- State: published
"The dream of creating a color music for the eye, comparable with auditory music for the ear, dates to antiquity…”
--- William Moritz
| Welcome | to iota, a public benefit arts organization devoted to Abstract Cinema and Visual Music. We preserve classic abstract films, release DVDs, and produce screenings of contemporary and historical work. More about who we are and what we do is here: [About Us] [Programs]. |
| Surf | our online library. It's filled with information about Abstract Cinema and Visual Music: Artists, Films and Videos, DVDs, Articles and Links. As with any database, it's a work-in-progress. Please help by submitting additions and corrections to webmaster@iotacenter.org. |
| Keep Up | with the latest news in the world of abstract video, visual music, and iota. We post announcements on the iotaBlog (below) about events, artist's sites and videos, and new additions to the media collection at our study center. |
| Submit | your video to the iota collection. Scholars and curators use the collection for research on-site only, and permission is obtained from the artist for any other use of their work. [Submission Guidelines] |
| Join | our mailing list and receive our newsletter or join the iotaDiscussion group and get all your Visual Music questions answered. |
Latest News...
[Calls for Entries] [Events] [New Acquisitions]
Derek haugen
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06.29.2009 |
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June 29-July 5, 2009
The iotaCenter introduces the first in a series called The iotaWeekly, a weekly email and blog entry of featured clips, artists and websites for the week. Stay tuned for more each week!
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Derek haugen
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05.06.2009 |
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Available now from The iotaStore and for viewing in The iotaCenter's Research & Study Center
The iotaCenter is proud to offer SIX VIDEOS (2004-2008) by Sylvia Pengilly and Michael Rhoades, a collection of Visual Music that "exemplify and intensify the relationship between what the ear hears and what the eye sees." Pengilly's "whirling, abstract images of amazing colors and shapes" is accompanied by Michael Rhoades' music that was generated from the images of the video. "What is being heard is truly a representation of what is being seen."
DVD - 49 minutes Released - 2008 Purchase Sylvia Pengilly and Michael Rhoades's SIX VIDEOS here. To view SIX VIDEOS at our Research & Study Center, please set up a viewing appointment by contacting us at: info@iotacenter.org |
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Derek haugen
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04.30.2009 |
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Now available from The iotaCenter's Store and for viewing in The iotaCenter's Research and Study Center
From the makers of the award-winning "Video Out: The Story of VJ'ing and Live Video Art" comes the 2007 documentary "Lumia: Thomas Wilfred and the Story of Light Art."
This documentary by Paul Vlachos and Meredith Finkelstein provides a history of Thomas Wilfred's life and career, vividly told through photographs, personal letters as well as interviews with audience members, acquaintances, and current practitioners of Lumia. The documentary also includes interviews with prominent Wilfred collector Eugene Epstein and touches upon other light-art pioneers, Mary Hallock Greenewalt and Charles Dockum."Lumia" was an official selection of the Avignon Film Festival, the Athens International Film Festival, and the Swansea International Film Festival. For more information on Thomas Wilfred, please visit iota's Thomas Wilfred's artist profile Purchase "Lumia: Thomas Wilfred and the Story of Light Art" here. If you would like to view "Lumia: Thomas Wilfred and the Story of Light Art," please set up an appointment by contacting us at: info@iotacenter.org |
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Derek haugen
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04.22.2009 |
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Now available for viewing in The iotaCenter's Research and Study Center
Working within the tradition of Lumia with a modern digital twist, George Stadnik continues to create works of great beauty and scope. THREE TIMES THREE contains three of Stadnik's recent films:Shadow in Three (2008, silent, 20:18) Untitled (2008, sound ("Elegy for Iraq" by Dr. Franklin Morris), 15:10) Mirror Mirror (2006, Silent, 15:10) If you would like to view this collection or any of George Stadnik's work in our collection, please set up an appointment by contacting us at: info@iotacenter.org THREE TIMES THREE as well as other Stadnik collections are available for purchase from The iotaCenter store. |
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Derek haugen
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03.26.2009 |
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The "most abstract festival in the world" launches its new call for entries open to short·films exploring the creative possibilites of the dot and the line. No figuration, no perspective, just dots and lines as ends in themselves! An amazing challenge to study and reflect upon the essence of form and movement. Can you take it? No entry fee and the deadline is Monday August 17th, 2009. Check out all the info at www.puntoyrayafestival.com. |
