An Evening with Trevor Shimizu at 264 Canal St #3w – New York, NY

Electronic Arts Intermix (EAI) is kicking off a new season of programming with a special presentation of video by Trevor Shimizu. This event is organized on the occasion of Shimizu’s solo exhibition of new paintings and EAI’s residency at 47 Canal, on view September 20 – October 25.

EAI has invited the artist to transform our office into a dynamic social environment showcasing several videos, including Shimizu’s Lonely Loser Trilogy (2013). A featured screening of Lonely Loser Trilogy: Skate Videos (2013) will begin at 7:30PM, followed by a conversation with Shimizu and EAI’s Executive Director, Rebecca Cleman.

Shimizu’s semi-autobiographical videos have explored the nature of self-representation from the position of distinct personas, much like his paintings, which have reflected the vantage of characters including a future elderly self, aspiring actor, and a suburban dad. Lonely Loser Trilogy: Skate Videos (2013) is shot from the perspective of a lonely corporate tech worker who takes an interest in extreme sports, an experience mediated by watching skate videos and equipment demos in the comfort of his apartment. The artist records extended browsing sessions online, underscoring Shimizu’s passive spectatorship. Skate Videos was recorded with an early model of the now-defunct Google Glass, further emphasizing the house-bound loser’s dependency on tech gear to compensate for inaction.

Shimizu started as an employee at EAI in 2005. He eventually was promoted to Technical Director for the collection, working closely with artists such as Carolee Schneemann, Dan Graham, Shigeko Kubota, and Dara Birnbaum. These artists’ approach to integrating video into their practice left a lasting influence on Shimizu’s art making, as well as his time spent in the collection and editing room at EAI. Now a part of the collection himself, Shimizu has been included in screenings and events highlighting his videos—including Trevor Shimizu: Site Specific (2018), an immersive survey installed throughout EAI’s former offices in Chelsea.

Electronic Arts Intermix (EAI)’s venue is located at 264 Canal Street, 3W, near several Canal Street subway stations. Our floor is accessible by elevator (63″ × 60″ car, 31″ door) and stairway. Due to the age and other characteristics of the building, our bathrooms are not ADA-accessible, though several such bathrooms are located nearby. If you have questions about access, please contact cstrange@eai.org in advance of the event.

Skater pictured in image: Marky Numbers.