Image
a woman running on a projected grid

A Talk and Screening with Ericka Beckman

Saturday, March 28, 2026 at 12–4PM
EMPAC Theater

As part of the lively experimental music and performance downtown scene of the 80’s, Ericka Beckman has made acclaimed works across Super-8mm, 16mm, and expanded cinema formats since the 1980’s. Engaging live-action choreographed sequences, as well as handcrafted layered animation, and face paced soundtrack, Beckman transforms the cultural norms communicated through common-place material such as fairytales and games.

Beckman is highly revered by contemporaneous peers and collaborators. She has influenced the generations that follow her in numerous ways, especially in  relationship to what she describes as “the performance of the image”.

This screening and discussion will draw on Beckman’s longstanding exploration of how physical action, and our memory of it, constructs cultural images and influences both our behavior and perception of reality.

Main Image: Courtesy the artist.

Program Notes

12–2pm
PART 1: ARTIST PRESENTATION
"SPORTS, RULES AND MUSICALS: CONVERSATION WITH THE ARTIST"

  • Out of Hand (1981)
  • You the Better (1983) 
  • Cinderella (1986) 
  • Hiatus (2000) 
  • Tension Building (2017) 
  • Reach Capacity (2020) 
  • Stalk (2021) 
  • 15 minutes for Q and A.

2:15–4:15
PART 2 : FILM SCREENING 
"FAIR GAME FILMS"

  • Cinderella (1986) Super-8 film / 24 minutes
  • Hiatus (2000) 16mm/ 20 minutes
  • Switch Center (2003) 16mm / 12 minutes
  • Tension Building (2017) HD / 8 minutes
  • Reach Capacity (2020) HD / 14 minutes
  • Stalk (2021) HD / 18 minutes
  • Study for Rapunzel (2024) HD / 5 minutes

Dates + Tickets

Screening
Talk
A Talk and Screening with Ericka Beckman
Saturday 28
12 PM
March 2026
FREE
Presented By

iEAR Presents

Funding

iEAR Presents is funded by NYSCA and also supported by Game Fest and RPI's Vollmer Fries award.