Paul Sharits
Encyclopedia
Paul Jeffrey Sharits
Paul Sharits was a visual artist, best known for his work in "experimental" or avant-garde filmmaking, particularly what became known as the Structural film
movement, along with artists such as Tony Conrad
, Hollis Frampton
, and Michael Snow
.
His film work primarily focused on installations using one or all of the following: infinite film loops, multiple projectors, and experimental soundtracks, as in his film Shutter Interface(1975,) recently shown at Greene Naftali Gallery in New York City (Feb 18-Apr 11, 2009).
He was born in Denver, Colorado
and earned a BFA in Painting at The University of Denver
's School of Art where he was a protege of Stan Brakhage
. He also attended Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana where he received an MFA in Visual Design. In July 1960, he married Frances Trujillo Niekerk, and in 1965 they had a son, Christopher. They divorced in 1970.
He was subsequently a teacher at the Maryland Institute College of Art
, Antioch College
, and SUNY Buffalo (where he was hired by Gerald O'Grady along with Conrad and Frampton).
His works of the 60s, when he received the widest acclaim, included influential "flicker" films such as Ray Gun Virus, Piece Mandala/End War, N:O:T:H:I:N:G, T,O,U,C,H,I,N,G ("starring" poet David Franks), and S:TREAM:S:S:ECTION:S:ECTION:S:S:ECTIONED. His works of the 70s were among the forerunners of contemporary installation art
. Themes of violence permeate his work.
His work is distributed by The Film-Makers' Cooperative
and Canyon Cinema
.
Son Christopher Sharits suggests on the memorial website (see External Links) that Sharits suffered from bipolar disorder
.
Paul Sharits was a visual artist, best known for his work in "experimental" or avant-garde filmmaking, particularly what became known as the Structural film
Structural film
Structural film was an experimental film movement prominent in the US in the 1960s and which developed into the Structural/materialist films in the UK in the 1970s.-Overview:The term was coined by P...
movement, along with artists such as Tony Conrad
Tony Conrad
Tony Conrad is an American avant-garde video artist, experimental filmmaker, musician/composer, sound artist, teacher and writer...
, Hollis Frampton
Hollis Frampton
Hollis Frampton was an American avant-garde filmmaker, photographer, writer/theoretician, and pioneer of digital art.-Early years:Frampton was born March 11, 1936 in Wooster, Ohio...
, and Michael Snow
Michael Snow
Michael Snow, CC is a Canadian artist working in painting, sculpture, video, films, photography, holography, drawing, books and music.-Life:...
.
His film work primarily focused on installations using one or all of the following: infinite film loops, multiple projectors, and experimental soundtracks, as in his film Shutter Interface(1975,) recently shown at Greene Naftali Gallery in New York City (Feb 18-Apr 11, 2009).
He was born in Denver, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
and earned a BFA in Painting at The University of Denver
University of Denver
The University of Denver is currently ranked 82nd among all public and private "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 rankings....
's School of Art where he was a protege of Stan Brakhage
Stan Brakhage
James Stanley Brakhage , better known as Stan Brakhage, was an American non-narrative filmmaker who is considered to be one of the most important figures in 20th century experimental film....
. He also attended Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana where he received an MFA in Visual Design. In July 1960, he married Frances Trujillo Niekerk, and in 1965 they had a son, Christopher. They divorced in 1970.
He was subsequently a teacher at the Maryland Institute College of Art
Maryland Institute College of Art
Maryland Institute College of Art is an art and design college in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. It was founded in 1826 as the Maryland Institute for the Promotion of the Mechanic Arts, making it one of the first and oldest art colleges in the United States. In 2008, MICA was ranked #2 in the nation...
, Antioch College
Antioch College
Antioch College is a private, independent liberal arts college in Yellow Springs, Ohio, United States. It was the founder and the flagship institution of the six-campus Antioch University system. Founded in 1852 by the Christian Connection, the college began operating in 1853 with politician and...
, and SUNY Buffalo (where he was hired by Gerald O'Grady along with Conrad and Frampton).
His works of the 60s, when he received the widest acclaim, included influential "flicker" films such as Ray Gun Virus, Piece Mandala/End War, N:O:T:H:I:N:G, T,O,U,C,H,I,N,G ("starring" poet David Franks), and S:TREAM:S:S:ECTION:S:ECTION:S:S:ECTIONED. His works of the 70s were among the forerunners of contemporary installation art
Installation art
Installation art describes an artistic genre of three-dimensional works that are often site-specific and designed to transform the perception of a space. Generally, the term is applied to interior spaces, whereas exterior interventions are often called Land art; however, the boundaries between...
. Themes of violence permeate his work.
His work is distributed by The Film-Makers' Cooperative
The Film-Makers' Cooperative
The Film-Makers' Cooperative aka The New American Cinema Group is an artist-run, non-profit organization which was founded in 1962 in New York City by Jonas Mekas, Shirley Clarke, Stan Brakhage, Gregory Markopoulos, Lloyd Michael Williams and other filmmakers to distribute avant-garde films through...
and Canyon Cinema
Canyon Cinema
Canyon Cinema is a San Francisco based filmmakers' cooperative specializing in the distribution of avant-garde and experimental film. The organization was instigated in about 1960 by Bruce Baillie as an exhibition outlet for independent film, and was formally established as a non-profit...
.
Son Christopher Sharits suggests on the memorial website (see External Links) that Sharits suffered from bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder or bipolar affective disorder, historically known as manic–depressive disorder, is a psychiatric diagnosis that describes a category of mood disorders defined by the presence of one or more episodes of abnormally elevated energy levels, cognition, and mood with or without one or...
.
Filmography
- Wintercourse (1962)
- Ray Gun Virus (1966)
- Unrolling Event (fluxfilm) (1966)
- Wristtrick (fluxfilm) (1966)
- Dots 1&2 (fluxfilm) (1966)
- Sears Catalogue (fluxfilm) (1966)
- Word Movie (fluxfilm 29) (1966)
- Piece Mandala/End War (1966)
- Razor Blades (1965-68)
- N.OT.H.I.N.G. (1968)
- T, O, U, C, H, I, N, G, (1968)
- S:TREAM:S:S:ECTION:S:ECTION:S:S:ECTIONED (1968-71)
- Inferential Current (1971)
- Axiomatic Granularity (1972-73)
- Synchronousoundtracks (1973-74)
- Color Sound Frames (1974)
- Analytical Studies III: Color Frame Passages (1973-74)
- Apparent Motion (1975)
- Shutter Interface (1975)
- Analytical Studies I: The Film Frame (1971-76)
- Analytical Studies II: Un-Frame-Lines (1971-76)
- Analytical Studies IV: Blank Color Frames (1975-76)
- Dream Displacement (1976)
- Epileptic Seizure Comparison (1976)
- Tails (1976)
- Declarative Mode (1976-77)
- Episodic Generation (1978)
- 3rd Degree (1982)
- Bad Burns (1982)
- Brancusi's Sculpture Ensemble at Tirgu Jiu (1977-84)
- Figment I: Fluxglam Voyage in Search of the Real Maciunas (1977-86)
- Rapture (1987)