Subtropics: El Tribute
Apr 26, 2025 - Apr 27, 2025
Starting: 4:00 p.m.
A weekend celebrating the legacy and creative influence of intermedia pioneers Phill Niblock, Elaine Summers and the Experimental Intermedia Foundation unfolds at the Deering Estate. Curated by Katherine Liberovskaya, current Artistic Director of Experimental Intermedia NYC, this mini-festival showcases innovative intersections between experimental music and film through presentations and performances by notable contemporary artists.
Subtropics: El Tribute, taking place on April 26-27 at the Deering Estate Theater, offers audiences a focused exploration into the groundbreaking works of Summers, Liberovskaya and Niblock.
Saturday, April 26, 2025:
4 p.m. | Elaine Summers: Intermedia Film-Dances
The program presents early films by choreographer and intermedia innovator Elaine Summers, featuring selections such as Walking Dance for Any # (1968), Two Girls Downtown Iowa (1973) and Windows in the Kitchen (1981). The films illustrate Summers' pioneering integration of dance, film and experimental performance techniques.
6 p.m. | Katherine Liberovskaya: KL/PN OptoSonic InterPlays
Katherine Liberovskaya presents a selection of video-audio collaborations created with her longtime artistic partner Phill Niblock. These works, including Four-Wheel Drive (2008) and Wind Waves / Rumble Mumble (2023), exemplify the duo's approach to fusing visual media with Niblock’s distinctive drone-based soundscapes.
Sunday, April 27, 2025:
4 p.m. | Phill Niblock: Intermedia Concert
This session offers an immersive audiovisual experience combining Phill Niblock’s minimalist musical compositions with films from his iconic series The Movement of People Working. The films provide contemplative visual narratives capturing human labor across diverse cultures and landscapes.
The weekend serves as a tribute to these influential artists, emphasizing their roles in shaping experimental music and intermedia art. Presented by the Subtropics Organization under the artistic direction of Deering Estate artist-in-residence Gustavo Matamoros, in collaboration with Cyland Foundation, Inc., this event invites the public to engage with boundary-pushing artistic practices in a unique setting.
Programs are free and open to the public, though reservations are recommended.