“Test Backyard” explores the different views of the area surrounding and within JoAnn Elam’s Logan Square backyard (a frequent locale in her work). The perspective on her neighbor’s back porches, trees, and Elam’s own garden changes from indoors and outdoors, close-up and from a distance, and in and out of crisp focus. Although its title suggests this film is a test of some kind, it is unclear what exactly Elam was testing when shooting it.
Test Backyard
Test Backyard
Video:
Collection:
Elam Subseries I: Films
Date:
circa 1978
Original Format:
8mm
Color:
Color
Sound:
Optical
Duration:
0h 3m 48s
Abstract:
"Test Backyard" explores the different views of the area surrounding and within JoAnn Elam's Logan Square backyard (a frequent locale in her work). The perspective on her neighbor's back porches, trees, and Elam's own garden changes from indoors and outdoors, close-up and from a distance, and in and out of crisp focus. Although its title suggests this film is a test of some kind, it is unclear what exactly Elam was testing when shooting it.
Genre:
Short
Subject(s):
City and town life, Gardens
Source:
http://www.chicagofilmarchives.org/collections/index.php/Detail/Object/Show/object_id/8045
Repository:
Chicago Film Archive