Diaries, Notes & Sketches a.k.a. Walden 1964 - 1969

Curator: Jonas Mekas, a Lithuanian-American filmmaker, created this intriguing work known as Diaries, Notes & Sketches, also called Walden. Editor: It’s visually jarring yet deeply contemplative. The black and white format lends it a nostalgic feel, like peering into someone's personal, fragmented memories. Curator: Precisely. Mekas, a key figure in avant-garde cinema, often challenged conventional cinematic structures. This piece underscores that by documenting his everyday life in short, poetic bursts. The tree is a recurring image. Editor: The tree as a symbol of growth, resilience, family? Considering his displacement as a refugee during World War II, do you think it's a grounding symbol? Curator: Absolutely. The film could serve as a way to put down new roots after experiencing such trauma. Editor: Film as a cultural artifact, but also deeply personal. Food for thought. Curator: Indeed, a potent reminder of the power in documenting the seemingly mundane.