6621 ST. Claude ave. arabi, la 70032
(504) 352-1150 rene@zeitgeistnola.org
"Something for and against everybody"
Zeitgeist is a non-profit, art house cinema that was founded in New Orleans in November 1986.
Zeitgeist Theatre & Lounge is still open! Following the Governor's press conference returning the state to a "Modified Phase 2" the theatre as well as our bar are both still allowed to be open. "Unessential Businesses" are allowed to be open with 50% capacity and 6 foot social distancing (which we continued to do even when the state went to Phase 3, meaning we currently have 38 seats in our theatre and 20 seats in our lounge).
We installed 3 UV air-scrubbers in our ventilation system for your safety. Masks are required. We are social distancing. Our theatre and lounge is professionally cleaned and sanitized by Jani-King of New Orleans. Check out our new Dolby sound system.
Zeitgeist is a non-profit, art house cinema that was founded in New Orleans in November 1986.
Zeitgeist Theatre & Lounge is still open! Following the Governor's press conference returning the state to a "Modified Phase 2" the theatre as well as our bar are both still allowed to be open. "Unessential Businesses" are allowed to be open with 50% capacity and 6 foot social distancing (which we continued to do even when the state went to Phase 3, meaning we currently have 38 seats in our theatre and 20 seats in our lounge).
We installed 3 UV air-scrubbers in our ventilation system for your safety. Masks are required. We are social distancing. Our theatre and lounge is professionally cleaned and sanitized by Jani-King of New Orleans. Check out our new Dolby sound system.
Wednesday, January 26th
in the Zeitgeist Theatre 6:00 pm - MLK/FBI Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is remembered today as an American hero: a bridge-builder, a shrewd political tactician, and a moral leader. Yet throughout his history-altering political career, he was often treated by U.S. intelligence and law enforcement agencies like an enemy of the state. In this virtuosic documentary, award-winning editor and director Sam Pollard (Editor, 4 LITTLE GIRLS, MO’ BETTER BLUES; Director/Producer, EYEZ ON THE PRIZE, SAMMY DAVIS, JR.: I’VE GOTTA BE ME) lays out a detailed account of the FBI surveillance that dogged King’s activism throughout the ’50s and ’60s, fueled by the racist and red-baiting paranoia of J. Edgar Hoover. In crafting a rich archival tapestry, featuring some revelatory restored footage of King, Pollard urges us to remember that true American progress is always hard-won. 8:00 pm - IDENTIFYING FEATURES Middle-aged Magdalena (Mercedes Hernandez) has lost contact with her son after he took off with a friend from their town of Guanajuato to cross the border into the U.S., hopeful to find work. Desperate to find out what happened to him—and to know whether or not he’s even alive—she embarks on an ever-expanding and increasingly dangerous journey to discover the truth. At the same time, a young man named Miguel (David Illescas) has returned to Mexico after being deported from the U.S., and eventually his path converges with Magdalena’s. From this simple but urgent premise, director Fernanda Valadez has crafted a lyrical, suspenseful slow burn, equally constructed of moments of beauty and horror, and which leads to a startling, shattering conclusion. Winner of the World Cinema Dramatic Audience and Screenplay Awards at the Sundance Film Festival. 
6:00 pm nightly
MLK/FBI Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is remembered today as an American hero: a bridge-builder, a shrewd political tactician, and a moral leader. Yet throughout his history-altering political career, he was often treated by U.S. intelligence and law enforcement agencies like an enemy of the state. In this virtuosic documentary, award-winning editor and director Sam Pollard (Editor, 4 LITTLE GIRLS, MO’ BETTER BLUES; Director/Producer, EYEZ ON THE PRIZE, SAMMY DAVIS, JR.: I’VE GOTTA BE ME) lays out a detailed account of the FBI surveillance that dogged King’s activism throughout the ’50s and ’60s, fueled by the racist and red-baiting paranoia of J. Edgar Hoover. In crafting a rich archival tapestry, featuring some revelatory restored footage of King, Pollard urges us to remember that true American progress is always hard-won. [TRAILER] 
Opening January 22:
8:00 pm nightly IDENTIFYING FEATURES Middle-aged Magdalena (Mercedes Hernandez) has lost contact with her son after he took off with a friend from their town of Guanajuato to cross the border into the U.S., hopeful to find work. Desperate to find out what happened to him—and to know whether or not he’s even alive—she embarks on an ever-expanding and increasingly dangerous journey to discover the truth. At the same time, a young man named Miguel (David Illescas) has returned to Mexico after being deported from the U.S., and eventually his path converges with Magdalena’s. From this simple but urgent premise, director Fernanda Valadez has crafted a lyrical, suspenseful slow burn, equally constructed of moments of beauty and horror, and which leads to a startling, shattering conclusion. Winner of the World Cinema Dramatic Audience and Screenplay Awards at the Sundance Film Festival. [TRAILER] Watch this acclaimed shorts program for Free!