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Derek haugen
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03.26.2009 |
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   Sandra Naumann, LBI |
Now available for download from The iotaCenter
The iotaCenter is proud to offer for download Sandra Naumann's "Mary Ellen Bute's Vision of a Visual Music." Completed in June 2006, Naumann's master thesis is the culmination of her studies at the University of Leipzig on the legendary pioneer of experimental cinema, Mary Ellen Bute (1906-1983). To this day, Naumann continues to champion Bute's groundbreaking work in Visual Music. In 2008, Naumann, together with Cecile Starr, went on to be instrumental in bringing Bute's films to German distributor Arsenal Experimental and into distribution outside of the US for the first time. In 2009, Naumann presented a program of Bute's work at Tricky Women 2009, the European animation film festival dedicated exclusively to women filmmakers. Currently, Naumann is a researcher at the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute Media.Art.Research. “In her short films Bute explored the transfer of principles of musical composition to the creation of visual materials and tried various ways of linking sound and image. Starting with RHYTHM IN LIGHT (1934) she first produced a series of black-and-white films where she coordinated distorted images of everyday objects with classical music. In the late 1930s she turned to animation techniques and early colour film techniques; the free creation of form and colour allowed her to open up a whole new spectrum of linking acoustic and visual elements which she continued to develop in films like TARANTELLA (1940) and POLKA GRAPH (1947). Later, in films such as ABSTRONIC (1952) and MOOD CONTRASTS (1953), she combined animated images with oscilloscope patterns and thus belonged to the first filmmakers utilising electronically generated imagery.” -- Sandra Naumann, Tricky Women 2009 Download Sandra Naumann's "Mary Ellen Bute's Vision of a Visual Music" here. (In German) |
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Derek haugen
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03.10.2009 |
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Now available for viewing in The iotaCenter's Research and Study Center
The lectures Dr. William Moritz (1941-2000) gave as part of WRO 99: media art biennale at the WRO Art Center in April 1999 are now available on DVD for viewing in The iotaCenter's Research and Study Center.These lectures join a series of other Dr. William Moritz presentations available on DVD which include: Cal Arts Lecture (October 28, 1998) First Light Lecture on James Whitney, Anthology Film Archives (November 1998) UCLA Lecture (May 18, 2000) Introductions to KINETICA 2: A Centennial Tribute to Oskar Fischinger at MOMA (July 6, 2000) and LACMA (July 28, 2000) If you would like to view any of Dr. William Moritz's lectures, please set up an appointment by contacting us at: info@iotacenter.org For more information about Dr. William Moritz and his work, please visit The iotaCenter's online William Moritz Archive. |
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Derek haugen
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02.13.2009 |
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Now available for viewing in The iotaCenter's Research and Study Center
Organized by mad-actions and The iotaCenter, the PUNTO Y RAYA FESTIVAL of dot and line experimental animation "explores the ultimate synthesis of the form·movement duality in different spheres of human endeavor" and "uses abstraction's prime matter to reveal the limitations and achievements of our representation systems."The festival DVD includes work by Chris Casady, Danielle Ye, Joaquin "Kino" Gil, and Bret Battey. Visit The iotaCenter's PUNTO Y RAYA page for a complete film listing. If you missed the PUNTO Y RAYA FESTIVAL or would like to see a particular film from the program again, please set up a viewing appointment by contacting us at: info@iotacenter.org |
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Derek haugen
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02.03.2009 |
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Now available for viewing in The iotaCenter's Research and Study Center
Made without the use of a camera, LEFT ALONE WITH NIGHT by Erik Deutschman reveals three dynamic, organically animated nocturnal dimensions through color, sound and mood.A Film by Erik Deutschman "An awesome display of motion and music." --L.A. Reader "A vibrant torrent." --Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD - Onion City Film Festival '94, Chicago DVD: 8min, 16mm, color, 1994 |
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Derek haugen
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11.07.2008 |
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An international experimental animation festival dedicated to the point and line.
