Lights, cameras...music!
Len Lye Music Video Workshops for School Holidays
24-26 September 2002
Some 50 years before music videos started appearing on our TV screens, artist Len Lye was combining his extraordinary
hand-painted and 'scratched' films with jazz favourites. So fresh and original were they that they still regularly
appear on MTV. This week, children are making their own creative combinations*soundtracks to one of Lye's colourful,
animated films*in a series of joint school holiday workshops with Capital E's SoundHouse.
The workshops start at City Gallery Wellington with a tour of the Len Lye exhibition, including his vibrant films and
spectacular kinetic sculptures - both of which have proved popular with children and families since the exhibition
opened in August. Children are then taken across Civic Square to Capital E where they can make music to match Lye's
funky abstract film Colour Flight (1938), at the state of the art SoundHouse.
Len Lye (1901-1980) was a revolutionary New Zealand artist who is becoming recognised as one of the 20th century's most
dynamic and influential creators. The current Len Lye exhibition features 17 of his ground-breaking short films,
photograms of colleagues (including Le Corbusier, WH Auden and Georgia O'Keeffe) and Lye's stunning moving sculptures.
Three additional kinetic sculptures have been added especially for the City Gallery exhibition, and two documentaries on
Lye's life and work are showing throughout the day. Len Lye was organised to mark the centenary of the artist's birth in
1901. It runs until 24 November at City Gallery Wellington.
Spaces are still available for the workshops on Wednesday 25 (ages 8-14, 1.30-4.30pm) and Thursday 26 September (ages
15-18, 1.30-4.30pm). The cost is $20 per person, which includes a drink and a snack during the workshop. Workshops are
led by City Gallery Wellington and Capital E SoundHouse New Zealand education staff. For bookings and enquiries contact
Tracey Monastra:
T: 04 801 4241 / E: tracey.monastra@wcc.govt.nz
WEEKEND DANCE EVENT:
Asleep in mid-air Saturday 28 September, 12pm & 2pm Acclaimed Wellington dance collective Strident perform two work-in-progress showings of their new work Asleep in
mid-air. Inspired by Len Lye, the new work centres around Lye's 'art of motion' and explores sound and rhythm drawn from
the artist's films and kinetic sculptures. A unique opportunity to witness the dancers performing with Lye's kinetic
sculpture. Montana Wines Ltd is the Principal Sponsor of City Gallery Wellington's public programme.
Len Lye is presented by Telecom New Zealand Ltd. A joint exhibition between the Art Gallery of New South Wales and the
Govett-Brewster Art Gallery, supported by the Len Lye Foundation. Len Lye Foundation is supported by the Technix Group.
Exhibition generously supported by Radio Active. Events principal sponsor: Montana Wines Ltd. City Gallery Wellington is
managed by the Wellington Museums Trust with major funding from the Wellington City Council. Publicist: Anne Irving T:
04 801 3959 / F: 04 801 3096 / E: anne.irving@wcc.govt.nz ENDS.
Anne Irving
Publicist
T: 04 801 3959
F: 04 801 3950
Len Lye
Presented by Telecom New Zealand Ltd
24 August - 24 November 2002
New Zealand Photographers Abroad
17 August - 6 October 2002
Tony De Lautour - Revisionist
17 August - 6 October 2002
Saskia Leek - Forget the Dead You've Left
17 August - 6 October 2002
Lone Stranger - Barbara Strathdee
30 August - 29 September 2002 Michael Hirschfeld Gallery Check out: http://www.city-gallery.org.nz