"Revolve" Screening in The Kitchen's Carlotta Schoolman Video Viewing Room

Nancy Holt's video Revolve is available to stream online through The Kitchen's Video Viewing Room celebrating the work of Carlotta Schoolman. Founded in 1971, The Kitchen is one of New York City’s oldest nonprofit spaces, showing innovative work by emerging and established artists across disciplines. To celebrate their 50th Anniversary, The Kitchen is hosting a series of conversations with artists with accompanying Video Viewing Rooms. 

Carlotta Schoolman is a video producer and founder of Fifi Corday Productions. Schoolman joined the staff of The Kitchen as Video Director from 1974–1977 and as Associate Director for TV Production from 1978–1986. In 1977 Schoolman worked with Nancy Holt to produce Revolve and organized screenings of the video at The Kitchen and on WNET Channel 13.

Revolve is a powerful study of mortality and understanding the span of one’s own lifetime. It focuses on Dennis Wheeler, the Vancouver-based writer and filmmaker who was a close friend of both Nancy Holt and Robert Smithson. Filmed on three cameras, and by off-camera questions from Holt, Wheeler describes his experiences of leukemia as a “biological possession” that is “spiraling” around his body. At times Holt edits the narrative so phrases return, with Wheeler seen speaking the same words from different angles. He describes his six-week treatment at Vancouver General Hospital and the shock of returning to the world. This reentry Wheeler describes as “coming back from the moon,” requiring his “whole conceptual framework” to be reset, and with this his understanding of art-making.

Visit The Kitchen's Carlotta Schoolman Video Viewing Room to stream Revolve along with many other fantastic projects Schoolman has worked on.To learn more about Revolve and The Kitchen, visit their archive site.

In a recent video conversation between Carlotta Schoolman, Andrew Vitiello (artist and former archivist at The Kitchen), and Alison Burstein (Curator, Media and Engagement at The Kitchen), an audience member asked Schoolman about the process of working with Nancy Holt on Revolve. Visit this page to listen to Schoolman's discussion of Revolve, which begins at 1:20:40.

Revolve is available to stream in The Kitchen's Video Viewing Room until April 6, 2021.

Nancy Holt, Revolve announcement card for WNET Channel 13 television broadcast, 1978.

© Holt/Smithson Foundation, Licensed by VAGA at ARS, New York

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