Sound for Silents: Film + Music Commission on the Walker Hillside Features a Live Score by Astralblak to Silent Films
Sound for Silents: Film + Music on the Walker Hillside
Thursday, August 15
Dusk (about 8:30 pm)
Free
Join us at sunset on the hillside for an electrifying evening of live music paired with silent films from the Walker’s Ruben/Bentson Moving Image Collection. Celebrating its third year, Sound for Silents features a newly commissioned score from Twin Cities–based funk, soul, and hip-hop collective Astralblak.
Food trucks and vendors will be on hand with a variety of tempting options beginning at 7pm, including Foxy Falafel, Fro-Yo-Soul, Pimento Jamaican Kitchen, and Esker Grove. Tunes from DJs Sanni Brown and Sean McPherson of 89.3 The Current add to the mix for the perfect summer night out.
7:00 pm DJ and Food Trucks
8:30 pm Screening and Performance
About the Program
Co-commissioned by Walker’s Moving Image and Performing Arts programs, Astralblak’s five musicians/producers selected experimental short films by moving image artists Maya Deren, Sondra Perry, and Amir George. Astralblak will perform their new musical score on stage to accompany the films for an expressive visual and sonic experience.
Films
Meditation on Violence
This balletic film by a pioneer of the American avant-garde features a Chinese boxer in a ritualistic dance, mirrored by the camera. Directed by Maya Deren. 1948, 16mm transferred to digital, 12 min. Courtesy of Ruben/Bentson Moving Image Collection.
Black Girl as a Landscape
An abstraction of performer Dionne Lee’s body investigates black femininity as well as larger visual and environmental ecologies. Directed by Sondra Perry. 2010, video, 10 min. Courtesy Electronic Arts Intermix (EAI), New York.
Double Quadruple Etcetera Etcetera I & II
Perry uses Photoshop’s content aware function in her digital animation of a white room attempting to absorb the presence of frenetic dancing bodies. Directed by Sondra Perry. 2013, video, 10 min. Courtesy Electronic Arts Intermix (EAI), New York.
Black/Cloud
A manipulation of a performance in which two black bodies appear and vanish in hazy images of light and shadow. Directed by Sondra Perry. 2010, 25 min. Courtesy Electronic Arts Intermix (EAI), New York.
Shades of Shadow
Created solely with found footage, a metaphysical collage of psychedelic live action/animation delves into spiritual mysticism and ritual. Directed by Amir George. 2015, video, 6 min. Courtesy the artist.
ABOUT ASTRALBLAK
Portrait of Astralblak, by Bobby Rogers for Walker Art Center, Minneapolis.
Minneapolis has a long history of distinctive R&B styles and flavors. Astralblak arrived in 2014 and began to expand on that with an eye on the future but with respect to the past: “I see it as the next chapter of the Minneapolis sound” says guitarist elliott. One of their first shows was playing a Clash tribute; months later landing on First Avenue’s Best New Bands 2014, then as ZULUZULUU. After bursting onto the scene the band took a hiatus and gathered to build collectively and contribute to the new vanguard of black music.
Astralblak is made up of five musicians/producers: MMYYKK, Proper-T, Greg Grease, DJ Just Nine & elliott. armed with various synths, drum machines, and instruments set out to bring a new, exploratory modern sound influenced by the greats of funk, soul, and jazz with electronic excursions, hard grooves, Afro-futurism and soulful melodies. Astralblak explores the psyche and searching for Black Excellence: “Astralblak is church, it’s therapy, it’s family, It’s a space where we can express ourselves freely as black men with no limitations”, says multi-instrumentalist/vocalist MMYYKK. The band sees the group’s mission as part of a bigger movement “we see Astralblak as a vessel, a spiritual, sonic culmination of our experiences and influences from our ancestors”.
Astralblak has shared stages with innovators Thundercat, Shabazz Palaces, Tinariwen, Femi Kuti and Dam-Funk. They have a history with the Walker, which includes opening for Congolese group Mbongwana Star and performing in the Walker’s past summer series Music and Movies in the Park. “Astralblak sounds like an afro/astro world where Fela Kuti jams with Parliament and smokes with the Art Ensemble of Chicago.” said Doug Benidt, Associate Curator of Performing Arts.
Listen
Artist website
Minnesota Monthly interview