“When it comes to motion pictures, I’ve always been a lot more interested in the motion than the pictures. Images, in fact, have always been for me primarily a medium through which motion (or energy) can manifest.” —Fred Worden

The four decades of work that comprise avant-gardist Fred Worden’s cinematic explorations are a constantly evolving set of collisions (and collusions) involving images and abstractions that range from satirical jabs at the self-seriousness of experimental film culture, sincere tributes and contemplations of the medium, or pure jolts of pulsating visual energy—but most often, all of the above. Throughout his artistic life and career as a professor, Worden has found himself at the epicenter of creative communities on the west coast (where he graduated from CalArts and made early collaborations with Chris Langdon), the east coast (evidenced in his longtime friendships with the likes of Ken Jacobs and Ernie Gehr), and in between (as a member of the Criss-Cross artists group from Boulder). Despite the acclaim of his peers and past showcases of his work at some of our city’s most prestigious venues in past decades (including, MoMA, New York Film Festival, and the Whitney Biennial), Worden’s work has endured a protracted period of neglect from exhibition at a time where appreciation for experimental film has reached a recent zenith.

In the hopes of introducing Worden’s incomparable contributions to a new generation of New York-based nervous systems, Spectacle is honored to present a career-spanning retrospective across two nights thanks to the generous support of guest co-programmer Paul Attard, archivist Mark Toscano, Fred Worden, and his family.

Programs 1 and 2 on Friday, December 6th, will be projected almost entirely on 16mm prints, while Programs 3 and 4 on Saturday, December 7th, encompass Worden’s uniquely humorous and perception-scrambling forays into the frontiers of digital video.

Mark Toscano will be present at each screening to provide extended introductions to the programs.

Co-programming and co-writing by Paul Attard. Special thanks to Mark Toscano, Fred Worden, and Monique Ernst. Additional thanks to Paul Crucero, Kathy Del Beccaro, Sebastian Becerra, Brett Kashmere (Canyon Cinema), Mark Maloney, and Robert Schneider (The Film-makers’ Cooperative).

PROGRAM 1: Optical Reveries: Early Film Sketches | 12/6 at 7:30pm
PROGRAM 2: Monochrome Pulses: 16mm B&W Flicker Films | 12/6 at 10pm
PROGRAM 3: Naturally Occurring Stars: Early Video Works | 12/7 at 5pm
PROGRAM 4: Recipes for Ocular Stimulation | 12/7 at 7:30pm