Film Screening: The Maintenance of Silence & The Everyman

Independent filmmaker, curator and writer Martin Rumsby, presents a screening series of historic and contemporary independent New Zealand films as part of a collaboration with the Depot Artspace and Satellite Gallery (le petit cinema), on their Night Gallery project.

The series launches with an unmissable double bill:

- "The Maintenance of Silence" by William Keddell
- "The Everyman" by Brent Hayward

"The Maintenance of Silence" will be introduced by its director, William Keddell - a New Zealand artist now based in Miami.

On November 18, 1982, Neil Roberts, a 22 year old Aucklander daubed a washroom wall with the graffiti slogan ‘We have maintained a silence closely resembling stupidity’ then placed a bomb outside the State Security Computer Centre at Wanganui – where files are kept on all citizens. The bomb blew Neil Roberts to pieces.

The film’s central character, Eric, sets out to trace Neil Robert’s movements and motivations. From talking to Neil Robert’s friends and family Keddell was able to form an image of Roberts as somebody with intelligence, highly literate, politically aware and certainly not the maniac depressive he was portrayed as in the media.

Keddell hoped to question the political dimensions of the act and what the graffiti statement actually meant. The film received the Critics' Choice in both the Los Angeles Times and L.A. Weekly.

"The Everyman" will be introduced by legendary director Brent Hayward, and is a moving visual sermon for the marginalised, the dispossessed and forgotten members of society.

Coming up:

"Kiwi Animation"
7pm. Thursday 14th October
Including work by Miriam Harris, Jill Kennedy, Raewyn Turner, Dan Inglis, James Robinson and others.

"Kiwi Animation" features visually inventive and sophisticated animations by local film artists including James Robinson, Miriam Harris and Raewyn Turner. All Night Gallery events will include artist appearances and surprise screenings and guests.

About the curator, Martin Rumsby:
Martin Rumsby has long been associated with experimental film. In the early 1980s he set up independent screenings in cafes and art galleries throughout New Zealand. He also established an independent film distribution service and annual national touring film programmes.

In 1985 Rumsby was the recipient of an Air New Zealand/Arts Council Travel Award to North America. Rumsby purchased 35 New Zealand films and for the next ten years toured his film programmes through North American media arts centres, universities and art galleries. The further he travelled the more films he bought, returning to New Zealand every three years to screen North American avant-garde films.

About the Night Gallery:
The Depot Artspace (and offspring, Satellite Gallery). The Night Gallery is a project run by The Depot Artspace, to showcase film and live performance.

To reserve a ticket:
Please reserve your tickets by emailing your name, the date of the screening and the number of people attending to: emma.whitlock@depotartspace.co.nz. There will also be a limited number of tickets available on the door.

For more information: thenightgallerynz.blogspot.com.

Emma Whitlock, Media Coordinator, emma.whitlock@depotartspace.co.nz, (09) 963 2331.

Event listed by The Depot

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