Videofreex Archive | Video Data Bank

Videofreex, one of the first video collectives, was founded in 1969 by David Cort, Mary Curtis Ratcliff and Parry Teasdale, after David and Parry met each other, video cameras in hand, at the Woodstock Music Festival. The group soon grew to ten full-time members--including Chuck Kennedy, Nancy Cain, Skip Blumberg, Davidson Gigliotti, Carol Vontobel, Bart Friedman and Ann Woodward--and produced tapes, installations and multimedia events. In 1971 the Freex moved to a 27-room, former boarding house called Maple Tree Farm in Lanesville, NY, operating one of the earliest media centers. Their innovative programming ranged from artists' tapes and performances to behind-the-scenes coverage of national politics and alternate culture. During the decade that the Freex were together, this pioneer video group amassed an archive of 1,500+ raw tapes and edits.

The Videofreex Archive, now housed at VDB, chronicles the counter-cultural movement of the 1960s and 1970s. The titles listed here are the early results of an ongoing project to preserve and digitize important examples of this early video art collective.

More About the Videofreex Archive Preservation

LISTING STYLE:

Videofreex

Women's Lib Discussion: Burning Theatre and Alternate U

1970 | 01:08:40

This video, shot in March 1970, contains raw footage from a Women’s Liberation event and discussion that took place in an art space.

Videofreex

Lanesville TV Overview I

1972 | 00:32:18

No Image

"Between March 1972 and February 1977, the Videofreex aired 258 television broadcasts from a home-built studio and jerry-rigged transmitter in an old boarding house they rented in the tiny…

Videofreex

Lanesville TV: Catskill Game Farm Horse Show

1972 | 00:18:40

Videotaped on August 13th 1972, this tape features a number of scenes shot for Lanesville TV, including the Videofreex at the Catskill Game Farm shooting footage of the animals.

Videofreex

The Sheik Who Shook Lanesville

1975 | 00:12:58

In this spoof program produced for Lanesville TV, the premise is that a “Sheik” has come to buy all the land in Lanesville.

Videofreex

After the Bar with Tony and Michael

1971 | 00:56:10

An early example of video erotica from the Videofreex. A group of naked people lounge around smoking and listening to music. A male and female couple is making love on the floor in a room full of…

Videofreex

Building Dome in Riverbi Earth People's Park

1971 | 00:33:10

A great example of early 1970s counter-cultural activity and the influence of Buckminster Fuller.

Videofreex

Incredible String Band

1969 | 00:23:00

Shot in December 1969, this video documents a live performance by the Incredible String Band at the Fillmore East, NYC.

Videofreex

Ricky's Magic

1971 | 00:17:50

Shot by Mary Curtis Ratclif at the O.K.

Videofreex

CBS--Lily and Cleaver Tapes

1971 | 00:23:36

The Videofreex had several experiences with the Black Panther Party, including interviewing Illinois Chapter Deputy Chairman Fred Hampton and New Haven Minister of Information Cappy Pinderhughes…

Videofreex

Jerusalem Tapes: Israeli Black Panther on the Street

1971 | 00:34:06

David Cort of the Videofreex travels to Jerusalem. This tape contains raw footage of him as he is taken on a tour through a poor neighborhood by a group of young men.

Videofreex

Jerusalem Tapes: Second Brain, Arab Feedback

1971 | 00:33:09

During Videofreex member David Cort's travels to Jerusalem, a scene was shot in a hospital where a female patient is having electrodes attached to her body.

Videofreex

Process Video Revolution

1971 | 00:23:30

This tape, shot in April 1971, documents the making of a WNET/13 TV show about video collectives and how they use the new video technology.

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