The Velvet Underground, and Q&A with Todd Haynes

10899 Wilshire Boulevard,Los Angeles CA 90024

27 January, 2022

Description

Q&A with Todd Haynes, following a screening of his documentary charting the all-too-brief rise and fall of one of The Velvet Underground. More a dark magic conjuring than a nostalgia trip, Todd Haynes’s first documentary charts the all-too-brief rise and fall of one of rock ’n‘ roll’s most infamous bands, The Velvet Underground. Haynes places the band in the Downtown scene they emerged from, building a portrait of New York City’s 1960s experimental art world so electric and tangible that the VU’s existence seems both a miracle and an inevitability. Making heavy use of split screen and archival footage from the era—especially from close Velvet’s collaborator and mastermind Andy Warhol—Haynes summons the band's anarchic style of avant-garde pop in the film’s inventive form. What could be a clichéd story of a rock band (drugs and narcissism abound; it all falls spectacularly apart) is instead a deeply felt love letter to a fleeting time and place: Lou Reed, John Cale, Moe Tucker, and Sterling Morrisson in a room together, making songs melodic and terrifying, for just two records. (Courtesy of Apple) (2021, dir. Todd Haynes, color, 120 min.) A discussion with director Todd Haynes follows the screening. A valid photo ID and proof of full COVID-19 vaccination (or negative PCR COVID-19 test within 72 hours) is required to attend the screening. Masks are also required. TICKETS $20 General Admission $10 Hammer Members with valid discount code. Become a member today, and get 50% off tickets now. Limit 2 tickets per customer. Seats will be assigned on a first come, first served basis on the night of each screening. Hammer members get priority seating. No late seating; any unclaimed tickets will be released at 7:20 p.m. No refunds and no exchanges. Post-screening guests are subject to change. ABOUT MOMA CONTENDERS The Hammer Museum proudly presents MoMA Contenders, The Museum of Modern Art’s renowned series of influential, innovative films from the past 12 months. Whether bound for awards glory or cult classic status, each of these films is a contender for lasting historical significance. The Hammer Museum is part of the School of the Arts and Architecture at UCLA, and offers exhibitions and collections that span classic to contemporary art, as well as programs that spark meaningful encounters with art and ideas. Through a wide-ranging, international exhibition program and the biennial, Made in L.A., the Hammer highlights contemporary art since the 1960s, especially the work of emerging and under recognized artists. The Hammer offers exhibitions, permanent collections, and nearly 300 public programs annually—including film screenings, lectures, symposia, readings, music performances, and workshops for families.