No. 149
September 17, 1999
Immediate Release

Contact:
Karen Gysin 612.375.7651
Lora Aadalen 612.375.7650

WALKER AFTER HOURS PREVIEWS
2000 BC: THE BRUCE CONNER STORY PART II

Richly textured assemblages shrouded in nylon. Intricately drawn black-and-white mandalas. Jump-cut films compiled from found footage. Ethereal photograms and surreal collages. These are just some of the works to be seen in 2000 BC: THE BRUCE CONNER STORY PART II. Celebrate the opening of this much-anticipated exhibition with a combination Walker After Hours/Preview Party on Friday, October 8, from 9 pm-12:30 am. The evening features polka music by John Filipczak & The CLASSICS (along with room to dance), special screenings of Conner's experimental films, free limited edition "I AM NOT BRUCE CONNER" buttons, and the Martini of the Month-The Bombhead. Experience the many sides of the artist in this special preview of his "one-man group show."

2000 BC: THE BRUCE CONNER STORY PART II premieres at the Walker Art Center October 9, 1999-January 2, 2000. For the past four decades, Conner's work has defied easy categorization. Coming out of the Beat mecca in San Francisco, he is perhaps best known for his landmark assemblages and short, kinetic films of the 1950s and 1960s, but is also renowned for his sculptures, paintings, drawings, and collages. This is the first examination of some 150 of his works with a distinct perspective: the interrelationship between his work in many media, with a special emphasis on his filmmaking and his exploration of the physical, metaphorical, and metaphysical properties of light and dark.

Tickets for the Walker After Hours/Preview Party are $14 ($7 Walker members) and are available in advance by calling the Walker box office at 612.375.7622 (voice); 612.375.7585 (Touchtone Device for the Deaf). Advance purchase strongly suggested.

Walker After Hours is sponsored by U.S. Bank. Promotional sponsorship is provided by Dayton's. Entertainment sponsorship is provided by Musicland Group Inc. on behalf of Sam Goody and Suncoast Motion Picture Company.

2000 BC: THE BRUCE CONNER STORY PART II is organized by Peter Boswell (former Walker curator and currently Senior Curator/Assistant Director for Programs at the Miami Art Museum), Bruce Jenkins (former Walker Film/Video Curator and currently Curator, Harvard Film Archives), and Joan Rothfuss, Walker Associate Curator of Visual Arts.

WALKER AFTER HOURS PREVIEWS
2000 BC: THE BRUCE CONNER STORY PART II

Friday, October 8, 9 pm- 12:30 am $14 ($7 Walker members)

INFORMATION GUIDES: 2000 BC: THE BRUCE CONNER STORY PART II
Galleries 1,2, and 3
Look for the Information Guides wearing the question mark t-shirt to answer your questions about the exhibition.

ART ACTIVITY:
9 pm-12 midnight Art Lab
Make psychedelic felt-tip drawings á la Conner.

FILM: Bruce Conner Cinematheque
10-10:40 and 11-11:40 pm Information Room
See why Conner's experimental films-with deft, fast-paced editing of found footage set to pop music-have earned him the reputation as the father of the modern music video. The program features seven Conner films, including: REPORT (1963-1967), VIVIAN (1964), VALSE TRISTE (1978), and AMERICA IS WAITING (1981).

MUSIC: John Filipczak & The CLASSICS
9-10:30 pm
Auditorium
Dance a polka on the stage or just relax and enjoy the music.

MUSIC: ((TBD))
10:30 pm-12:15 am
Gallery 8
PLEASE NOTE: 12 Rods will NOT be performing as stated in the invitation.

MARTINI OF THE MONTH: The Bombhead
Vodka, Vermouth, and wasabi-stuffed olive.

WIN PRIZES
Share your thoughts about Conner's DENNIS HOPPER ONE MAN SHOW, located in Gallery 3 and enter to win a $500 savings bond courtesy U.S. Bank, a $250 Dayton's gift certificate, a $100 Musicland/Sam Goody gift certificate, dinner for two at Table of Contents, or a private tour of the James Page Brewery with up to 30 friends.


The Walker Art Center is located one block off Highway I-94 at the corner of Lyndale Avenue South and Vineland Place in Minneapolis. For public information, call 612.375.7622; TDD: 375.7585. Gallery hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, 10 am-5 pm; Thursday, 10 am-8 pm; Sunday, 11 am-5 pm; closed Monday; free Thursday and the first Saturday of each month (Free First Saturdays are made possible by Coldwell Banker Burnet).   www.walkerart.org