Jonas Mekas presents 'From Brooklyn With Love' with Martha Colburn and Auguste Varkalis at Sideshow Gallery

At Sideshow Gallery in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Jonas Mekas exhibits his films and stills in 'From Brooklyn With Love,' presenting the world without narrative or hierarchy. Mekas, known for his editorial work at Film Culture, the Village Voice, and as founder of Anthology Film Archives, continues his legacy of supporting diverse artists by featuring two emerging filmmakers: Martha Colburn and Auguste Varkalis. Both artists show a-temporal works alongside their films, with Colburn displaying computer-altered collages and Varkalis presenting boxed objects and illustrations from Mekas' dream diary. Their films reveal the influence of experimental film pioneer Stan Brakhage, yet diverge significantly. Colburn's work, such as 'Spiders in Love' and 'Skelkhelovision,' features violent, sexual imagery drawn directly on film, equating death with sexuality through frenzied, cathartic visuals. Varkalis' films, like 'The B Train,' are more abstract and meditative, exploring patterns and film speeds to affect the viewer's nervous system, balancing color against black and white. Mekas' own work contrasts with these visionary approaches, focusing on the real and seen-as-it-is, including recently edited footage of 1950s Williamsburg and his long-term project of daily life filmed over 24 hours across twelve monitors. The exhibition captures Mekas' subject of lived time, distinct from Warhol's relentless films, through intimate, unprepossessing images that evoke nostalgia without intrusion.