Roger Beebe returns to Atlanta for the first time since 2018 with a new program of 16mm multi-projector performances celebrating the 25thanniversary of his first touring program.
“Beebe’s films are both erudite and punk, lo-fi yet high-brow shorts that wrestle with a disfigured, contemporary American landscape.” --Wyatt Williams, Creative Loafing
The program features several newer works (un arbre (2024, 4 x 16mm + video), Lineage (for Norman McLaren) (2019, 4 x 16mm), de rerum natura (2019, 3 x 16mm + video), Home Means Never Having to Say You’re Sorry (2021, 4 x 16mm), alongside some of his best-known projector performances (including the seven-projector show-stopping Last Light of a Dying Star (2008/2011). He will also include a sampling of recent essayistic videos, presented as live-narrated documentaries. These works take on a range of topics from the forbidden pleasures of men crying [Historia Calamitatum (The Story of My Misfortunes)] to the racial politics of font choices (The Comic Sans Video) and the real spaces of the virtual economy (Amazonia).
Roger Beebe is a filmmaker whose work since 2006 consists primarily of multiple-projector performances and essayistic videos that explore the world of found images and the "found" landscapes of late capitalism. He has screened his films around the globe at such unlikely venues as the CBS Jumbotron in Times Square and McMurdo Station in Antarctica as well as more likely ones including the Sundance Film Festival and the Museum of Modern Art with solo shows at Anthology Film Archives, The Laboratorio Arte Alameda in Mexico City, and Los Angeles Filmforum among many other venues. Beebe is also a film programmer: he ran Flicker, a festival of small-gauge film in Chapel Hill, NC, from 1997-2000 and was the founder and Artistic Director of FLEX, the Florida Experimental Film Festival from 2004-2014. He is currently a Professor in the Departments of Art and Theatre, Film, and Media Arts at the Ohio State University.
Join us for a family-friendly art workshop as part of the Contemporary Kids program, where kids of all ages can explore their creativity and engage with the themes of contemporary art!
During this workshop, artist Makiko Maekawa will guide young artists in creating their own contemporary art projects. Using a variety of materials like paint, paper, and objects, participants will explore how to express themselves through art.
Celebrate the closing of "Landmarks: Inside the World of R.Land "with a special evening featuring acclaimed Atlanta artist R. Land in conversation with Kim Drobes, Executive Producer and Co-Host of The City Lights Collective on WABE.
For nearly three decades, R. Land has captivated audiences with his unconventional, instantly recognizable style—an artistic voice once described as combining “the approach of Keith Haring, the enthusiasm of Disney, and the vision of Finster.” From large-format paintings and iconic street installations to his ubiquitous “Loss Cat” project, Land’s work defies categorization while shaping the cultural fabric of Atlanta and beyond.
Guiding the conversation is Kim Drobes, a seasoned broadcaster and storyteller who has spent her career championing creativity and human connection. Together, they’ll explore Land’s artistic journey, community-driven projects, and his lasting influence on Atlanta’s art and identity.
Following the talk, raise a glass at our closing reception bar as we toast the exhibition, the artist, and the city that inspires his work.
This event is free and open to the public.
SHAPESHIFTER
Atlanta Contemporary x CommuneATL
Tickets: $20
SHAPESHIFTER conjures notions of evolution, adaptation, and transformation—changing forms and shifting perspectives. This collaborative program with Commune explores the tension between hedonism vs. spirituality, the shifting “value” of musical forms—from spiritual jazz to punk, ambient to dance—and the constant striving toward something new.
Commune is a place for people to connect around music, food, drinks, and culture. Enjoy a thoughtful program of DJ sets, live performances, film & lectures in a room designed for sound. Pair that with cocktails and wine from small producers, and a rotating menu of cosy continental food, freshly baked bread, and desserts.