MAD-Actions and the iotaCenter present the West Coast tour of PUNTO Y RAYA 0.4.The festival "explores the ultimate synthesis of the form·movement duality in different spheres of human endeavor" and "uses abstraction's prime matter to reveal the limitations and achievements of our representation systems." The US festival tour begins on November 13 in Seattle, WA with stops in: Eugene, OR San Jose, CA San Francisco, CA and Los Angeles, CA courtesy of moviment d'alliberament digital and the iotaCenter. The complete festival schedule: iota's full Punto y Raya page |
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Derek haugen
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11.04.2008 |
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A co-presentation with the iotaCenter
Stephanie Maxwell in person!! When: Sunday, November 9, 2008, 7:00 pm Place: The Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA Website: LA Filmforum; Stephanie Maxwell; The Egyptian Theatre Stephanie Maxwell specializes in hand-painted experimental abstract animation. After performing a variety of painting, marking and engraving techniques directly onto 35mm film stock, Maxwell rephotographs each frame of the film using a digital feed camera and digital frame capture, sometimes employing additional manipulations such as bending and twisting the film, layering film frames together, and progressive alterations of the image during the frame by frame rephotography. This screening will feature selections from Maxwell’s work from 1984 through her two newest works from 2008, as well as a twelve-minute short documentary about Maxwell’s filmmaking process, with footage of the artist at work. The aesthetic of Maxwell’s films has changed since she began creating films in the 1980’s, and the transformation of her techniques and style will be apparent by viewing her films chronologically. The themes and imagery in her films vary widely – from that of a biological nature (GA, 1984), to staged, but painterly, graphical works (Somewhere, 1999) to interpretations of the metaphysical – time, reality, existence (Time Streams, 2003 and Runa’s Spell, 2007). Some of the combinations of sound and imagery in Maxwell’s work are haunting and lovely, as in Runa’s Spell where a close-up of what appears to be a colorful microscopic organism is accompanied by the distant sound of a woman lamenting in musical form. In Reflecting Pool (2006), a dark, ominous background is lit up with neon reflections of sand animation combined with images of microscopic organisms in a watery matrix. The music reflects and reacts to the evolving revelations in this three-movement work. “Stephanie Maxwell's work gets me. Her work is fuelled by a breathless, giddy energy and passion that seeps through every whore of a pore. Like a child, she is excited by a seemingly minute discovery — like an anthill, river or a rock. Maxwell's work is an extension of that explorative part of our childhood. She has a tenacious fascination with the natural world; a world that too many of us (myself included) have left behind in favor of simulated realities.” – Chris Robinson, Animation World Magazine Films include: GA (1984, 5 mins, miniDV) Please Don’t Stop (1989, 5 mins, miniDV) Outermost (1998, 5 mins, miniDV) Somewhere (1999, 5 mins, miniDV) Fragments (2000, 7 mins, miniDV) terra incognita (2001, 4 ½ mins, miniDV) passe-partout (2002, 6 mins, miniDV) Time Streams (2003, 5 ½ mins, miniDV) Reflecting Pool (2004, 9 mins, miniDV) Second Sight (2005, 5 ½ mins, miniDV) All That Remains (2006, 6 mins, miniDV) Runa’s Spell (2007, 3 ½ mins, miniDV) Currents (2008, 6 mins, miniDV) End To End (2008, 4 ½ mins, miniDV) The Art Form of Stephanie Maxwell (2007, 12 mins, miniDV) Total Running Time: 89 minutes Stephanie Maxwell is Professor in the School of Film and Animation at the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York. Her teaching includes courses in film, video and animation production (including experimental processes), and history of animation. She has curated and presented film programs internationally and taught abroad on several occasions. Ms. Maxwell has been producing her unusual animated works for over 20 years. Numerous exhibitions of her award-winning work include international film, multimedia, and television programs and festivals. Her works are collected by museums and universities as works of art. |
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Derek haugen
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10.07.2008 |
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Three Nights of Visual Music Events in Los Angeles, CA
