Under Construction
Film Screening & Ticket Information
When & Where to See this Film!
GOOD IN THE ’HOOD: 3 films about the cool stuff our neighbors are working on!
April 21, 2024 @ 12:00PM • Kaufman Astoria Studios – Zukor Theatre
Film Bloc Line Up:
Synopsis
Under Construction examines the work of 15 visual artists who were compelled to find inspiration amidst rapidly changing urban landscapes. Neighborhood enclaves once home to particular groups of people, manufacturing industries and warehouses have been razed and replaced by high-rise luxury condominiums with such an imposing presence that they completely transform our sense of place.
Perhaps as a way of holding onto a part of the past some of these artists have created sculptures or assemblages with salvaged remnants from demolished buildings and discarded construction materials. Others provide historical preservation through photography and painting, conveying an inherent nostalgia, or a sense of wonder at the making of these massive buildings and structures.
The video montage was created during the lockdown of 2020 when exhibition spaces were closed to the public. The final video was presented on four public television stations including Queens Public Television, BRIC Brooklyn Free Speech, Manhattan Neighborhood Network and BronxNet Tv, as well as Access Studio’s YouTube Channel.
In 2021 Access Studio received a grant from the City Artists Corp and presented a screening at the Museum of the Moving Image.
Under Construction was awarded the BRIC B-Artistic award that same year.
Credits
Nancy Gesimondo, Director
Natalia Stevenson, Director
Nancy Gesimondo, Writer
Nancy Gesimondo, Producer
Director Statement
During the darkest days of the pandemic it was unsafe to visit artists in their studio. So i had to think outside the box so to speak. I invited 15 visual artists to share images of their artwork, video and voice recordings and together with my editor, we crafted together two episodes of Under Construction. Later we melded both episodes into this one full length feature presentation.
After Access Studio received a grant from the City Artists Corp in 2021 I hosted a screening and an art talk at the Museum of the Moving Image. We still wore masks but it was a thrill to gather together and present this wonderful body of work to the public.
Director Biography
Nancy is an artist / independent curator. In 2020 she began hosting and producing the artist interview series – Access Studio Arts that airs monthly on BRIC, Brooklyn Free Speech, Queens Public Television, Manhattan Neighborhood Network and BronxNet Arts, as well as YouTube.
In 2021 during the first year of production Nancy was awarded the B-Artistic Award from BRIC, Brooklyn Free Speech public television. That same year Access Studio was awarded a grant from the City Artists Corp. and presented a screening of Under Construction at the Museum of the Moving Image. In 2022 Nancy received the B-Artistic Award for Under Construction.
