April 23 - Quintessence Short Film Screening at Ferndale Library

April 23 – Quintessence Short Film Screening at Ferndale Library

Ferndale, MI- In conjunction with their vibrant art exhibition Quintessence, at the Ferndale Area District Library, artists M. Saffell Gardner and Nancy J. Rodwan will present a 34-minute screening of their unique video creations. The program includes four films by each artist and will be followed by a Q&A.

Kresge Fellow and visionary artist M. Saffell Gardner said, “My video project is an ongoing practice related to ethereality. Something on the edge of what one may dream or hear. The videos I create are just on the boundary of sound and imagery. To add depth to my videos over the years I’ve collaborated with musicians and dancers including Marion Hayden and Alex Harding.” Gardner’s films include Middle Passage, Interstellar Pathways, Ancestral Haiku, and Detroit to Amenia.

Nancy J. Rodwan is a filmmaker, artist, writer and curator. Her films have won numerous awards and have shown globally in festivals, museums, art galleries, classrooms and alleyways. “My art is usually influenced by music, literature, and current events. When making films I generally like to mix things up and include live action, animation, puppetry, and archival footage.” Three of the films Rodwan will show at the library are based on poetry, including a piece she wrote that was included in Respect: The Poetry of Detroit Music, edited by M.L. Liebler and Jim Daniels. Her films include Imperfect Armor, Life, Incremental, and Night Moves.

“The Ferndale Library’s Art & Exhibitions Committee is honored for the opportunity to display magnificent works by world-class artists as Gardner and Rodwan,” said Jeff Milo, FADL’s coordinator of marketing and art programming. “This special film screening is an excellent way to close out their dual exhibition, Quintessence, allowing patrons to see another side of these versatile artists but also giving us an opportunity for an engaging Artist Talk at the end. We’re very much looking forward to it.”