Filmmakers Usama Alshaibi and Adam Sekuler announce CINEMA-19, a collection of 190 second short films commissioned in response to COVID-19. The films in CINEMA-19 do not attempt to summarize the pandemic, but instead focus on the personal, the political, the sensual, the distant, the abstract, and the absurd.
Sarah Ema Friedland, Matt McCormick, Kalpana Subramanian, Christin Turner, Mila Zuo, William Brown, Kelly Gallagher, Lori Felker, Courtney Stepehens, Scott Cummings, Amir George, Eman Akram Nader, Alex Megaro, Mehrnaz Saeedvafa, as well as the two commissioning artists; Usama Alshaibi and Adam Sekuler. The films are presented in association with Anthology Film Archives (New York), Zeitgeist Theatre and Lounge (New Orleans) and Northwest Film Forum (Seattle). The films are available for free public viewing on Vimeo. [Watch films here] ZEITGEIST – NOUN, GERMAN. THE SPIRIT OF THE TIMES; GENERAL TREND, MOOD OR FEELING CHARACTERISTIC OF A PARTICULAR PERIOD OF TIME, ESPECIALLY AS IT IS REFLECTED IN THE ARTS, LITERATURE, PHILOSOPHY, ETC. \ˈtsīt-ˌgīst, ˈzīt-\
_________________________________________________________ Now serving in the
ZEITGEIST LOUNGE: 
Zeitgeist is ALL- AGES & SMOKE-FREE
Special thanks to the Meraux Foundation, The Old Arabi Neighborhood Association, Councilman Gillis McCloskey, The St. Bernard Chamber Of Commerce, Shotgun Cinema, Ellis Fortinberry & Chalmette Movies, the people of St. Bernard Parish and those who have followed us from New Orleans for all of their support. We couldn't have dreamed of a better venue or neighbors.
Zeitgeist has received a "Performing Arts Exception" which means we can operate as an ALL-AGES venue and still serve alcohol. Children and minors may attend Zeitgeist films, concerts and events, but can not sit at or approach the bar. They may not also consume alcohol. To purchase and consume alcohol you must have a valid ID.
Zeitgeist would like to acknowledge the indigenous history of New Orleans, and more broadly, Louisiana, and recognize the Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana, the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana, the Jena Band of Choctaw Indians, and the Tunica-Biloxi Indian Tribe of Louisiana. We would also like to acknowledge the state-recognized tribes of Louisiana, which include the Addai Caddo Tribe, the Biloxi-Chitimacha Confederation of Muskogee, Choctaw-Apache Community of Ebarb, Clifton Choctaw, Four Winds Tribe Louisiana Cherokee Confederacy, Grand Caillou/Dulac Band, Isle de Jean Charles Band, Louisiana Choctaw Tribe, Pointe-Au-Chien Indian Tribe, and the United Houma Nation.
We are now 34 years old...
over a 1/3 of a Century! We have exhibited countless films, concerts, performances and events in those long years. We want to thank all of the artists, volunteers, organizations, members, donors and patrons who have kept us going. We've come a long way. Let's keep it going! |
ZEITGEIST'S VIRTUAL ARTHOUSE CINEMA
NOW SHOWING IN YOUR OWN HOME SUPPORTING ZEITGEIST Click in the Virtual Link to rent the film and stream it at your own schedule on your computer, tablet or other device. Your rental supports indie filmmakers, distributors and theaters...in this case Zeitgeist. Thanks!
