The Color of Ritual, the Color of Thought

Part 1 · Mar 25, 1964

Divinations

"I wanted badly to make an animated short and had no camera available. I did have some old, unused film stock and several roles of 16mm sound tape. So I used that- plus a variety of of discarded surgical instruments and the sharp edge of a screwdriver- by cutting, etching, and painting directly on both film and tape."

Part 2 · Dec 4, 1965

Peyote Queen

Peyote Queen opens with black-and-white perforations that pulsate to the beat of drumming and escalate to light-bathed split screens and kaleidoscopic effects. Switching to lively organ accompaniment, the film pours out a stream of simple scratchings that rollick across the screen. Fish, breasts, flowers, boats, water, lips, hearts, stars—the hieroglyphs explode with color and celebrate the female creative force. The surge slows with the return of ritual drumming, this time with chanting, and a self-reflective coda. -- National Film Preservation Foundation

Part 3 · Dec 26, 1967

Shaman, A Tapestry for Sorcerers

Dedicated to all the magic makers of the world who weave a talisman for man's rebirth in his house of breath.