From: William Wees, Dr. (email suppressed)
Date: Mon Jul 13 2009 - 14:14:45 PDT
Sad news! She made some very fine films and with Bruce Baillie and a few others tended the garden of experimental filmmaking, exhibition, and distribution on the West Coast in the 1960s (see Scott MacDonald's Canyon Cinema book for details). I only met her once, in 1991, when we met at a cafe in L.A. to talk about her found footage films (extracts from that conversation appear in my book "Recycled Images"). I liked her immediately. Clearly, a strong, independent woman, yet self-effacing, down-to-earth, no bull shit.
Thank you to her son for letting us know how things went at the end--painful, yet heartening, to read about her brave acceptance of the inevitable.
--Bill Wees
William C. Wees
Professor Emeritus (McGill University)
________________________________________
From: Experimental Film Discussion List [email suppressed]
Sent: July 13, 2009 3:31 PM
To: email suppressed
Subject: Chick Strand Is at Peace
I just received word from her son that Chick Strand died on Saturday 11
July.
A marvelous and inspirational filmmaker and person, the artful person whom
one was always delighted to see. May we all screen some of her films soon
in tribute and in astonishment, to revel in their beauty and insight and
grace, and to continue her legacy.
Adam Hyman
Los Angeles Filmforum
From her son:
To All
(Sorry if you are someone who probably should not have received this but
I just grabbed everyone from her address book)
My mom Chick Strand (Mildred Muller) passed away Saturday afternoon due
to her cancer. Her wish was to to do so at her adored home and garden,
with me, and her beloved dog "Tigo". We have discussed this for years due
to her enduring so many health issues over the last 10 years. I am
glad I was able to give her that final request. As much has she was
ready to go her inner strength kept her going much too long than anyone
expected. On her request medicine for pain was only given towards the
end, finally I felt it was necessary. She was one tough lady and is now
a legend with the Hospice nurses and Home Care Givers.
It is a great loss to us all. Not only was she my mom but my best
friend. She was a great mom who would do anything to help me and did so
on many occasions. My sister "Naja" and I were always her number one
priority. She was my teacher, adviser, and safety net on so many levels.
She taught me to be strong, independent, determined, righteous,
adventurous, think things through, and be creative, all in an unassuming
way; all the qualities she had. Through this process I have learned how
much she was loved and admired by you all and that she impacted so many.
I am sorry for your loss as well.
Early on she wanted to break off contact with everybody and I am sorry
for those of you who never had a chance to say goodbye. The last month
or so she was pretty incoherent so I was unable to relay much of
anything to her. This has been a very difficult journey for me so I must
send this "To All" e-mail, I am feeling pretty raw right now and it is
difficult for me to discuss on the phone and have many things to deal
with. At some point I hope to talk to you all or exchange more personal
e-mails individually. Please pass this on to anyone who should know.
Also please respond to my e-mail below.
There is no service planned per mom's request. She will be cremated
and I will mix her and Marty's (the love of her life) ashes together in
an infinity box, together again, at last.
Eric Strand
email suppressed
__________________________________________________________________
For info on FrameWorks, contact Pip Chodorov at <email suppressed>.
__________________________________________________________________
For info on FrameWorks, contact Pip Chodorov at <email suppressed>.