MAYOR
MAYOR is a real-life political saga following Musa Hadid, the charismatic Christian mayor of Ramallah, during his second term in office. His immediate goals: repave the sidewalks, attract more tourism, and plan the city's Christmas celebrations. His ultimate mission: to end the occupation of Palestine. Rich with detailed observation and a surprising amount of humor, MAYOR offers a portrait of dignity amidst the madness and absurdity of endless occupation while posing a question: how do you run a city when you don't have a country? Please Note: The Virtual at home rental includes a Q & A with director Steve James. [TRAILER] [VIRTUAL]
WHITE RIOT
Britain, late-1970s. Punk is exploding. The country is deeply divided over immigration with the National Front, a far-right political party, gaining strength. Outraged by this xenophobic agenda and a racist speech from Eric Clapton, music photographer Red Saunders teams up with like-minded creatives to form Rock Against Racism. Focusing on issues that the mainstream British media ignores, the RAR zine challenges the status quo and sparks a grassroots youth movement that The Clash, Steel Pulse, Sham 69, Poly Styrene, Alien Culture and other top punk bands jump on board. [TRAILER] [VIRTUAL]
JIMMY CARTER: ROCK & ROLL PRESIDENT
If it hadn’t been for a bottle of scotch and a late-night visit from musician Gregg Allman, Jimmy Carter might never have been elected the 39th President of the United States. The documentary charts the mostly forgotten story of how Carter, a lover of all types of music, forged a tight bond with musicians Willie Nelson, the Allman Brothers, Bob Dylan and others. Low on campaign funds and lacking in name recognition, Carter relied on support from these artists to give him a crucial boost in the Democratic primaries. Once Carter was elected, the musicians became frequent guests in the White House. The surprisingly significant role that music played throughout Carter’s life and in his work becomes a thread in this engaging portrait of one of the most enigmatic Presidents in American history. Starring Jimmy Carter, Madeleine Albright, Bono Garth Brooks, Jimmy Buffett, Chip Carter, Rosanne Cash, Bishop Michael Curry , Bob Dylan, Chuck Leavell, Willie Nelson, Nile Rodgers, Paul Simon, Trisha Yearwood, Andrew Young, etc. [TRAILER] [VIRTUAL LINK]
BLOODY NOSE EMPTY POCKETS
[TRAILER] [VIRTUAL CINEMA LINK] On the eve of the 2016 U.S. presidential election, and on its final night before closing, a Las Vegas dive bar becomes a stage where its employees and barflies commiserate one last time. Directed by local documentary heroes, brothers Bill and Turner Ross train their keenly observed quasi-fiction on the lived-in atmosphere of a haunt, whose massed warmth and love conceal its patron’s worries—at least for a little while. Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets is a carefully constructed yet oddly affecting record of an American sensibility at once straining to survive and ready for the end.
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C O M I N G S O O N !
All films are in the Zeitgeist Theatre.
We will also be hosting special outdoor Drive-Ins
We will also be hosting special outdoor Drive-Ins
Opening January 29:
4:00 pm daily
1982
In June of 1982, Israel invaded Lebanon, which was already reeling from its ongoing civil war. In his feature debut, director Oualid Mouaness revisits this cataclysmic moment in Lebanese history through a different lens. At a private school on the outskirts of Beirut, as the geopolitical conflict inches closer and closer, 11-year-old Wissam is more intent on finding the courage to tell his classmate he loves her. For a dreamer like Wissam, who is more likely to be drawing than playing football, it's hard to comprehend the gravity of the impending violence. But for his teachers, Yesmine and Joseph, the jets in the sky signal something greater. As they try to mask their growing fears for the sake of the students, they also attempt to hide the fractures in their relationship, as they fall on different sides of the political divide. Mouaness, who also wrote the script, splits the film between these two perspectives; that of the adults and that of the children, to explore the complexities of love and war. Winner Toronto International Film Festival - NETPAC - International Film Critics Award. [TRAILER]
4:00 pm daily
1982
