncrasies of his sources – whether chemically altering the emulsion of Hollywood films and personal home movies or détourning the digital gaming universe of Grand Theft Auto. In his analog days, Solomon described himself as an inverse archeologist, throwing “Schmutz” on cultural artifacts to de-familiarize the imagery, creating works that walk a fine line between abstraction and figuration, unfolding an interior emotional vocabulary seamlessly married to meticulously constellated worlds of sound. –Eve Heller

The Phil Solomon Project is very happy to present this retrospective, in the form of three programs, including newly released works and a previously unreleased film.

The series has been curated by Mark McElhatten. Eve Heller will be here in person to present the programs.

Very special thanks to Mark Toscano (Academy Film Archive).

Eve Heller initiated the founding of the Phil Solomon Project together with Mark McElhatten in the wake of Phil’s passing in 2019. The PSP is dedicated to sustaining the preservation, distribution, screening, exhibition, and publication of Phil Solomon’s artwork and thought.

Phil Solomon, Program 1November 7 at 7:30 PM

• Nocturne (1980/89, 10 min, 16mm, silent)
• What’s Out Tonight Is Lost (1983, 8 min, 16mm, silent)
• The Secret Garden (1988, 18 min, 16mm, silent)
• Remains To Be Seen (1989/94, 17.5 min, 16mm)
• Twilight Psalm Ii: Walking Distance (1999, 23min, 16mm)

Phil Solomon, Program 2November 8 at 7:30 PM

• Crossroad (2005, 5 min, digital. Made with Mark LaPore.)
• In Memoriam (Mark Lapore 1952-2005) trilogy:
• Rehearsals For Retirement (2007, 11 min, digital)
• Last Days In A Lonely Place (2007, 20 min, digital)
• Still Raining Still Dreaming (2008, 12 min, digital)
• Twilight Psalm IV: Valley Of The Shadow (2013, 5 min, digital)

Phil Solomon, Program 3November 9 at 7:30 PM

• Yes, I Said Yes, I Will, Yes (1999, 3 min, 16mm)
• The Exquisite Hour (1989/94, 14 min, 16mm)
• The Snowman (1995, 8 min, 16mm)
• The Emblazoned Apparitions (2013, 6 min, digital)
• Twilight Psalm III: Night Of The Meek (2002, 23 min, 16mm)
• The Summit (1980s, 16 min, Super-8mm-to-digital)