Paul Sharits (1943-1993)

august 20

Paull Sharrits
Antioch College
Yellow Springs, Ohio

Dear Paul,

Regina lent me your notes for “S:TREAM…..” which I just finished and thought I would drop you a note. I really liked the film—the idea is very good and the film has a very strong physical presence. The wholeness of the film really impressed me—a lot of film and video I have seen seem to be just a series of fragments strung together without any organic unity. I would be curious to know more about how you arrived at the sound ( why those sounds-words?). if I have any criticism it has to do with the soundtrack; still it is one of the very few things I experienced on the art scene last season that had the power to challenge and impress.

I have spent a quiet summer and am beginning to get ready for the onset of the art season, although it is hard to tell what is ripe. Everything is going slower than expected in terms of setting up our auxiliary space downtown and getting half-way decent equipment to show film. I am beset by vagueness because I am not sure what makes most sense in terms of handling the work of film-makers- both in terms of presentation and sales ( I fear they are further in the future than anyone would like, but maybe not). What can be done here is not (can not be) done by Anthology et al ? etc. etc. I would really like to know what you would do and what would be necessary if you had a show in the gallery. It probably could not take place until spring. I *** should make it clear that I can not fully commit myself to it, at this point ( I have to write that because I went through a very paranoid scene with Ken Jacobs, late in the spring)—I write this not because of any lack of commitment to your work ( the most interesting new-for me- work I encountered last year) but because of my uncertainty about how to deal with another medium ( also because of a very tight money scene). Long distance makes  all this more difficulty.  Are you coming to N.Y. at all, soon? Write and let me know.

Take care------

                                    Klaus

P.S. Excuse the bad typewriting.