Charlie Ahearn, The Deadly Art of Survival, Silkscreen Poster, 1979
Charlie Ahearn, The Deadly art of Survival
“Charlie Ahearn Presents Nathan Ingram in The Deadly Art of Survival,” 1979; movie poster designed by Charlie Ahearn, hand painted silk screen print, 22 1/2 x 29 1/2 in.
Young filmmakers were the dominant force in Colab during the group’s first years. One Colab project was the short lived New Cinema on St. Mark’s Place in the East Village which served as the launching pad for the “No Wave” film movement recently the subject of the feature length documentary “Blank City” by Céline Danhier (2011). Among the no Wave filmmakers associated with Colab were Charlie Ahearn, Beth & Scott B, Becky Johnson, Eric Mitchell, James Nares and Amos Poe.
This large, well executed and aesthetically striking silkscreen poster advertising Charlie Ahearn’s super 8 film “The Deadly Art of Survival” at the New Cinema is a true rarity that documents both an influential filmmaker and an important short-lived venue. Kiki Smith is listed as a supporting actress. Ahearn’s 1982 film “Wild Style” had a key role in launching Hip Hop culture and is now considered an independent film classic.