Thursday, October 9, 2008 Goethe-Institut Los Angeles Presents: Style in Motion - DJ Christine Lang w/VJ Safy Sniper Christine Lang, since the 90s, she has been working as independent filmmaker, curator and DJ. Her short films and music videos have been shown at international film festivals. She is currently curating the exhibition 'FEMMES 'R' US - Feminism In Pop, Music, Art, Film Today' in Berlin and is preparing her first feature film. Safy Sniper is one of the pioneers of video scratching with a unique technique and style. He was born in 1960 in Haifa, Israel, and has been working and living in Berlin since 1985. Time: 10:00pm-Midnight Place: The Knitting Factory, 7021 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028 Website: Goethe-Institut Los Angeles; The Knitting Factory Friday, October 10, 2008 Opening of Uncensored A program of uncensored Freewaves’ videos Time: 8:00pm-10:00pm Place: World of Wonder, 6650 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028 Website: Freewaves; World of Wonder Goethe-Institut Los Angeles Presents: Style in Motion - Music Videos 2002-2008 A screening of artistically exceptional music videos from 2002 – 2008 curated by Christoph Dreher. Time: 8:00pm-10:00pm Place: Musicians Institute-The Green Room, 6752 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028 Website: Goethe-Institut Los Angeles; Musicians Institute Goethe-Institut Los Angeles Presents: Style in Motion - Pfadfindereie A Berlin-based design collective exploring various visual styles, they set their individual mark in each project they are involved in. Always creating a more than unique style with their seamless mixture of graphic design, video, typography, print, photography and of course vjing. Time: 10:00pm-Midnight Place: The Knitting Factory, 7021 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028 Website: Goethe-Institut Los Angeles; The Knitting Factory Saturday, October 11, 2008 Goethe-Institut Los Angeles Presents: Style in Motion - Panel Discussion Christoph Dreher, Christine Lang, and Safy Sniper will be joined by Alan Calzatti to discuss the effects of music video on international culture. Time: 2:00pm-4:00pm Place: Musicians Institute-The Passage, 6752 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028 Website: Goethe-Institut Los Angeles; Musicians Institute |
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Derek haugen
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09.09.2008 |
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Everyone is invited to post comments, start discussions, upload videos, or simply tell some stories about Jules, whether you personally knew Jules or not ... it's a day of remembrance to honor a mentor to four generations of students as the Founding Director of Experimental Animation at Cal Arts.
September 6, 2003 is the fifth-year anniversary of Jules' death. In null, on Saturday, September 13, 2008 please tell us a story you have to tell ... and many likely have one! Add to the discussion already started, start a new discussion thread, or post drawings or animations or photos or video tales to share with those who knew him and with those who did not. If you want to be inspired, re-read the AWN tribute edition from 2003. Especially if you didn't have an opportunity to contribute to the AWN publication, contribute to this event. PLEASE ENTER YOUR STORIES ON THE ENGEL APPRECIATION PAGE PAGE RATHER THAN THE EVENT PAGE. If you are not a Facebook member and you don't want to be, please go to the IIACI site and enter stories to be told there in the Guestbook. Once julesengel.com launches in November, those comments on IIACI will be either duplicated or transferred to the dedicated Engel site to serve as a living archive. Hope you'll participate! [A Message From Dr. Janeann Dill] When: September 13, 2008 Where: Facebook Event Page; The Engel Appreciation Page; Institute for Interdiscplinary Arts and Creative Intelligence Guestbook |
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Derek haugen
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09.05.2008 |
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Exhibition at the WRO Art Center, Wrocław, Poland
"Orphics" is a two-decades old cycle of graphical compositions inspired by music. The works are interpretations of renowned 20th century composers (Satie, Bartók, Ravel) in terms of form and color, however, not in the manner of traditional animation, but through systemic transformation. The result is a relationship between elements in space and time: every frame of the compositions portrays exactly these two dimensions of sound organization of subsequent metres. The exhibition also includes "glAmor," a visual ode to the powers making the geometry move us in emotional, cerebral and spiritual ways.
