For the first time in Europe, Brooklyn artists Todd Chandler and Jeff Stark will present their acclaimed large-scale, post-apocalyptic movie theatre experience Empire Drive-In as part of Abandon Normal Devices Festival 2012.
The multi-media installation will be made from 25 wrecked cars and a 40-foot screen constructed of salvaged wood, featuring a specially programmed series of cult film screenings (Mad Max II – Road Warrior, RoboCop), live soundtracks and performances.
Audiences will be able to climb in and out of the scrap cars to watch films on the big screen, with low-power radio transmitting stereo audio directly to each vehicle.
Created in collaboration with a dozen other artists and craftspeople, Empire Drive-in was first built on-site in San Jose in the US over a two-week period, symbolic of the once thriving drive-in industry, of which only 381 still remain active today.
Every day from Wed 29 – Fri 31 August between 12pm and 4pm audiences will have access to the installation to experience sonic car environments with work from artists Roberto Carlos Lange (NY), Sxip Shirey (NY), Resonance 104.4fm (UK) and Susie Honeyman ((Mekons, Echo City, Little Sparta, UK) at Q-Park in Manchester's Hulme Street.
The night sky will be lit by a specially programmed series of film screenings and live soundtracks, including Empire Shorts, a collection of short films from artists who navigate landscapes in lyrical and bold ways. From the demolitions of cities to boats built from debris, these reflections on contemporary ruin feature Gordon Matta Clark (USA) Blu (Italy) John Smith (UK): Martha Colburn (USA) Lee Kern (UK) Jem Cohen (USA and Glory at Sea by Zeitlin/Court 13 (USA), the creators behind this year’s Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner, Beasts of the Southern Wild.
Other films screening at the festival - which runs from August 29 to September 2 - include Mark Cousin's What Is This Film Called Love and US indie Kid-Thing. For more details visit the official site
