Phil Solomon's "American Falls"

Experimental film artist Phil Solomon has refreshed his video installation of "American Falls" for the big screen. Originally commissioned for the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington D.C., Colorado based Solomon screened the triptych experimental film at the 33rd Denver Film Festival.

Solomon's format for "American Falls" at the gallery was a multi-projection video installation for the gallery's grand rotunda. The projection was an epic 55 minute loop of American History filtered through Solomon's chemically blissful imagery. Its escalating chronological narrative was entirely lost within a gallery installation, as a visitor typical wanders in and out of video exhibits.

Reinvigorated by the Denver Film Festival screening Solomon discovered that by keeping an audience in their seats, the film has "A dramatic arch in contrast to viewing it as an installation".

The film may have lost certain pertinence after its meaning could have bled through the walls and onto the streets of D.C.; though at least it is reaching a wider audience. The meaning of "American Falls" being an inspired question about the country's history: what's next?" More specifically, Solomon was inspired to ask that haunting Unanswered Question of American composer Charles Ives (1874 - 1954): "whither Music?" as "Whither America?"

"Whither America?" What is America's place or position in a globalized world, what has resulted from its actions and what condition does it leave us in? Solomon draws upon completely historical imagery that flows, whirls and then falls from the screen. Its bronze hues envelope the film like a streaming memorial on the National Mall, cascading off the stairway of history. Hence, "American Falls" and the film's motif of the fall, which Solomon drew inspiration from Frederic Edwin Church's 1857 painting Niagara; also part of the Corcoran's collection.

Solomon stated his premise of the fall simply at the Denver screening: "what goes up must come down." Charles Ives and the Niagara painting represent a fittingly pivotal moment for America; the embodiment of Americana and the great hopes of a country at the turn of a century. The project took Solomon ten years to complete and is masterful from its incarnation, imagery and impact. It came at yet another turn of the century, as he said "it began at the dawn of the Bush Administration and ended upon Obama's inauguration."

As Solomon mentioned, this was and still is a time when most of us are asking, "what the f**k is going on?" Most of the imagery used in "American Falls" is iconic, at least in the American cultural consciousness. Though as Solomon said of some of the film's imagery, "it is a 4th of July that is Patriotic, as much as it is terrifying." This is also captured with Solomon's use of moving music and ghostly radio waves in a surround soundscape.

"I had hoped I could refresh these images...as paintings", said Solomon. From colonialization, industrialization, militarization to McDonaldization, these images of Americana contrasted with glimpses of their realities take on whole new symbolisms. Take for instance Solomon's use of trains blazing the railroads westward. This simple, yet powerful imagery was contrasted by a running buffalo. With un-manipulated and static circumstance, both are just iconic images of the American West. Yet, under Solomon's implied perspective, ominous tones and textures, it embraces the reality that settlers almost wiped out this majestic species in western expansion.

"American Falls" is more than a gallery installation, as Solomon said, "it's not a clever artwork that just winks at you while visiting the museum." Though, it is more than just an experimental film; it is an unyielding piece of terrifying exquisiteness. For those asking, what's next? What the f**k is going on? Solomon's offering is a way to reflect on America and gather the rather solemn tone required to interpret what may become of her.

The film was selected by Ron Henderson during the Festival "Hot Seat" event of the Denver Film Society's Cinema Salon. You can see a preview of the film on Musings from Phil Solomon