Abigail Child
Encyclopedia
Abigail Child is a poet
, director
, producer
, and writer
of a number of films.
Originally, Child worked in San Francisco
but moved to New York
later in her career.
in Harvard University
with a degree in history and literature. She has received a Guggenheim Fellowship
in Film. She has taught at several universities, including New York University
, Massachusetts College of Art
, and Hampshire College
. She has been the chair of Film and Animation department at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
since 2000 and was appointed to a fellowship at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study
. In 2009, she was awarded the Rome Prize
.
in the 1970s. She made seven independent film
s between 1970 and 1976. By the mid 1970s, Child began making experimental films that explore her interest in the disjunction between sound/image relations. Two of her films from this time, Between Times (1975) and Game (1972) are both award winners. These two films are a part of a series called, Is This What You Were Born For?
Child continued to work with montage through the 1980s. Her three most well known films from this time include Perils, Mayhem" and "Mercy which were released in 1993 by Women Make Movies
and are currently distributed internationally. These films are included in her series of shorts, Is This What You Were Born For? Child wrote two books of poetry
in the 1980s, which are titled From Solids (Roof Books, 1983) and A Motive for Mayhem (Potes & Poets, 1989). In 1986 and 1987, Child also created two collages New Modern Times and The Magician (1986). In 1987, Child directed Mayhem, a film about lesbianism.
In the 1990s, Child created films which include B/Side (1996), which was about urban homelessness and Below the New: A Russian Chronicle (1999). She published another two books of collected poetry
, Mob (1994) and Scatter Matrix (1996).
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
, producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
, and writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
of a number of films.
Originally, Child worked in San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
but moved to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
later in her career.
Academics
In 1968, Abigail Child graduated from Radcliffe CollegeRadcliffe College
Radcliffe College was a women's liberal arts college in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and was the coordinate college for Harvard University. It was also one of the Seven Sisters colleges. Radcliffe College conferred joint Harvard-Radcliffe diplomas beginning in 1963 and a formal merger agreement with...
in Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
with a degree in history and literature. She has received a Guggenheim Fellowship
Guggenheim Fellowship
Guggenheim Fellowships are American grants that have been awarded annually since 1925 by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation to those "who have demonstrated exceptional capacity for productive scholarship or exceptional creative ability in the arts." Each year, the foundation makes...
in Film. She has taught at several universities, including New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
, Massachusetts College of Art
Massachusetts College of Art
Massachusetts College of Art and Design is a publicly-funded college of visual and applied art, founded in 1873. It is one of the oldest art schools, the only publicly-funded free-standing art school in the United States, and was the first art college in the United States to grant an artistic degree...
, and Hampshire College
Hampshire College
Hampshire College is a private liberal arts college in Amherst, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1965 as an experiment in alternative education, in association with four other colleges in the Pioneer Valley: Amherst College, Smith College, Mount Holyoke College, and the University of Massachusetts...
. She has been the chair of Film and Animation department at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
The School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston is an undergraduate and graduate college located in Boston, Massachusetts, dedicated to the visual arts. It is affiliated with the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in partnership with Tufts University...
since 2000 and was appointed to a fellowship at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study
Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study
The Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard is an educational institution in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and one of the semiautonomous components of Harvard University. It is heir to the name and buildings of Radcliffe College, but unlike that historical institution, its focus is directed...
. In 2009, she was awarded the Rome Prize
Rome Prize
The Rome Prize is an American award made annually by the American Academy in Rome, through a national competition, to 15 emerging artists and to 15 scholars The Rome Prize is an American award made annually by the American Academy in Rome, through a national competition, to 15 emerging artists...
.
Career in film, writing, and poetry
Abigail Child started making films as a documentarianDocumentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
in the 1970s. She made seven independent film
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
s between 1970 and 1976. By the mid 1970s, Child began making experimental films that explore her interest in the disjunction between sound/image relations. Two of her films from this time, Between Times (1975) and Game (1972) are both award winners. These two films are a part of a series called, Is This What You Were Born For?
Child continued to work with montage through the 1980s. Her three most well known films from this time include Perils, Mayhem" and "Mercy which were released in 1993 by Women Make Movies
Women Make Movies
Women Make Movies, established in 1972, is a non-profit media arts organization based in New York City. The organization distributes and assists with the production, promotion, exhibition of independent films by and about women.-Film catalog:...
and are currently distributed internationally. These films are included in her series of shorts, Is This What You Were Born For? Child wrote two books of poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
in the 1980s, which are titled From Solids (Roof Books, 1983) and A Motive for Mayhem (Potes & Poets, 1989). In 1986 and 1987, Child also created two collages New Modern Times and The Magician (1986). In 1987, Child directed Mayhem, a film about lesbianism.
In the 1990s, Child created films which include B/Side (1996), which was about urban homelessness and Below the New: A Russian Chronicle (1999). She published another two books of collected poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
, Mob (1994) and Scatter Matrix (1996).
Filmography
- Mayhem (1987)
- B/Side (1997)
- The Future Is Behind You (2004)
- On the Downlow (2007)
- Fucking Different New York (2007)
Publications
- From Solids (Roof Books, 1983)
- A Motive for Mayhem (Potes & Poets, 1989)
- Mob (O Books, 1994)
- Scatter Matrix (Roof Books, 1996)
- Artificial Memor (Belladonna PressBelladonna BooksBelladonna Books began as a project of Belladonna*/Belladonna Series in 2000. David Kirschenbaum, a frequent attendee to the early Belladonna Reading Series, and the publisher of Boog Literature, offered to co-publish commemorative literature for each monthly event...
, 2001) - This is Called Moving: A Critical Poetics of Film (University of Alabama PressUniversity of Alabama PressThe University of Alabama Press was founded in 1945 and is the scholarly publishing arm of the University of Alabama.An Editorial Board composed of representatives from all doctoral degree granting public universities within Alabama oversees the publishing program. Projects are selected that...
, 2005)