Cinenova: Reproductive Labour 9 February � 26 March 2011. Preview: 8 February 2011, 6.30-8.30pm Opening hours: Wednesday � Saturday, 12-6pm
Cinenova � a volunteer-led, charitable organisation dedicated to preserving and distributing the work of women/feminist film and video makers, artists and activists � will occupy The Showroom from 8 February to 26 March. An exhibition, Reproductive Labour, showing film and video works and paper materials, as well as a series of screenings and events, will offer the rare opportunity to watch and research pivotal works from the history of feminist, queer and experimental film and video production: from narrative feature films such as Lizzie Borden�s 1983 cult classic Born In Flames; to many different political titles on a plethora of themes made by groups such as Leeds Animation Workshop and the Sheffield Film Co-op, documentary film makers such as Kim Loginotto and Pratibha Parmar; to early titles such as Germaine Dulac's Seashell and The Clergyman (1927); to internationally renowned visual artists such as VALIE EXPORT, Sandra Lahire, Yvonne Rainer, and Lis Rhodes.
Cinenova was founded in 1991 following the merger of two feminist film and video distributors: �Circles� and �Cinema of Women�. Each was formed in the early 80s in response to a lack of recognition of the history of films and videos produced by women. Cinenova currently distributes over 500 titles that include experimental film, narrative feature films, artists� film and video, documentary and educational videos, made from the 1920s to the present. Cinenova holds a large collection of paper materials, books and posters related to works it distributes, and the history and politics of film and video production. Some of the issues addressed in the work at Cinenova include oppositional histories, post-colonial struggles, reproductive labour, representation of gender and sexuality, and importantly, where these issues intersect.
Threatened with closure since 2001, a working group of Cinenova volunteers and new supporters began collaborating with The Showroom in 2009, in order to make public and urgent Cinenova�s practical situation regarding the preservation of its materials and continued practice. In opening the collection to the public, Reproductive Labour will instigate a process of socialising Cinenova�s current struggles.
Instrumental to producing the programme have been reflections on the desires and problems that arise through collective work and openly addressing the labour involved in maintaining the organisation. The process will encompass and produce new questions and approaches to this work as well as allowing the public access to significant films and videos made by women over the past 100 years.
For dates of workshops and events, please see www.theshowroomgallery.org from early February. For further press information and images please contact Natasha Tebbs: T: 020 7724 4300, E: [email protected] This project is supported by Arts Council England and The Showroom�s Supporters Scheme.
