CVM - Preservation

Film Preservation at CVM

Current Preservation Projects

Meditation and Music of the Spheres, both by Jordan Belson. Both are 16mm, color, sound. New grant received June 2008 from the National Film Preservation Foundation.

Chakra by Jordan Belson, 16mm, color, sound. Preserved with the support of the National Film Preservation Foundation. With thanks to Pacific Film Archive.

Recent Projects (2006-07)

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. Preserved with the support of the NFPF.

Two films by Charles Dockum about his Mobilcolor color organ, 1965-66 (one documentary with VO, one silent performance), 16mm, color. Preserved with the support of the NFPF.

Previous Projects

Jordan Belson, Allures (1961, 16mm, color, sound)

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

CVM directory

Join our Mailing List: CVM List

Images this page courtesy the individual filmmakers and estates