About

Scanner: Harry Smith at 100

Harry Smith (1923–1991) was a great American eccentric, experimental filmmaker, musicologist, graphic designer, bohemian and anthropologist. He was also a collector of found objects and sounds, including the world's largest known private paper aeroplane collection. The Anthology of American Folk Music is perhaps his most famous contribution.

British artist Robin Rimbaud, also known as Scanner, has been invited by the Harry Smith Archives to celebrate the 100th anniversary of his birth by performing live scores to a wide selection of his films. This includes: Mahagonny, Friends of Harry Smith (Jordan Belson, Robert Frank, Jonas Mekas, Allen Ginsberg, etc.), Early Abstractions, Heaven & Earth Magic.

For this event, Scanner will be performing a live soundtrack to Smith's Early Abstractions (1946–57) and Untitled Seminole Patchwork (1965–66) films.

Scanner has been intensely active in sonic art since the 1980s, producing concerts, installations and recordings, connecting a bewilderingly diverse array of genres. Committed to working with cutting edge practitioners he names Bryan Ferry, Wayne MacGregor, Mike Kelley, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, Michael Nyman, Steve McQueen, Laurie Anderson and Hussein Chalayan amongst his previous collaborators.

Presented by ACCA, CINECITY & Spirit of Gravity

About CINECITY 2024
Brighton's film festival returns for its 22nd year. Presenting the very best in world cinema with a diverse programme of premieres and previews, treasures from the archive, live soundtracks, exhibitions, talks and special events from 8 – 17 November at venues across Brighton and Lewes. Find out more.

About Spirit of Gravity
Launched in 2001 by local live art liberationists Nick Rilke and Tony Rimbaud of Maphead Productions, Spirit of Gravity is Brighton's longest running experimental electronic music collective. Find out more.

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