In June of 1982, Israel invaded Lebanon, which was already reeling from its ongoing civil war. In his feature debut, director Oualid Mouaness revisits this cataclysmic moment in Lebanese history through a different lens. At a private school on the outskirts of Beirut, as the geopolitical conflict inches closer and closer, 11-year-old Wissam is more intent on finding the courage to tell his classmate he loves her. For a dreamer like Wissam, who is more likely to be drawing than playing football, it's hard to comprehend the gravity of the impending violence. But for his teachers, Yesmine and Joseph, the jets in the sky signal something greater. As they try to mask their growing fears for the sake of the students, they also attempt to hide the fractures in their relationship, as they fall on different sides of the political divide. Mouaness, who also wrote the script, splits the film between these two perspectives; that of the adults and that of the children, to explore the complexities of love and war. Winner Toronto International Film Festival - NETPAC - International Film Critics Award. [TRAILER]
Opening January 29:
6:00 pm nightly
YOU WILL DIE AT TWENTY
YOU WILL DIE AT TWENTY is a visually sumptuous “coming-of-death” fable. During her son’s naming ceremony, a Sheikh predicts that Sakina’s child will die at the age of 20. Haunted by this prophecy, Sakina becomes overly protective of her son Muzamil, who grows up knowing about his fate. As Muzamil escapes Sakina’s ever-watchful eye, he encounters friends, ideas and challenges that make him question his destiny. Sudan’s first Oscar submission, YOU WILL DIE AT TWENTY is an auspicious debut and a moving meditation on what it means to live in the present. Winner of the Lion of the Future Award for best Debut Feature at the Venice Film Festival, In Arabic with English subtitles. [TRAILER] [VIRTUAL]
6:00 pm nightly
YOU WILL DIE AT TWENTY
YOU WILL DIE AT TWENTY is a visually sumptuous “coming-of-death” fable. During her son’s naming ceremony, a Sheikh predicts that Sakina’s child will die at the age of 20. Haunted by this prophecy, Sakina becomes overly protective of her son Muzamil, who grows up knowing about his fate. As Muzamil escapes Sakina’s ever-watchful eye, he encounters friends, ideas and challenges that make him question his destiny. Sudan’s first Oscar submission, YOU WILL DIE AT TWENTY is an auspicious debut and a moving meditation on what it means to live in the present. Winner of the Lion of the Future Award for best Debut Feature at the Venice Film Festival, In Arabic with English subtitles. [TRAILER] [VIRTUAL]
Opening January 29:
8:00 pm nightly
BLIZZARD OF SOULS
Garnering numerous comparisons to 1917, Blizzard of Souls pays stark witness to the horrors and brutality of the First World War, as seen through the eyes of Artūrs, an innocent 17-year-old farm-boy turned soldier. Despite being underage, Artūrs is conscripted, along with his father, a former marksman, in one of Latvia’s first national battalions. As his regiment tries to survive the trenches, his wide-eyed and naive search for glory is quickly derailed by the stark realities of war. Latvia’s official Oscar submission. [TRAILER] [VIRTUAL]
8:00 pm nightly
BLIZZARD OF SOULS
Garnering numerous comparisons to 1917, Blizzard of Souls pays stark witness to the horrors and brutality of the First World War, as seen through the eyes of Artūrs, an innocent 17-year-old farm-boy turned soldier. Despite being underage, Artūrs is conscripted, along with his father, a former marksman, in one of Latvia’s first national battalions. As his regiment tries to survive the trenches, his wide-eyed and naive search for glory is quickly derailed by the stark realities of war. Latvia’s official Oscar submission. [TRAILER] [VIRTUAL]
Opening February 5:
HEARTWORN HIGHWAYS
Sometimes, a documentary maker is present at precisely the right moment to capture lightning in a bottle. It happened with essential punk doc The Decline of Western Civilization, it happened with Bob Dylan’s Don’t Look Back and Chet Baker’s Let’s Get Lost, and it happened with 1976’s Heartworn Highways. The iconic performance documentary saw filmmaker James Szalapski travel to Texas and Tennessee to capture the radical country artists reclaiming the genre via an appreciation for its heritage in folk and bluegrass and a rejection of the mainstream Nashville machine. Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark, Steve Young, David Allan Coe, Steve Earle and many others appeared on both screen and soundtrack, where musical highlights include Clark’s brilliant “Desperados Waiting For A Train,” Young’s stirring “Alabama Highways” and Van Zandt’s emotional “Waiting Around To Die.” The hard living – and hard partying – lifestyles of outlaw country’s figureheads are played out on screen as we visit Van Zandt’s Austin trailer, see Coe play in Tennessee State Prison, join the gang in Nashville’s notorious Wig Wam Tavern and witness a liquor-fueled Christmas at Clark’s house. No wonder the film’s original tagline read: “The best music and the best whiskey come from the same part of the country”. Outside of a couple festival screenings, the movie remained unreleased for five years after its completion, finally hitting screens in 1981 and finding a cult audience ever since. [TRAILER] [VIRTUAL]
