Germany

Germany. . Munich. 3/18/83. Dr. Friedel is a video curator in charge of exhibitions of contemporary art at the Stadtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus - the museum in the former estate of the famous artist Lenbach. It was that artist's wish that a forum be maintained for the exchange of the newest ideas by artists and their community and a space for exhibition. Friedel points out that video is as much a part of contemporary art as photography was in Lenbach's time.
The differences between video and computer graphics (and their similarities to each other) and the traditions of painting, graphics, and sculpture are mostly in their material and temporal natures. It is not to establish these as bases for rejection or acceptance of either the new media or the traditional media. Rather, it is by their comparison to one another that both forms are to gain the experience by audiences for art. In accomplishing their exhibition it is possible to better understand the art of the twentieth century. 22:00 Min. SA830318
Ritchie made a loop through Europe that began in Germany and returned to Germany.

Germany. . Cologne. 5/15/83. The city of Cologne has been the site for numerous new music developments for a generation, and its radio station has recorded John Cage on many other occasions. This videotape is strictly "underground"; it should not have been recorded. However, it was permitted that the introduction could be recorded (by Dr. Herzogenroth); Cage began his reading instantly! Not wanting to create a disturbing "click", the video recorder was left running until the battery ran down.
A study of such composers as John Cage reveals insight into the value of so-called "mechanistics" in the creative process, or the process of discovery that has helped to show ways of imitating nature. 6:00 Min. SA830515

Germany. . Cologne. 8/15/83. This fragmentary recording is a continuation of the press conference (to be found at the end of this videotape). This was done because the recorder ran out of tape, and also because the reading of "Themes and Variations" wasn't supposed to have been recorded, anyway.
"Chance favors the prepared mind." -Pasteur 1:00 Min. SA830516

Germany. . Cologne. 5/15/83. After the interruption (above) Cage's reading continues. Note in this section his inclusion of printmaking terminology, such as "drypoint", and "engravings" in his text. Perhaps these date from his time working at Crown Point Press, the results of which printmaking were part of the exhibition, "John Cage Etchings" at the Kolnische Kunstverein.
Plainly, the work of Cage respects that desire so often expressed by the modern audience, that is, to be against interpretation, to allow each person the freedom to experience art without regard to ideology or the intention of the artist. 6:00 Min. SA830517

Germany. . Cologne. 5/15/83. Upon leaving the press conference and walking through the area behind the Kolnische Kunstverein, a puddle of water on a steel-and-concrete appurtenance caught the eye of Bill Ritchie, making a pretty sight. So this video recording resulted, being an exercise of focusing on the reflections of he overhead tree branches, and then focusing on the plane of the water puddle, and back again.
Art is where you find it, goes the saying, and media art is when you find it. -Bill Ritchie, 1983 3:00 Min. SA830518

Germany. . Cologne. 5/15/83. The battery on the videotape recorder only lasts about 40 minutes and, finally, this recording was thus automatically terminated by the battery's demise. With a click and whir, the recorder stopped - not as loudly as it was feared.
When is a dead battery a live battery? When it knows to throw a switch. 35:00 Min. SA830519

Germany. . Cologne. 5/15/83. With the camera lens almost touching the glass, this recording is a crude "scan" of Cage's writing. The evening's reading which had taken place the night before included this text.
One is tempted to recreate works like those of John Cage in another medium, taking advantage both of chance occurrence of shadows, reflections, and other incidents of light, plus the unmistakable "aura" of the artist himself. 5:00 Min. SA830520

Germany. . Cologne. 5/15/83. The day following Cage's readings and performance, a press conference, with about ten people in attendance, provided Bill Ritchie with an opportunity to hear Cage's by now familiar views of his own work and its relations to other less familiar work in etchings. ("John Cage Makes Etchings", videotape made at Crown Point Press.) He gives a more private interview with one of the guests, to be found earlier in this recording as First Interruption of His Reading: Press.
"She is the best defender of ideas who has no ideas." -Ancient saying. 62:00 Min. SA830521