DREAMLAND: The Coney Island Amateur Psychoanalytic Society and their Circle 1926-1972

An exhibition celebrating the centennial of Freud's visit to Coney Island. The show features "Dream Films" made by members of the society, a working model of an amusement park designed to illustrate Freud's theories by the visionary founder of the society Albert Grass, as well as drawings, letters and many unusual artifacts.

Exhibition: The Coney Island Museum
Dates: July 11, 2009 to May 23rd, 2010
Hours: Saturday Sunday from noon to 5pm
Place: 1208 Surf Avenue
Brooklyn NY 11224-2816
Tel. 718 372 5159
Press release

Read about it in the New York Times, see a slide show and movie. Check out an interview I did with Jeremiah Moss on the Vanishing New York blog.

A book and DVD that compliments the show is now available through Amazon.

View the Society's award winning "Dream Films" here.

The Coney Island Amateur Psychoanalytic Society
Dream Films 1926-1972: an illustrated lecture and screening

Screening and discussion: Viktor Wynd Fine Art
Date: June 12, 2010
Place: 11 Mare Street , London E8 4RP

The members of the Coney Island Amateur Psychoanalytic Society were filled with the desire to participate in one of the great intellectual movements of the 20th century: psycho-analysis. Additionally, like the Amateur Cine League (founded the same year), many members wished to tap into the power for self expression afforded by technologies like home movie cameras that were newly accessible to ordinary people. This screening presents a range of their amateur films, which reveal an incredibly brave, unapologetic exploration of their inner lives.

HISTORY OF A FIXED IDEA AND A MODERN CASE OF POSSESSION
Installation comprising of a wooden theater into which moving images are projected, two stereoscopic HD videos each 11 minutes, color, sound. 2007

Cast: Shelley Hirsch, Steven Rattazzi, Jay Smith, Rachel Neuman, Aubyn Philabaum, Tea Alagic
Musical Director: Shelley Hirsch
Technical realization: Zoe Beloff and Eric Muzzy

This installation centers on the idea of "staging the unconscious”. Each theater presents a hysterical drama. These include “History of a Fixed Idea” and “A Modern Case of Possession” in which two patients of the famous French psycho-pathologist Pierre Janet, express their delusions in song.

Experience a web version of all five theaters here.

A book/DVD and limited edition print are published by the Christine Burgin Gallery. You can explore these projects by going to The Somnambulists Book. The book/DVD is available through Amazon.

Exhibition: The installation will be include in Magic Show A British Arts Council touring exhibition curated by Sally O'Reilly and Jonathan Allen

13 February - 10 April 2010
Grundy Art Gallery, Blackpool

15 May - 4 July 2010
Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery, Carlisle

30 July - 12 September 2010
Chapter, Cadiff

6 October - 19 December 2010
Pump House Gallery, London