John Mooney's "Light Space"

Transcript (Download)

It's my whole work for the last ten years has been in terms of research and research energy, light waves, wave patterns, and life.

So it's been about those processes that I I had 20 barges one time and I'm going down to Mississippi and the water is screaming and some asshole was pulling two skiers.

I know him because I killed a man doing that.

I don't know, I heard a mallard back there.

So my friend, I believe he might be coming in.

I got a book that I'm going to bring out.

The Lakefront Clean for the entire 10 days of the annual Lakefront Festival, which begins this weekend.

But no, don't be late for work.

Now what we'll do is we'll split the crew up.

One of them will have to get ballasted going underneath the bridge.

Now the lowest bridge you're going to have to contend with is California Avenue, naturally.

So if you have to split them, that's the place to split them up there, tie one of them off the scrap dock there.

And we'll leave one guy the man of the pumps to get it down.

Make sure you got a ruler so you can measure it.

16 .6 is the max.

And at 16 .6 you got to make god damn sure you're right.

That fucker's got to hit it right on the month.

And then the other thing you'll have to fucking be concerned.

You big dirt motherfucker, I'll come over there and kill you.

Son of a bitch.

Well, you won't hit nothing today.

McCormick to Hall Red Unit.

McCormick to Hall Red Unit.

I'm making a movie about the lights.

And I was wondering if I could do that.

Another color, for example, the seven color, as a light rainbow, it's more beautiful, I think so.

Well, they were going to have...

It's still a little rough out there for a river boat.

I was going to wait and see if it would be laying down.

I talked to Billy earlier.

It was starting to kick up then, but I think it's laying down.

Smith, I've been working with these lights about 10 years.

It's the first time we ever got 16 of them together, and it's a fantastic sight.

What we thought was the best photograph we could get.

But this eight mile stretch, I think it's the best.

I think it's the best.

I'm going to go now.

I'm going to go now.

Identifier

F.2005-08-0298

Date Of Production

circa 1977

Abstract

Edited film documenting the luminescence and mechanical operations of a searchlight rental provided by Hollywood Night Lighter, Inc. The film follows the light's barge voyage, arrival in Chicago, and incorporation into sculptor John David Mooney's 16-piece searchlight installation, "Light Space '77," set up at Navy Pier for Chicago's Lakefront Festival.

Format

Super 8

Extent

200 feet

Color

color and B&W

Sound

Mag Stripe

Reel/Tape Number

1/1

Has Been Digitized?

Yes

Language Of Materials

English

Subject

Bodies of water
Boats and Boating
Water Skiing
Processes and techniques
Art

Preservation Sponsor

Related Collections

Subseries I: Completed Works

Related Places

North America ➜ United States ➜ Illinois ➜ Chicago ➜ Near North Side

Main Credits

Stamets, Bill (is filmmaker)

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