Film Preservation at CVM
Current Preservation Projects
Three 35mm nitrate reels from Oskar Fischinger's Raumlichtkunst experiments, used in his 5-projector film performances in the 1920s. B/w, tinted and hand-colored 35mm nitrate. Preservation made possible by an Avant Garde Masters Grant, funded by The Film Foundation and managed by The National Film Preservation Foundation.
May Press about CVM's preservation work: Preserving Visual Music on Holly Willis' KCET blog, Blur + Sharpen
June Press in Animation World Network's Headline News, Top Stores: CVM to Preserve Fischinger ExperimentsMeditation and Music of the Spheres, both by Jordan Belson. Both 16mm, color, sound. 2008 grant from the National Film Preservation Foundation.
Two Charles Dockum Mobilcolor Performance films, 1969 and 1970. 16mm, color, silent. With a grant from the NFPF.
Recent Projects (2005-09)
Chakra by Jordan Belson, 16mm, color, sound. Preserved with support from the National Film Preservation Foundation. With thanks to Pacific Film Archive.
Jud Yalkut's Turn, Turn, Turn, a collaboration with Nam June Paik, 1966, 16mm, color, sound. Preserved with the support of the NFPF.
Home Movies of Oskar Fischinger in Los Angeles (c. 1959-1964), from 8mm originals, color, silent. Preserved with the support of the NFPF.
Oskar Fischinger's Radio Dynamics. 35mm, color, silent.
A film by Charles Dockum of his Mobilcolor performance, 1969, 16mm, color, silent. Preserved with support from NFPF.
Two films by Charles Dockum about his Mobilcolor color organ, 1965-66 (one documentary with VO, one silent performance), 16mm, color. Preserved with support from the NFPF.
Previous Projects
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Jordan Belson, Allures (1961, 16mm, color, sound)
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Charles Dockum: 1952 Mobilcolor Performance at the Guggenheim Museum (16mm, color, silent). Filmed with the assistance of Ted Nemeth (and allegedly Mary Ellen Bute).
Jules Engel, Coaraze (35mm, color, sound), preserved with the support of CalArts and individual donors.
Oskar Fischinger: Allegretto (1936-43, 35mm, color, sound).
Oskar Fischinger: Study No. 7 (1931, 35mm, b/w, sound), preserved in association with Cinematheque Quebecois
Oskar Fischinger: Ornament Sound (1932, 35mm, b/w, sound), with support of MNAM/Centre Pompidou. In progress
Elfriede Fischinger: Lumigraph Film (1969, 16mm, color, silent). Film of a performance of Oskar's Lumigraph, by Elfriede Fischinger (with the assistance of Wiliam Moritz and Conrad Fischinger).
- Article by Elfriede Fischinger, "Writing Light" about the Lumigraph
- Drawing by Oskar Fischinger of the Lumigraph (on the Fischinger Archive website)
David Lebrun, Tanka (16mm, color, sound). Preserved with support of the National Film Preservation Foundation.
Stanton MacDonald-Wright, Kineidoscope Films (35mm, b/w, silent), with thanks to MNAM/Centre Pompidou
Harry Smith: Early Abstractions, Film No. 3 (Interwoven) (1949, 16mm, color, sound), preserved with thanks to Anthology Film Archives. Preserved for the 2005 Visual Music exhibition.
James Whitney: Yantra (1957, color, sound), and Lapis (1966, 16mm, color, sound), both preserved with support from MNAM/Centre Pompidou and National Film Preservation Foundation.
John Whitney, Sr.: Permutations (1968, 16mm, color, sound), preserved with support from MNAM/Centre Pompidou and National Film Preservation Foundation.
Films preserved by CVM in association with NOMI Group (2003-04)
Jules Engel: Three Arctic Flowers (1978, 16mm, color, sound), preserved with support of NEA
Jules Engel: Celebration (1978, 16mm, color, sound), preserved with support of NEA
Jules Engel: Play-pen (16mm, color, sound), preserved with support of NEA
Jules Engel: Accident (16mm, color, sound), preserved with support of National Film Preservation Foundation.
Jules Engel: Mobiles (1978, 16mm, color, sound), preserved with support of National Film Preservation Foundation.
Jules Engel: Times Square (16mm, color, sound), preserved with support of National Film Preservation Foundation.
Jules Engel: Landscape (16mm, color, sound), preserved with support of National Film Preservation Foundation.
Other preserved films/preservation material in CVM's Collection
Jordan Belson: Allures, World, Light, Momentum (preserved with support of National Film Preservation Foundation), and Mandala, Caravan, and Seance
Pat O'Neill: 7362, preserved with support of National Film Preservation Foundation
Harry Smith: Films no. 1, 2 and 3
John Stehura: Cibernetik 5.3
Oskar Fischinger
John Whitney Sr., James Whitney
Single Wing Turquoise Bird Light Show Film
Many films will not survive for future generations without preservation work.
You can help support the preservation of Visual Music films by making a donation. CVM is a 501(c)3 non-profit; your donation is tax deductible. Every amount helps.
Are you interested in learning about film preservation? Here's some basic information, links to external sites:
Moving Image Collections website: Preservation Portal
Film Forever: The Home Film Preservation Guide - a guide for home movie collections
Join our Mailing List: CVM List
Images this page courtesy the individual filmmakers and estates