[WRO Art Center] When: Opening: September 12, 2008, 6:30pm; Exhibition: September 13, 2008 - October 11, 2008 Place: WRO Art Center, Wrocław, Poland Website: WRO Art Center Email: info@wrocenter.pl |
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Larry cuba
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08.05.2008 |
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Free Screening in Fort Wayne, IN
"Selections from the Northeastern University Visual Music Special Collection" will travel to Fort Wayne, IN this week.
Concert #4 of the Sweetwater Electroacoustic Music Concert Series will be presented on Friday, August 8th @ 8:00 pm in the Performance Theater at the Sweetwater facility.
The concert is free and the public is encouraged to attend.
This program of innovative, cutting edge music videos was curated by Dennis Miller from NEU's special collection of visual music which grew out of his Visual Music Marathon held in April of last year.Date: August 8, 2008 Time: 8:00 pm Place: Sweetwater Performance Theater, Fort Wayne, IN Website: Visual Music Marathon; Sweetwater Theater |
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Larry cuba
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07.14.2008 |
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Cecile Starr turns 87
Throughout her life Cecile has been a been a devoted guardian and advocate of independent film. Her writing, teaching, promoting, and preserving of independent film has helped pave the way for many artists, filmmakers, and writers working within independent cinema. She is perhaps best known to many for her invaluable text, Experimental Animation (1976, reprinted in 1988 and now out of print) co-written with Robert Russett. Her career began in the news industry, which led to writing about films. She soon realized that there were works – art films and shorts – that were being overshadowed and ignored; films by people such as Hans Richter, Len Lye, Mary Ellen Bute, and Oskar Fischinger.
Her love of such films and her spirited work to see that they have an audience and that they endure is her great gift to all of us. We invite you all to raise a glass, light a candle, or perhaps project a film in her honor. From your friends at iota - Happy Birthday Cecile! |
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Dawn h
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03.12.2008 |
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Audio-visual roller-coaster ride
iota is proud to announce its latest release in the Kinetica Video Library series:Stephanie Maxwell, Animated Works (1984-2007) This collection of short films is a testament to the artist's ingenuity. Experimental music scores by collaborators such as Allan Schindler and Greg Wilder, in tandem with Maxwell's propulsive vision, make for truly exhilarating viewing. |
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Dawn h
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02.01.2008 |
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Visual Music by Randy Jones
Six Axioms is an intricate work created using Max/MSP/Jitter. Working from the awe-inspiring experience of scientific discovery, Jones explores the overwhelming breadth and variety of the universe, based on the mathematical axiom. Six basic motives are mixed and matched to create this elegant visual music world.DVD: 33min Website: Randy Jones |
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Dawn h
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01.28.2008 |
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From the Artist's Website: Sabinium is a short abstract animation loosely based on an early Roman mythological tale: the historical legend of the founding of Rome by Romulus and his followers. DVD: 9min Website: www.harveygoldman.com |
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Dawn h
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07.12.2007 |
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Precision and perception
These early films by animator Paul Glabicki are unique examples of artistic exactitude. Glabicki immerses us in an analysis and breakdown of the world that surrounds us, deconstructing our understanding of form and motion. His 2D works display a meticulousness rarely seen in hand-drawn animation.DVD: 54min Website: Paul Glabicki |
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