Description
Correspondence, manuscripts and publications of essays in support of Super-8 film and of the media arts, scripts, notebooks,
clipping files, exhibition flyers and books, journal publications, audiotapes of interviews (four of Varela, three by Varela
of Paul Sharits, Stan Brakhage, and Andrej Zdravic), and videotapes.
Background
A prolific and noted Super-8 filmmaker, programmer, and advocate. In the 1970s and early 1980s, Varela's extensive public
programming as founder and director of SWAMP-El Paso (Southwestern Alternative Media Project) became the subject of a bitter
censorship struggle, receiving national attention. Since the mid-1980s, his work has become increasingly political and since
1992 he has turned to Hi-8 video as well as narrative. Throughout his career, Varela's work has explored social space and
cultural identity from the perspective of a deeply historical understanding of both experimental film/video and Chicano culture
in South Texas.
Restrictions
Property rights reside with the repository. Literary rights reside with the creators of the documents or their heirs. To obtain
permission to publish or reproduce, please contact the Public Services Librarian of the Dept. of Special Collections.