Surfacing on the Subliminal

Apr 21, 1974

Field:

Performance, Screening

Location:

Grand Luxe Hall, Western Front

Description:

Surfacing on the Subliminal was a screening and performance event that showcased Kerry Colonna’s film The Deccadance (1974) in conjunction with live performances. Taking place in the Grand Luxe Hall, the event was introduced by Michael Morris and featured a musical homage to the Hollywood Decca Dance performed by Annie Siegel (vocals/saxophone), Hank Bull (piano), Andy Graffiti (drums), Eric Metcalfe as Dr. Brute (Brute sax), and Vincent Trasov as Mr. Peanut (violin); with appearances by Kate Craig and the Shark Fin Dancers. The space was transformed by props including Dr. Brute cutouts and the Image Bank fan, both of which were constructed by Michael O’Connel and Keith Donovan on the occasion of the event.

Video documentation is available upon request.

Annie Siegel has a large grin on their face. They wear a long dress with cut off sleeves and elbow-length gloves and hold a wired microphone in their right hand. Standing to their left is Vincent Trasov (Mr. Peanut), playing a violin. On the extreme right of the image, a person wears a full tuxedo and top hat, arms stretched out and face elated. On the extreme left, a person with large-frame glasses is sat at a drum set.

A cuboid made of mirrors is set against a wall. Sitting on top of it is a bust of an ancient Egyptian figure. A mirror image is created, capturing a blurry reflection of Eric Metcalfe (Dr. Brute) on the left, and Vincent Trasov (Mr. Peanut) on the right.

Annie Siegel has long hair and elbow-length gloves stands in a sequined dress and holds a wired microphone to their mouth. To their right, Dr. Brute wears a top hat and tuxedo, looks to the singer, and bends forward, holding a leopard print saxophone with white gloves. On the left, Andy Graffiti sits at a drum kit and also looks at Annie.

A close-up of a person with mid-length hair, wearing a frilled collard shirt, bow tie and suspenders sits with their eyes cast down.

A close-up of Vincent Trasov wearing a leather jacket. Their hair is cropped in a side-part comb-over, and have a soft expression as they play a stand-up bass.

Dr. Brute (Eric Metcalfe) wears a tuxedo with tiger print lapels and sits at a piano with their attention directed to their left. They hold a saxophone, adorned in leopard print. Behind them is a crescent of lights shaped like an open fan.

Two people stand directly next to each other. On the left, Annie Siegel wears a cut-off sleeve dress, with long hair and elbow-length gloves. They hold a wired microphone to their mouth and sing directly to the person beside them. On the right, Dr. Brute (Eric Metcalfe) is wearing a tuxedo and directs their attention back to Annie with a large smile.

A medium shot of Dr. Brute (Eric Metcalfe) in a tuxedo and top hat who holds a leopard print saxophone directs their attention to their left at Annie Siegel who stands in a sequined dress with cut-off sleeves and looks at the camera. On the left, a crescent of lights shaped like an open fan. On the right, four other leopard print saxophones are hung on the wall.

A medium shot of Dr. Brute wearing a bow tie, top hat, and tuxedo with tiger print lapels. Behind them is an arrangement of lights shaped like a peacock tail. They directly address their attention to Hank Bull on their left, who is slightly blurred in the foreground with medium-length hair.

Forming the shape of a triangle, a medium shot of Annie Siegel wearing a long sequined dress playing the saxophone with Dr. Brute wearing a bow tie, top hat, and tuxedo with tiger print lapels, and Vincent Trasov (Mr. Peanut) playing the violin. Behind them is a drum kit, and a series of silhouette images of figures playing saxophones.

Hank Bull stands with their hands behind their back speaking into a microphone, cracking a slight smile, wearing a tuxedo with a ruffled collared shirt, and bow tie. Behind them is a large blank screen.

Michael Morris stands at a microphone wearing a full suit and tie. Their shoulders are slightly shrugged, and they gently lean forward. Behind them are two large screens. A shadow is cast behind them in the shape of Mr. Peanut (Vincent Trasov), from a miniature model set on the floor.

Dr. Brute stands at an upright microphone, wearing a tiger print tuxedo, and plays a saxophone that is covered in a leopard print. Behind them are two large screens. A shadow is cast behind them in the shape of Mr. Peanut (Vincent Trasov), from a miniature model set on the floor.

