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Café Ex: Rhayne Vermette "Message from the Darkroom"

  • Club SAW 67 Nicholas Street Ottawa, ON, K1N 7B9 Canada (map)
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Following a very conscious departure from architectural academia, Rhayne Vermette figured a distinctive craft within the construction of images through film and photography.  Primarily self-taught, and under the influence of post-war Italian architects, Vermette’s work is ignited by themes from the Decadent movement as well as notions of the indeterminate.  Her artistic practice comes into focus through a volume of analogue moving images works exceeding over 20 short films. These works stem from a very self-indulgent impetus keen on experimental processes, reenactments and repurposing images.  Her works have screened at innumerable occasions including Images Film Festival, Jihlava International Film Festival, Festival du Nouveau Cinema, European Media Arts Festival, DOXA, Melbourne International Animation Festival, and so on … 

Vermette recently finished production on a feature length narrative and is anticipating a release in fall of 2020.

RHAYNE VERMETTE WILL BE IN ATTENDANCE TO INTRODUCE AND TALK ABOUT HER FILMS.
ADMISSION TO CAFE EX EVENTS IS PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN.

Program

SCENE MISSING (2015) 

1min 30

"Is this your first visit here?"

"Yes."

"Well this whole thing must seem kinda strange to you, huh? You realize that I can't see you even though you see me. Well that takes a little getting used to.. Oh. Am I looking at your face now? (laughs) It don't matter."

TUDOR VILLAGE: a one shot deal (2012) 

5 min 15

In pursuit of an eclipse, the citizens of Winnipeg flee the city. Meanwhile, stranded in Tudor Village, the caretaker does his best to interrupt their trajectory & entice everyone to return.

DESK STUDY no 1 (2013)

10 seconds

How to make a movie.

TRICKS ARE FOR KIDDO (2013)

2min 22

In 2010, Winnipeg director, Guy Maddin exclaims "it's impossible to collage a film!"

TAKE MY WORD (2012) 

40 secs

A section cut through a transitional editing tool, the dissolve.

J. WERIER (2013)

4 min 30

An architectural portrait emerges as a transmogrification through various broken projectors. These particular projectors are currently being sold at J. Werier, a Winnipeg warehouse emporium and artifact.

BLACK RECTANGLE (2013)

1 min 30 

"Time has not been kind to Kasimir Malevich’s painting, Black Square. In 1915 when the work was first displayed the surface of the square was pristine and pure; now the black paint has cracked revealing the white ground like mortar in crazy paving."

This film documents a tedious process of dismantling and reassembling 16 mm found footage. The film collage imitates functions of a curtain, while the recorded optical track describes the flm's subsequent destruction during its first projection.

FULL OF FIRE (2013)

2 min 14

There are few alternatives for exiles. The homecoming may be postponed to an indeterminate future; one could settle for a replacement; and lastly, there is always madness.

DESK STUDY 3  (2015)

15 sec

Making of Turin.

TURIN (2015)

7 min 11

"You may want to look into Carlo Mollino, he's a bastard much like yourself..." N. Chard, 2009

Fetishized alpine landscapes of 16mm film collage and rayograms generate an obscured portrait of the godlike, Carlo Mollino. Completed in anticipation of a personal pilgrimage to Turin - this film delineates what is at stake for the genius bachelor architect as well as the deplorable, unremittingly heartbroken filmmaker (who adores him so).

For E. Lavazza + thank you to H. Phillips.

DESK STUDY 6  (2017)

21 secs

Brief tour of Domus catalogue.

DOMUS (2017)

15 min 20

"The block of marble is the most beautiful of all statues" - Carlo Mollino 

This is the story of the godlike architect, Carlo Mollino, animated within the desk space of failed architect, Rhayne Vermette. Made, with love on 16mm, 35 and Super 8, this classic tale of Pygmalion investigates intersections between cinema and architecture. 

For E. Ackerman, A. Jarnow, and T. Ito.

Guest Rhayne Vermette Rhayne Vermette is an artist working in film and photography. She is influenced by postwar Italian architects, and her craft focuses on themes from the Decadent movement and notions of the indeterminate. She has created over 20 short films. She is currently shooting her first feature-length narrative, and is also trying to get her acting career started.
Earlier Event: 30 January
Peter Mettler: Canadian Masters Screening
Later Event: 19 February
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