JORDAN BELSON: INTO THE NEW AGE presented by Erik Davis — Screening & Talk!
About this Event
As part of the multi-venue series Jordan Belson: The Cosmic View, celebrating the momentous exhibition of the same name on view at Matthew Marks Gallery from June 27 – August 15, 2026, 7th House is proud to welcome acclaimed author and scholar Erik Davis (High Weirdness: Drugs, Esoterica, and Visionary Experience in the Seventies; TechGnosis: Myth, Magic, and Mysticism in the Age of Information) for JORDAN BELSON: INTO THE NEW AGE. Exploring the work of the legendary experimental filmmaker, spiritual seeker, and cosmic imagist Jordan Belson, this program focuses on a selection of the director's luminous, transcendent films of the "New Age" era from the late 1970s and 1980s, including rare archival 16mm prints, alongside an original in-depth illustrated lecture by Davis. Exploring a fascinating and often overlooked chapter of Belson's artistic journey—one ripe for discovery—the program complements two companion screenings devoted to his earlier works, presented by Lightstruck at 2220 Arts + Archives on June 25 and July 9.
A singular figure within the expanded cinema movement, Jordan Belson devoted his life to creating images capable of evoking states of consciousness beyond language, narrative, and representation. Drawing from Eastern spirituality, modernist abstraction, scientific cosmology, and direct inner experience, he developed a cinematic language all his own, one composed of pulsating light, celestial forms, and evolving fields of energy.
In addition to producing a remarkable body of visionary films and artworks, Jordan Belson was, like many of his fellow California bohemians, a serious student of esotericism, yoga, and methods of consciousness expansion. For this program, Erik Davis, a leading scholar of countercultural history and California esoterica, traces the profound links between Belson’s art and spiritual practice, particularly in some of his later “New Age” films. These works, which feature collaborations with classic New Age musicians like Iasos and Steven Halpern, deepen our understanding of Belson’s esoteric aesthetics and ask us to grapple with the broader and deeper aspirations of New Age culture.
Combining rare film presentations with Davis’s uniquely illuminating perspective on the spiritual and countercultural currents that shaped Belson’s work, JORDAN BELSON: INTO THE NEW AGE offers a rare opportunity to experience this distinctive chapter in Belson’s quest to visualize the transcendent.
PROGRAM:
• MAMBO , 1951, 3.5 mins, Digital.
• RAGA , 1958, 7 mins, Digital.
• MEDITATION , 1971, 5 mins, 16mm.
• MUSIC OF THE SPHERES, 1977, 10 mins, 16mm.
• INFINITY, 1979, 10 mins, 16mm.
• PISCES/BLUES, 1980, 9.5 mins, Digital.
• BARDO, 2001, 13 mins, Digital.
Tickets: $12 (All Screenings Are In Person Only)
Please email [email protected] or phone 323-663-2167 with any questions.
ERIK DAVIS
Erik Davis is an author and independent scholar based in San Francisco. His books include Blotter: the Untold Story of an Acid Medium (2024), High Weirdness: Drugs, Esoterica, and Visionary Experience in the Seventies (2019), and the cult classic TechGnosis: Myth, Magic, and Mysticism in the Age of Information (1998). Davis’s essays on psychedelics, spirituality, music, and technoculture have appeared in scores of books, magazines, and journals, and his writing has been translated into a dozen languages. He currently writes the Burning Shore newsletter.
ADVISORY DISCLAIMER
With some exception, The Philosophical Research Society’s 7th House Screenings does not typically provide advisory warnings about potentially upsetting content or subject matter, as sensitivities are particular to each viewer. Please be sure to read event listings, research on the web, or visit Common Sense Media, IMDb, and DoesTheDogDie.com for thorough info on content and age-appropriateness. If you have any specific content advisory questions, please email [email protected].
CONTENT DISCLAIMER
The views, opinions, and thoughts expressed within exhibited works are solely those of their creators and may not represent those of the Philosophical Research Society (PRS), its affiliates, or any individuals associated with PRS. Screenings are intended for educational and entertainment purposes.
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Where is it happening?
USD 14.64