HEARTWORN HIGHWAYS
Sometimes, a documentary maker is present at precisely the right moment to capture lightning in a bottle. It happened with essential punk doc The Decline of Western Civilization, it happened with Bob Dylan’s Don’t Look Back and Chet Baker’s Let’s Get Lost, and it happened with 1976’s Heartworn Highways. The iconic performance documentary saw filmmaker James Szalapski travel to Texas and Tennessee to capture the radical country artists reclaiming the genre via an appreciation for its heritage in folk and bluegrass and a rejection of the mainstream Nashville machine. Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark, Steve Young, David Allan Coe, Steve Earle and many others appeared on both screen and soundtrack, where musical highlights include Clark’s brilliant “Desperados Waiting For A Train,” Young’s stirring “Alabama Highways” and Van Zandt’s emotional “Waiting Around To Die.” The hard living – and hard partying – lifestyles of outlaw country’s figureheads are played out on screen as we visit Van Zandt’s Austin trailer, see Coe play in Tennessee State Prison, join the gang in Nashville’s notorious Wig Wam Tavern and witness a liquor-fueled Christmas at Clark’s house. No wonder the film’s original tagline read: “The best music and the best whiskey come from the same part of the country”. Outside of a couple festival screenings, the movie remained unreleased for five years after its completion, finally hitting screens in 1981 and finding a cult audience ever since. [TRAILER] [VIRTUAL]
Opening February 12:
MUSIC by Sia
Zu (Kate Hudson), a free spirit estranged from her family, suddenly finds herself the sole guardian of her half-sister, Music (Maddie Ziegler), a teenager on the autism spectrum whose whole world order had been beautifully crafted by her late grandmother. With a history of addiction issues that challenge her self-worth and reliability, Zu can barely take care of herself and she struggles with the new responsibilities her sister brings. But Music has the watchful loving eye of her local community, and Zu soon learns that life’s obstacles can be made easier with a little help from their neighbor, Ebo (Leslie Odom Jr.). Music explores the fragile bonds that hold us together and imagines a world where love can be found in the most miraculous of places. Australian pop star and songwriter Sia Furler’s feature directorial debut. [TRAILER]
MUSIC by Sia
Zu (Kate Hudson), a free spirit estranged from her family, suddenly finds herself the sole guardian of her half-sister, Music (Maddie Ziegler), a teenager on the autism spectrum whose whole world order had been beautifully crafted by her late grandmother. With a history of addiction issues that challenge her self-worth and reliability, Zu can barely take care of herself and she struggles with the new responsibilities her sister brings. But Music has the watchful loving eye of her local community, and Zu soon learns that life’s obstacles can be made easier with a little help from their neighbor, Ebo (Leslie Odom Jr.). Music explores the fragile bonds that hold us together and imagines a world where love can be found in the most miraculous of places. Australian pop star and songwriter Sia Furler’s feature directorial debut. [TRAILER]
Opening February 12:
CRESTONE
In the desert of Crestone, Colorado, a group of SoundCloud rappers live in solitude, growing weed and making music for the internet. When an old friend arrives to make a movie, reality and fiction begin to blur. “Reminiscent of Harmony Korine’s Gummo…captures moments of an exaggerated reality and reflects humanity in the souls of the lost and bizarre” - Vox.
Screens with OPEN AIR, a 2015 short documentary on the only "Open Air Cremation" in the United States every year in
Crestone, Colorado by Zeitgeist's own Adam Sekuler (Tomorrow Never Knows, 36 Hours).
