Rick Raxlen
História
Rick Raxlen has been working as an artist and filmmaker since the late '60s. He began as a filmmaker with the NFB alongside Arthur Lipsett and Norman McLaren in Montreal, and was awarded one of only two Genies (Canadian Film Award) ever given for Best Experimental Film ("Legend," 1970). After a stint teaching at Concordia University and many short films, he went on to make the feature film "Horses in Winter" (1988), named as one of the best films of the eighties by Cinematheque Quebecois. After many more short works and another award-winning feature ("The Strange Blues of Cowboy Red," 1995), Rick abandoned the long form out of frustration with the impersonal nature of the process, and turned in earnest to a new obsession: the animated short form. This has been his primary moving image-based artwork for the past 25 years since he relocated to Victoria, BC. Rick is a strong proponent of non-institutionalized art-making practices and largely works outside of the system, producing and exchanging Mail Art and an incredible output of drawing and printmaking work presented in galleries and alternative venues worldwide.
Animation
"Done on cels almost entirely. I rotoscoped werewolves and cops and babies and animals and maidens-in-distress and put on a dub reggae track by my son Mossman so it bubbles along in a kind of nonsensical way…very colourful and frantic but not seizure-inducing as some of my earlier work was." –R.R.
Director
"Done on cels almost entirely. I rotoscoped werewolves and cops and babies and animals and maidens-in-distress and put on a dub reggae track by my son Mossman so it bubbles along in a kind of nonsensical way…very colourful and frantic but not seizure-inducing as some of my earlier work was." –R.R.
Animation
"I am sent to camp as a nine year old. I cannot swim, and my parents have gone to Europe for six weeks! It is 1954, and I have not been away from home much…so I refuse to swim, and fish off the dock. My mother writes in her trip book. It is the only book she will write. I catch a big fish. The camp director takes my picture… They should have taken me to Europe with them. I would have behaved." –R.R.
Director
"I am sent to camp as a nine year old. I cannot swim, and my parents have gone to Europe for six weeks! It is 1954, and I have not been away from home much…so I refuse to swim, and fish off the dock. My mother writes in her trip book. It is the only book she will write. I catch a big fish. The camp director takes my picture… They should have taken me to Europe with them. I would have behaved." –R.R.
Animation
A one-minute animation treat that celebrates the art of sound poetry as Christian Bök recites words from Hugo Ball, one of the leading pioneers of phonetic poetry.
Director
A one-minute animation treat that celebrates the art of sound poetry as Christian Bök recites words from Hugo Ball, one of the leading pioneers of phonetic poetry.
Self
"Think Before You Think" is a portrait of film poet, animator and artist Rick Raxlen. Shot on 16mm film and digital video at his Victoria, BC home and studio over the course of a year, the film follows Raxlen’s daily practice, uncovering the rituals and gestures of a creative process. Mining the highly specific and personal nature of this life-sized project, excerpts from Raxlen’s films, drawings, paintings and mark-making from a 50+ year art practice combine with hand-processed and manipulated film materials to play off the rites and relaxed rigour of his unique approach to making a life.
Director
The re-animation via rotoscope of parts of Bud Fischers SLICK SLEUTHS (1928)
into a loopform.
Director
Hula dancing. Animation; mixed media.
Director
Clint Eastwood whistles with Kyle. "The most engaging work in the program, creating such a heightened sense of awareness and connection to the screen..." - Marilyn Brakhage (Edges Fest, Victoria)
Animation
Described as "the jauntiest meat-is-murder movie ever made" and "irrational," "Deadpan" deals with dinner-table angst from the fifties. Laughter is forbidden. Anxiety reigns. Cow tongue is served. What to do?
Director
Described as "the jauntiest meat-is-murder movie ever made" and "irrational," "Deadpan" deals with dinner-table angst from the fifties. Laughter is forbidden. Anxiety reigns. Cow tongue is served. What to do?
Animation
One-minute of found footage of Mutt and Jeff from 1926 is literally reconstructed via paper prints from photocopies and pen and ink drawings.
Director
One-minute of found footage of Mutt and Jeff from 1926 is literally reconstructed via paper prints from photocopies and pen and ink drawings.
Director
1930's found-footage, slowed down with original music.
Director
This short, impressionistic film takes us to Nigeria, Japan, Mexico and India, where craftsmen work clay to produce ritual vessels and everyday objects.
