Screen/Society-'80s to the M-M-M-Max film series--"Downtown Calling" - NC Premiere!

Film Screening--North Carolina Premiere of: "Downtown Calling" (Shan Nicholson, 2009, 75 min, USA, in English, Color, DVD). -- In the late 1970s, New York City was devastated by economic problems. The city crumbled and burned, literally, as the plethora of vacant buildings caught fire or otherwise fell to the ground. Up from the rubble came one of the most creative (and self-sufficient) movements in the history of the United States (if not the world). Concurrently, the music scene introduced the world to punk rock, no wave, new wave, post-punk, avant-garde, and hip hop; while from the art scene arose Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring and a plethora of graffiti artists; and the club culture brought us new forms of expression through dance, as Black, brown and white artists were able to interact with and learn from each other. Produced, directed and edited by Shan Nicholson, "Downtown Calling" brilliantly intertwines film footage and still photos from the period with talking head interviews of many of the major players reminiscing about the glory days. There is a lot of great footage of live performances, art openings, and night clubs. -- Part of "'80s to the M-M-M-Max" - a free film series to complement the exhibition "Time Capsule, Age 13 to 21: The Contemporary Art Collection of Jason Rubell." (For exhibition info see http://nasher.duke.edu/exhibitions_rubell.php)