[TRAILER]
CRESTONE
In the desert of Crestone, Colorado, a group of SoundCloud rappers live in solitude, growing weed and making music for the internet. When an old friend arrives to make a movie, reality and fiction begin to blur. “Reminiscent of Harmony Korine’s Gummo…captures moments of an exaggerated reality and reflects humanity in the souls of the lost and bizarre” - Vox.
Screens with OPEN AIR, a 2015 short documentary on the only "Open Air Cremation" in the United States every year in
Crestone, Colorado by Zeitgeist's own Adam Sekuler (Tomorrow Never Knows, 36 Hours).
[TRAILER]
Opening March 5:
SISTER TEMPEST by Joe Badon
Anne Hutchinson's troubled relationship with her missing sister is under alien tribunal. Meanwhile, her new roommate's mysterious illness causes her to go on a cannibalistic killing spree. This is your chance to see the multi-award winning locally produced and shot sci-fy, fantasy, horror epic fresh from the festival circuit. [TRAILER] [VIRTUAL]
SISTER TEMPEST by Joe Badon
Anne Hutchinson's troubled relationship with her missing sister is under alien tribunal. Meanwhile, her new roommate's mysterious illness causes her to go on a cannibalistic killing spree. This is your chance to see the multi-award winning locally produced and shot sci-fy, fantasy, horror epic fresh from the festival circuit. [TRAILER] [VIRTUAL]
V I S U A L A R T E X H I B I T I O N S
JOSEPH BEUYS: POSTERS AND PRINTS
on permanent loan and exhibition in the
BEUYS + BEYOND Gallery
(which connects Zeitgeist Theatre and the Lounge)
Joseph Beuys (12 May 1921 – 23 January 1986) was a German Fluxus, happening and performance artist as well as a painter, sculptor, medallist, installation artist, graphic artist,art theorist and pedagogue. His extensive work is grounded in concepts of humanism, anthroposophy and the “zeitgeist”. It culminates in his "extended definition of art" and the idea of social sculpture as a gesamtkunstwerk, for which he claimed a creative, participatory role in shaping society and politics. His career was characterized by open public debates on a very wide range of subjects including political, environmental, social and long term cultural trends. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential artists of the second half of the 20th century.
on permanent loan and exhibition in the
BEUYS + BEYOND Gallery
(which connects Zeitgeist Theatre and the Lounge)
Joseph Beuys (12 May 1921 – 23 January 1986) was a German Fluxus, happening and performance artist as well as a painter, sculptor, medallist, installation artist, graphic artist,art theorist and pedagogue. His extensive work is grounded in concepts of humanism, anthroposophy and the “zeitgeist”. It culminates in his "extended definition of art" and the idea of social sculpture as a gesamtkunstwerk, for which he claimed a creative, participatory role in shaping society and politics. His career was characterized by open public debates on a very wide range of subjects including political, environmental, social and long term cultural trends. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential artists of the second half of the 20th century.
Z E I T G E I S T ' S O N G O I N G F I L M S E R I E S :
BEUYS AND BEYOND
Contemporary Artists On Film
In 1989, Zeitgeist curated a city-wide film series BEUYS AND BEYOND: CONTEMPORARY GERMAN ARTISTS ON FILM which also featured artist talks and performances by area artists.
For the premiere of Zeitgeist's great new Theatre & Lounge, we have decided to resurrect the series monthly, but this time expand it to include artists beyond just Germany...
Contemporary Artists On Film
In 1989, Zeitgeist curated a city-wide film series BEUYS AND BEYOND: CONTEMPORARY GERMAN ARTISTS ON FILM which also featured artist talks and performances by area artists.
For the premiere of Zeitgeist's great new Theatre & Lounge, we have decided to resurrect the series monthly, but this time expand it to include artists beyond just Germany...
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CANADA IS BIGGER THAN THE U.S. Since 1993, Zeitgeist's ongoing SERIES OF FILMS, MUSIC, PERFORMANCES AND VISUAL ART celebrating the innovative, utterly bizarre and extremely vast body of work from our neighbors to the north. Their films may be smaller, but at least their country is bigger! Size does matter. |
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Schedule is subject to change as films are held over – please check the website for updates nightly.
Zeitgeist is a non-profit, artist run media arts center that celebrates its 33rd anniversary this November.
Zeitgeist is a non-profit, artist run media arts center that celebrates its 33rd anniversary this November.
