Babobilicons And Miracles
Three Films by Daina Krumings
Think of New Jersey. Think of Man Ray and Jean Cocteau. Now think of Daina Krumins — the state’s homegrown surrealist filmmaker.
”The Divine Miracle,” ”Babobilicons,” (the title is a word she invented) and ”Summer Light” — will be shown today as a special feature.
Ms. Krumins spent nine years making ”Babobilicons,” which she finished in 1983, and 17 on ”Summer Light,” which she completed last year. For much of that time, computerized graphics were not available, and Ms. Krumin had to hand-paint frames and use other time-consuming ways to create special effects.
”My way of seeing the world or reassembling it in my mind is unconventional,” admitted Ms. Krumins, whose spotless kitchen and excellent apple crisp seemed at odds with the fact that she grew slime mold in her basement for ”Babobilicons.”
”You grow it on oatmeal, and you cover it, and then the stuff moves up the dish and on to the floor,” she said. ”It’s half animal, half plant. I had to play with it a lot until I figured out the condition that would make it move away.”
