Early Video Art is a collection of titles that are central to an understanding of the historical development of video art. This collection includes, but is not limited to, many titles from the original Castelli-Sonnabend collection, the first and most prominent collection of video art assembled in the United States. All of the work in this collection was produced between 1968 and 1980. These works represent important examples of the first experiments in video art, and include conceptual and feminist performances recorded on video, experiments with the video signal, and "guerilla" documentaries representing a counter-cultural view of the historical events of the 1960s and 70s. Many of these tapes represent a desire for a radically redefined television experience that is centered on the innovative, the personal, the political and the non-commercial.
LISTING STYLE:

Peer Bode

Rectangular Update

1981 | 00:03:12

"I was looking at postcards run through the David Jones digital video frame buffer.  The buffer had two inputs, a video image of white noise and a video image of holding a post card, blank…

"The Camel with Window Memory piece was made one weekend in the early '80's.

"This is the first of a set of pieces that involve combining a series of electronic video process recordings, musics, texts and appropriated materials.

Most of TVTV’s work takes place in the city, at the center of some pop culture event.

“I may have to get a back up career.” I mull over what I might do if I don’t make it as an artist. What if I lose my eyes?

William Wegman

Massage Chair

1973 | 00:01:35

“I thought perhaps you’d like to see a demonstration of the new massage chair that we just got in. It — the reason for its — it looks revolutionary, it doesn’t look really like a typical massage…

Addressing the camera, Segalove confesses to plagarizing her 5th grade report, The Story of Coal.


Using the first color video camera, the artist questions where the devil might be hiding, and then takes a nighttime swim.


“Video is a fugitive medium,” said Getty Research Institute’s Glenn R. Phillips, and he should know.

The five videos featured here investigate video as a tool for storytelling and the construction of alternate identities.

Ana Mendieta performs a kiss in Old Man's Creek with another performer.

Hans Breder

hybrid

1970 | 00:11:00

The performer interprets a video demonstration of a series of poses with mirrors, not unlike Breder's Bod/Sculpture photo series, but this time in a studio.