Jan 7, 2025
Gunvor Nelson was a profound presence in my life – a teacher first and then for decades a dear friend. A few years ago, I traveled with @marklacalle to her home in Kristinehamn, Sweden to spend time with her as I was making my short film “Carolee, Barbara and Gunvor”. Today I say goodbye.
Gunvor’s films made you think about everything from the taste of a shiny green apple to the mortal coil. I would sit with her for hours and hours at the San Francisco Art Institute, knowing I was learning from a brilliant, committed artist. From using a light meter to working with the lab on the timing lights of a release print, Gunvor relished every aspect of her art, including the technology. Here I share some of Gunvorʼs famous editing treatise:
“Before you shoot film, it is helpful to think through what style of editing would be most appropriate so that you will not leave out necessary liaisons, steps and transitions.”
Transitions were extremely important to Gunvor. She was always thinking about how to enter the front door of an image and how and when to get out. A shot was like an airport and the arrival and departure times of every single plane were critical, otherwise there might be too much chaos on the tarmac!
“Surprising solutions can be had with the most ʻdeficientʼ of material if you let it speak to you, if you learn what really is in the film …. sharp jumps in the editing can be, at the right places, most exhilarating.”
One of the most lasting suggestions Gunvor made to me was that a filmmaker should always return to their outtakes just before they complete a film. According to Gunvor, these “mistakes” that were initially disregarded become extremely useful punctuation that assists us in finding ways to complete a visual thought.
Her movies made me think about being a woman in the most visceral ways. “Schmeerguntz” captured the raw, messy ecstasy of being a mother. “My Name is Oona” celebrated the fierce passion of her own daughter @oonanelson , inspiring me in turn to shoot 16mm footage with my daughters @thelifeandtimesofmaya and @noaaboa
“Study … negative space.”
I am reminded of her often – in dreams and in my consciousness as an artist.
May 5, 2025
On May 14, I will be back in San Francisco with my partner Mark Street @marklacalle for @canyoncinema ‘s “A Salon with Millennium Film Journal ” at @artiststelevisionaccess . For me, it will be a time to remember my former San Francisco Art Institute @sfai_legacy teacher and dear friend Gunvor Nelson. I wrote a remembrances of Gunvor and Narcisa Hirsch @filmoteca_narcisa_hirsch for the most recent issue of Millennium Film Journal @millennium_film_journal (excerpted here).
Dedication: A Salon with Millennium Film Journal
Wednesday, May 14, 2025 7:30pm (doors 7pm)
Artists’ Television Access
992 Valencia Street
San Francisco
I really look forward to seeing work by Gunvor and Steve Reinke @spreinke , @evagiolo , Vincent Grenier and Kevin Jerome Everson @trilobite . MFJ Editor Nicholas Gamso @gamzoid and Canyon Cinema’s ED @brett_kashmere will both be there. Together, we hope to create a celebration of artists in our community – those who have left and those who are with us.
“Gunvor Nelson was a profound presence in my life – a teacher at the San Francisco Art Institute first and then for decades a dear friend. Her films made you think about everything from the taste of a shiny green apple to the mortal coil. Whether using a light meter or working with the laboratory on the timing lights for a new film, Gunvor relished every aspect of her art, including the technology. I would sit with her for hours in front of a 16mm editing machine, knowing that I was learning from a brilliant, committed artist with the most lucid, precise advice.
Gunvor’s movies also made me think about being a woman in the most visceral ways. Here film “Schmeerguntz” (1965) captured the raw, messy ecstasy of being a mother, and her film “My Name is Oona” (1969) celebrated the fierce passion of her daughter Oona Nelson, inspiring me to shoot 16mm footage that spins, dances and, soars with my daughters Maya and Noa.”
Link to event and remembrances in bio. Gratitude to @oonanelson for your vision and love and to @stiftelsen.filmform for supporting Gunvor Nelson’s legacy.