WILLIAM WEGMAN / Video Works 1970 - 1999

William Wegman
Video Works 1970 - 1999  2006
DVD, 3 hours and 56 minutes
19 x 14cm
ArtPix, New York

Condition: New

This is a commercially released two disc DVD compilation of over one hundred and fifty videos made by artist William Wegman between 1970 and 1999. "From the earliest black and white reel-to-reel tapes to the most recent digital colour videos, these works were re-mastered and assembled by the artist exclusively for this collection in 2006. It is an exhaustive archive of the innovative, influential, and often hilarious performances of the artist both with and without his Weimaraner friend, Man Ray. Inspired by the oblique humour of the 1950s radio program Bob and Ray as much as by the atmosphere of experimentation in the art of the 1960s, Wegman created a crossover form of visual art that had almost no precedent and that received favourable critical notice from a wide audience of art lovers. Wegman and ARTPIX have re-introduced some of his earliest clips that have not previously been available on disc, as well as produced definitive versions of other segments through restoration of the original tapes. Included are Spit Sandwich (1970), Reels 1-7 (1970-77), Gray Hairs (1976) and Reels 8 and 9 (1997-99) for a total running time of 3 hours and 56 minutes. Memorable sequences included are "Dog Duet", "Milk/Floor", "Massage Chair" and "Stomach Song." Included with the discs is a reprint of Kim Levin's essay from 1982 for an exhibition at the Walker Art Center titled "Wegman's Video: Funny Instead of Formal" along with a definitive chronology of the complete videos". A brand new, pristine unplayed example in the publisher's printed jacket with booklet, as issued.