First Friday Films: Double Feature

Presented in conjunction with the interactive exhibition Journey through the City, First Friday Films features a pre-film lecture on the redesign of the National Mall in Washington, D.C., as well as a double feature screening of the short film Default Averted (1975) and the documentary Urbanized (2011). 

Pre-Film Lecture | 7:00 p.m.
This lecture will explore current challenges and concerns facing urban planners and architects. Rodrigo Abela, Principal, Gustafson Guthrie Nichol will discuss their challenging, new project of redesigning and revitalizing the National Mall in Washington, D.C. This space has historically been utilized to accomodate memorialization, civic celebrations, protest, and recreation. Speakers will focus on the challenges of designing a multifunctional space in one of the nation’s most visible and popular locations.

Default Averted, 1975 | 8:00 p.m. (Run time: 20 minutes; NR)
This short film takes a look at New York City at a time when the city was on the verge of economic collapse. Accompanied with a musical score by Thelonius Monk, the film captures a moment in 1975 when construction of the city had conspicuously halted. The filmmaker Rudy Burckhardt is one of America’s most talented, unsung, street photographers and observers of mid-20th century urbanites. Burckhardt has been increasingly recognized for his short films of the urban environment. 

Urbanized, 2011 | Run time: 85 minutes; Rated: PG
Covering the past three decades, this documentary features perspectives from architects, designers, and urban planners across the globe on future of our cities. The film contrasts between larger and smaller issues in urban planning: between aspects of walkability and interactivity within a community and  larger visions of an entire cityscape. The film concludes that the future is both bright and unsettling as cities will hold three fourths of the world’s population by 2050.

Charcuterie and a Movie Package for Two
$50 Members | $60 nonmembers
Package includes: