Tony Conrad: Completely in the Present screening w/ Tyler Hubby + Live Band

Table of the Elements Presents Tony Conrad: Completely in the Present (2016) Screening w/ Director Tyler Hubby, a Live Accompanyment and Concert with Samara Lubelski, Tara Jane O’Neill, Caroline Partamian, Ellen Schloff, Brian Butler, Nicolas & Patricia Vernhes, + Hat & Beard Press Book Pop Up.

Our screenings are an immersive experience and are shown with 7.1 surround sound, and for this screening we have live musicians–creating a not-to-be-missed film and music highlight!

"JOYOUS, EXHILARATING, AND TRANSFORMATIVE, Tyler Hubby’s documentary Tony Conrad: Completely in the Present is essential viewing for anyone involved in the history of music and visual art." – Amy Taubin / Artforum
"Highly recommended" – RogerEbert.com
"Excellent, incisive" –The Stranger
"Riveting" – The Michigan Daily
"Sly, lively and illuminating" – The Boston Globe
"An extraordinary and timely documentary" – Artillery Magazine

“People like Conrad, so free of many of the conventional ideas and restraints that often just end up being selling points, reminds me that as down as you want to feel is just how much you want to deny the fact that there have been brilliant people in every decade, including this one, pushing in every possible way against mediocrity, conformity and ignorance. When in doubt, go to the museum, the gallery, the record store, anywhere you can find art. The world might not change, but yours could." — Henry Rollins, LA Weekly

“Utilizing intimate footage of Tony and his collaborators shot over the last twenty-two years, as well as his own archive of recordings and films, Tony Conrad: Completely in the Present mirrors Conrad’s own playfully radical approach to art making. The non-linear structure allows Conrad to wildly free associate his streams of consciousness, revealing an honest and humane way of navigating a remarkable, creative life.”

The Joshua Tree Cultural Center is proud to partner with: Table of the Elements: a rigorous curatorial network and publishing platform, lauded by Pitchfork as “a national treasure.” More than a record label, it is a member-powered engine that exalts ingenuity, repudiates convention, and inspires agency; and Hat & Beard Press: an independent, Los Angeles-based publisher and print production house. With their book imprints they create original, illustrated, non-fiction books of pop-culture abd historicalo significance that draw on existing cult audiences.

We are honored to present a first-of-its-kind, one-time performance by a band of musicians:

• Samara Lubelski – Experimental violinist, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist known for her work with Tower Recordings, collaborations with Thurston Moore, and acclaimed solo albums blending psychedelic folk and avant-garde textures.
• Tara Jane O’Neil – Singer-songwriter, composer, and visual artist whose career spans indie rock (Rodan, The Sonora Pine) and a long solo path of intimate, atmospheric songs infused with experimental and folk traditions.
• Caroline Partamian – Sound and visual artist whose practice, rooted in dance, explores abreaction—the release of memory through movement. Her work spans composition, notation, installations, books, and video, presented at venues from ISSUE Project Room to Marfa Open. She co-founded Other Desert Radio, Weird Babes press, and Armenian Creatives.
• Ellen Schloff – Multi-talented musician active in the desert music community, bringing a background in improvisation, collaborative sound-making, and explorations across folk and experimental soundscapes.
• Patricia Vernhes – Multidisciplinary artist, composer, and sound practitioner based in Joshua Tree, co-founder of the experimental audio project Summa, and Programming & Development Director at the Joshua Tree Cultural Center.
• Brian Butler – Los Angeles-based artist and musician working at the intersection of sound, ritual, and performance; known for experimental guitar work, collaborations in underground music, and large-scale performance art.
• Nicolas Vernhes – Acclaimed producer, mixer, and engineer (The War on Drugs, Animal Collective, Deerhunter), founder of Brooklyn’s Rare Book Room studio, and co-creator of the desert-based experimental project Summa. Serving as musical director for this performance.

As part of our immersive film series, this screening is designed to promote a deeper cultural reflection of cinema. We invite filmmakers to participate in our screenings, enabling the audience to better understand their creative perspective. By encouraging thoughtful, collaborative participation crossing both sides of the screen, this series is dedicated to studying and preserving the art of film.

ADVISORY DISCLAIMER

With some exception, The Joshua Tree Cultural Center's Film Institute 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 Joshua Tree Cultural Center (JTCC), its affiliates, or any individuals associated with JTCC. Screenings are intended for educational and entertainment purposes.

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