Forming the shape of a triangle, Annie Siegel wears a long sequined dress playing the saxophone with Dr. Brute (Eric Metcalfe) wearing a bow tie and tuxedo with tiger print lapels, and Vincent Trasov (Mr. Peanut) playing the violin. Behind them is a large blank screen where the shadows of the three individuals are cast.

Annie Siegel, wearing a long sequin dress and bold necklace, and Dr. Brute (Eric Metcalfe), wearing a tiger print tuxedo holding a leopard print saxophone, lean in front of a grand piano. They are both smiling, and address their attention to their left.

Forming the shape of a triangle, Annie Siegel wears a long sequined dress and holds a saxophone. They address their attention to the camera. Dr. Brute (Eric Metcalfe) wears a bow tie and tuxedo with tiger print lapels, playing a leopard print saxophone. Vincent Trasov (Mr. Peanut) plays the violin. Behind them is a large blank screen where the shadows of the three individuals are cast.

A close-up of Vincent Trasov playing the violin, addressing their attention to the instrument resting on their left shoulder. Behind them is a large, blank screen.

A series of four cut-out silhouette figures wearing tuxedos. Three play leopard print saxophones and one conducts the others. They are organized together, side-by-side, in a row. Each figure is spotlit from above. On the wall behind them are six leopard print saxophones.

Paul Wong directs their attention to the camera and holds a camcorder in their right hand while holding their left hand up. Behind them is a series of four cut-out silhouette figures wearing tuxedos. Three play leopard print saxophones and one conducts the others. They are organized together, side-by-side, in a row. Each figure is spotlit from above. On the wall behind them are six leopard print saxophones.

Captions:

Surfacing on the Subliminal, film documentation, Apr 21, 1974. 3 min. 20 sec. Camera by Kate Craig. Gift of Hank Bull.
Annie Siegel, Mr. Peanut (Vincent Trasov), and Dr. Brute (Eric Metcalfe) at Surfacing on the Subliminal, Apr 21, 1974.
Surfacing on the Subliminal set piece, Apr 21, 1974.
Dr. Brute (Eric Metcalfe) and Annie Siegel at Surfacing on the Subliminal, Apr 21, 1974.
Andy Graffiti, Annie Siegel, and Dr. Brute (Eric Metcalfe) at Surfacing on the Subliminal, Apr 21, 1974.
Hank Bull at Surfacing on the Subliminal, Apr 21, 1974.
Vincent Trasov at Surfacing on the Subliminal, Apr 21, 1974.
Dr. Brute (Eric Metcalfe) at Surfacing on the Subliminal, Apr 21, 1974.
Annie Siegel and Dr. Brute (Eric Metcalfe) at Surfacing on the Subliminal, Apr 21, 1974.
Dr. Brute (Eric Metcalfe) and Annie Siegel at Surfacing on the Subliminal, Apr 21, 1974.
Dr. Brute (Eric Metcalfe) and Hank Bull at Surfacing on the Subliminal, Apr 21, 1974.
Annie Siegel, Mr. Peanut (Vincent Trasov), and Dr. Brute (Eric Metcalfe) at Surfacing on the Subliminal, Apr 21, 1974.
Hank Bull at Surfacing on the Subliminal, Apr 21, 1974.
Michael Morris at Surfacing on the Subliminal, Apr 21, 1974.
Dr. Brute (Eric Metcalfe) at Surfacing on the Subliminal, Apr 21, 1974.
Annie Siegel, Mr. Peanut (Vincent Trasov), and Dr. Brute (Eric Metcalfe) at Surfacing on the Subliminal, Apr 21, 1974.
Annie Siegel and Dr. Brute (Eric Metcalfe) at Surfacing on the Subliminal, Apr 21, 1974.
Annie Siegel, Mr. Peanut (Vincent Trasov), and Dr. Brute (Eric Metcalfe) at Surfacing on the Subliminal, Apr 21, 1974.
Vincent Trasov at Surfacing on the Subliminal, Apr 21, 1974.
Set of Surfacing of the Subliminal, photo documentation, Apr 21, 1974.
Paul Wong at Surfacing on the Subliminal, Apr 21, 1974.

Western Front is a non-profit artist-run centre in Vancouver.

We acknowledge the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations as traditional owners of the land upon which Western Front stands.