Lights! Music! Action!

Lights! Music! Action!

Free Len Lye films and music in Civic Square Saturday 23 November, 9pm

The films that have inspired generations of music video and film makers will be screened up large and outdoors in Civic Square next weekend, when a talented ensemble comprising of jazz students from Massey University's Conservatorium of Music perform live to Len Lye's amazing animated films. The event is free to all.

"This is a great opportunity for the whole family to experience the energy of Len Lye," says Tracey Monastra, City Gallery Public Programmes Co-ordinator. "The students have updated the original scores that accompanied Lye's films, and added funk, drum 'n' bass, and Latin influences. They'll be performing their own compositions, which reflect the rhythms and images of Len Lye's films, and doing their own improvisations as well."

Lights! Music! Action! marks the closing weekend of the very popular Len Lye exhibition (presented by Telecom New Zealand) which features Lye's celebrated short films, kinetic sculptures and photograms. The event is a partnership between City Gallery Wellington, the New Zealand Film Archive, Recreation Wellington, and the Wellington Conservatorium of Music, Massey University, with the support of the Len Lye Foundation and Radio Active 89FM.

Len Lye (1901-1980) was a New Zealand artist and extraordinary innovator, pioneering a technique of scratching and painting directly onto film in the 1930s. His films have been described as the forerunners of music videos because he synchronised the 'dancing', hand-rendered images with the music of the soundtrack. The films are so fresh and original that they still regularly appear on MTV today.

The films will be introduced by Radio Active 89FM's Gemma and Mark, hosts of Saturday morning arts show Caffeine & Aspirin. They range from the extraordinary animated short film Tusalava (1929) through to Lye's last 'scratch' film Tal Farlow (1980).

The Len Lye exhibition is on show at City Gallery Wellington until Sunday November 24. Opening hours are 10am-5pm daily. Admission is Free. Event rain day: Sunday 24 November, Civic Square, 9pm. Bring a cushion for comfort!

Len Lye is presented by Telecom New Zealand Ltd. A joint exhibition between the Art Gallery of New South Wales and the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery, supported by the Len Lye Foundation. Len Lye Foundation is supported by the Technix Group. Exhibition generously supported by Radio Active 89FM. Montana Wines Ltd is the Principal Sponsor of City Gallery Wellington's public programme.

City Gallery Welllington is managed by the Wellington Museums Trust with major funding from the Wellington City Council.

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