Original placard for the multi-day, multimedia presentation of MacLise’s Rites of the Dreamweapon staged during the first week of Jonas Mekas’ New Cinema Festival (Expanded Cinema Festival). In November and December of 1965 Mekas presented an extensive series of multimedia productions including artists Angus MacLise, Jack Smith, and Nam June Paik, among others. It’s possible, but not confirmed that The Velvet Underground took part in the events. [“White Light/ White Heat: The Velvet Underground Day by Day,” p. 58.]

The program for the first week consisted of the following: “Rites of the Dreamweapon II” [MacLise]; “The Stagger Mass” [Jerry Joffen]; “The Mysteries of the Essence Chamber” [MacLise]; “Epiphany of Light” [Don Snyder]; “Rehearsal For the Destruction of Atlantis” [Jack Smith]; ‘Rites of the Nadir’ [John Vacarro]. Though not noted here, the evening of November tenth also saw the screening of Piero Heliczer’s ‘The Last Rites.” A striking ephemeral document from the downtown avant garde film and music scenes.

$2,500