On jonCates: 鬼镇 Ghosttown
Posted by | Nicky Ni | Posted on | November 14, 2018
jonCates, still from 鬼鎮 (Ghosttown), 2018. Image courtesy of the artist
The influential work of Chicago-based new media artist jonCates mixes the urgency of punk with the poetics of glitch. His latest project is a collaborative, multiplatform critique of the myths and ideology of the American west. Released as a feature film, virtual reality game, soundtrack, and book, 鬼鎮 (Ghosttown) showcases the work of a number of activists, artists, musicians working with similar ideas.
jonCates, still from 鬼鎮 (Ghosttown), 2018. Image courtesy of the artist
The film stars Siera Begaye, a model, activist, and member of Diné tribe of the Navajo Nation, as herself; artist and cultural theorist Vanalyne Green as The Voice of the Future Cowgirl; photographer Emily Mercedes Rich as The Cowgirl; new media and performance artist Lal Avgen as The Voice of The Cowgirl; and new media artist Ei Jane Janet Lin as The Girl From Gold Mountain.
jonCates, still from 鬼鎮 (Ghosttown), 2018. Image courtesy of the artist
Music for the soundtrack for 鬼鎮 (Ghosttown) was composed by multimedia artist Ambrosia Bardos, who performs under the name Morher, as well as Hung Tzu-Ni, Cyrus Pireh, Ivor Lane, PREYER (Ebony Miranda and Adam Briggs), dolphin midwives, That Faithful Engine, and those Blessed Instruments, Josh Spelman-Hall, and jonCates. The artist, radio producer, and curator Jeff Kolar served as sound designer.
jonCates, still from 鬼鎮 (Ghosttown), 2018. Image courtesy of the artist
Finally, the the design for the centerpiece of the project, an immersive, 3D ghosttown, for which the project is named, was led by the artist and game designer Evan Meaney, whose work centers around the critique and analysis of media.
About
Conversations at the Edge is a weekly series of screenings, performances, and talks by groundbreaking media artists.
CATE is organized by SAIC's Department of Film, Video, New Media, and Animation in collaboration with the Gene Siskel Film Center and SAIC's Video Data Bank.
Programs take place at the Gene Siskel Film Center (164 N. State / Chicago, IL / 312.846.2600), unless otherwise noted.
