Aportraitofanartinstitutionasacinematiclandscape:inasuccessionofstaticshots,JamesBenningexploresthebuildingsandterrainoftheCaliforniaInstituteoftheArts,whereheteachesAseriesofviewsofnaturefilmedinthesurroundingparkandwoodstransitionsintoimagesoffloors,seatingareasandotherdetailsofapublicbuildingnotmeantforshowInbothparts,anuncannyfeelingdominates:thegeometriesofnature,thedarkgreenandbrowntones,therushingofthehighwayinthebackgroundontheonehandandthehummingofhalogenlamps,thesoundofstepsinanotherwiseseeminglyemptyschoolontheother–itallseemstobehidingasecretThecamera’sgazeisalmostalwaysrestricted;itrarelypenetratesveryfarintotheimageItdiscoversshabbycorners,observingscenariosmorereminiscentofamysterynovelthanthecampusofanartinstitutionMoresothaninthemajorityofJamesBenning’slongerworksofrecentyears,anarrativeliesconcealedwithintheimages;everyshotcreatesanurgetomoveforward,atension,almostasifthelandscapesandinteriorswerethescenesofacrime
