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Kevin Kelly

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Last week to see Kevin Kelly, “Caute”, featuring an evocative new film employing speculative optics to journey the radical life and philosophy of Baruch Spinoza. Closes March 15.

Through meticulous research and experimental film techniques, Kelly captures the intimacies of Spinoza’s world, formed by his exile by the Amsterdam Sephardic Jewish community at the age of 23 and his life as a lens grinder for microscopes and telescopes — a chosen profession that informed his philosophical ideas.

Images: Courtesy of artist. taken in 80WSE Gallery by @kktootall

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Opening Tonight: Kevin Kelly, “Caute”, featuring an evocative new film employing speculative optics to journey the radical life and philosophy of Baruch Spinoza (1632-1677).  
Kevin Kelly CAUTE January 31 – March 15, 2025  Opening reception:  January 31, 2025 6–8PM  
Through meticulous research and experimental film techniques, Kelly captures the intimacies of Spinoza’s world, formed by his exile by the Amsterdam Sephardic Jewish community at the age of 23 and his life as a lens grinder for microscopes and telescopes — a chosen profession that informed his philosophical ideas.   In Caute, Kelly’s exploration focuses on micro-details from his biography along with the sensorial. Through an interview with the caretaker of his former places of residence and recreating 17th-century optical perspectives by filming scenes Spinoza is known to have looked upon through his singlet lens. He brings viewers into Spinoza’s intellectual landscape and physical surroundings as Spinoza wrestled with radical ideas that linked God and nature, explored the dynamics of emotion, and championed intellectual autonomy in the face of religious dogma and state ideology.   Through poetic visual fragments, the film reflects his pursuit of truth amid religious and social isolation and the tolerant community who supported him. The exhibition title, Caute—Spinoza’s motto meaning “be cautious”—is a tribute to his steadfast quest. Spinoza’s signet ring bore this message, marking letters he sent into the world.  Organized by Howie Chen  Produced by Jon Huron taken in 80WSE Gallery by @kktootall

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80WSE is pleased to announce our upcoming exhibition, Kevin Kelly, “Caute”, featuring an evocative new film employing speculative optics to journey the radical life and philosophy of Baruch Spinoza (1632-1677). Through meticulous research and experimental film techniques, Kelly captures the intimacies of Spinoza’s world, formed by his exile by the Amsterdam Sephardic Jewish community at the age of 23 and his life as a lens grinder for microscopes and telescopes — a chosen profession that informed his philosophical ideas.

Kevin Kelly
CAUTE
January 31 – March 15, 2025

Opening reception:
January 31, 2025
6–8PM

In Caute, Kelly’s exploration focuses on micro-details from his biography along with the sensorial. Through an interview with the caretaker of his former places of residence and recreating 17th-century optical perspectives by filming scenes Spinoza is known to have looked upon through his singlet lens. He brings viewers into Spinoza’s intellectual landscape and physical surroundings as Spinoza wrestled with radical ideas that linked God and nature, explored the dynamics of emotion, and championed intellectual autonomy in the face of religious dogma and state ideology.

Through poetic visual fragments, the film reflects his pursuit of truth amid religious and social isolation and the tolerant community who supported him. The exhibition title, Caute—Spinoza’s motto meaning “be cautious”—is a tribute to his steadfast quest. Spinoza’s signet ring bore this message, marking letters he sent into the world.

Organized by Howie Chen
Produced by Jon Huron

IMAGE: Still from Kevin Kelly, CAUTE, 2025.

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Credits

Caretaker: Marie-Therese Daniels-Dirven
Mother: Maria Camarena
Baby: Sophia Sinaguglia

Camera/Writing/Color Grade: Kevin Kelly
Editor: Karlis Bergs
Composer: Coleman Zurkowski
Sound Design: Andrew Siedenburg
Compositor: Raza Kazmi

Special Thanks: Philipp Farra, Adam Golfer, Mike Crane, Lucy Kerr, Will Wiebe, Che Gossett, Kevin Hernandez Rosa, Greicy Mella, Steven Nadler, Volunteers at Het Spinozahuis, Zeiss Museum of Optics taken in 80WSE Gallery by @kktootall

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We are excited to present — From art workers’ town hall to art workers’ general assembly: a debrief and discussion!

We invite you to join a debrief and workshopping session on Wednesday July 31st from 7pm-8:30pm EST, taking place online/virtually and at the Whitney ISP studio building. Please note in-person seating is limited, RSVP by email to info@lunch-hour.net

The art workers’ general assembly is a working group developing out of an art workers’ town hall held last month as part of the public programming in the exhibition Means of Production. Topics brought up included worker and non-worker statuses, the experiences and capacities of artists and/or educators to strike and organize across sectors, the capitalist division of labor that pits workers against each other and keeps us unemployed/underemployed, and the need for improved health and public assistance, as well as the need to build new models ourselves.

In the first half, we’ll focus on further shaping the literal terms of employment conditions and distill key points, such as around part-time and full-time work, or work and non-work. During the second half, we will initiate and workshop a collectively written questionnaire that draws from our conversation, to-be-distributed both in and out of the workplace, for we’re interested to get out of arm chair discussions, and into the streets flyering and talking to the public! Join us! All who consider themselves cultural workers and/or producers irrespective of employment or professionalized status are welcome.

This is the final program presented as part of Means of Production, much thanks to @alison.c.nguyen for the invitation! by @kktootall

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Helping to facilitate a discussion (hopefully generative) around art and labor conditions that will lead to more equitable ends. Please come and share your thoughts and experiences and alternative models you may have inside your head… by @kktootall

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Hey, are you tired of just receiving Amazon packages, oversized campaign leaflets, local restaurant menus and bills in the mail? Buy my new book I wrote over the past couple years on my travels and encounters and I’ll mail you a copy. ‘Common Sense’ is about apparitions of love through the trial and error of being human between politics, images, art and projections. If you would like one please DM me your address and send 15$ via Venmo. @Kevin-Kelly-206 Ciao. (Photos by @adamgolfer) by @kktootall

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Where Bas Jan Ader fell by @kktootall

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Loophole for a loophole, denied… @ttttask by @kktootall

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4 years ago

Considering it… @ttttask by @kktootall

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4 years ago

@ttttask by @kktootall

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4 years ago

@ttttask by @kktootall

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Feeling pretty charmed I was able to reconnect with my old friend from highschool @ocean_vuong At community college @mcc_ct we used to talk about Rimbaud/Camus/Sartre and exchange poems… now I’m astonished at how mature his voice has become and offered clarity to the world. :) by @kktootall

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