UFOs: THE CULTURE OF CONTACT (1947-2007) -- A Conference, Film Retrospective & Multi-Media Celebration

 

New York City's East Village was the scene for the First Annual "UFOs: The Culture of Contact Multi-Media Festival" on June 22-23-24, 2007 with landing pads at three locations.

There were classic UFO-theme sci-fi movies at The Pioneer Theater (East 3rd St. east of Avenue A) on "Foo Fighter Friday" June 22, 7-10 p.m. ($20) and "Stars in the Dark of Space Saturday" June 23, 3 p.m.-1:30 a.m. ($35): artwork at P.S. 63 (121 East 3rd St. bet. Avenue A & 1st Ave.) on "Flying Saucer Saturday" June 23 and "Secret School Sunday" June 24, 12-6 p.m. (free Sat., donation Sun.); music at Lit Lounge (2nd Ave. bet. E. 5th & E. 6th Sts.) on June 22, 9-11:45 p.m., ($6), and 16 presentations with 23 speakers (at movies at The Pioneer Theater on June 22-23 at times and prices previously mentioned) and at the Secret School Sunday Conference at P.S. 63 on June 24, 12-6 p.m. ($5 suggested donation).

The Festival was created, conceptualized and curated by close encounter witnesses, and sponsored by "UFO Magazine" and JayVay Productons. [Original artwork image credit: Copyright-2007©David Twidle.]

 

"It seems impossible. But there it is." -- pilot Kenneth Arnold commenting on his sighting of "flying saucers" on June 24, 1947.

 

THE WHO, WHAT & WHY OF FIRST ANNUAL "UFOs: THE CULTURE OF CONTACT MULTIMEDIA FESTIVAL" IN NYC

"UFOs: THE CULTURE OF CONTACT (1947-2007) MultiMedia Festival" marked six full decades since the modern UFO era first zoomed through our planet's skies and onto the world stage, landing in people's lives and human imaginations. From that mysterious interface sprang movies, art, music, plays, books, TV programs, magazines and the new science of Ufology in all its myriad forms: a CULTURE of COSMIC CONTACT.

Since the famous seminal Kenneth Arnold pilot sighting of nine crescent-shaped skycraft on June 24, 1947 by Mount Rainier in Washington state when a reporter created the catchall phrase "Flying Saucers," setting-off a global sensation, and the huge number of other flying saucer reports during that summer 60 years ago captivating public wonderment, UFOs have influenced human behavior, creativty and entertainment, in nearly every aspect of human culture in myriad ways.

This first annual NYC UFO MultiMedia Festival was produced through the collective leadership of empowered close encounter witnesses and educators for everyone in the general public. It consisted of a series of multi-media events including film, art, music, speakers, and theater.

This site tells of the Who, What and Why of the UFO Festival.

BOOKS RESEARCH CULTURE OF CONTACT

Two major books from the 1990s, "Hollywood Vs. the Aliens" by Bruce Rux and "Project Mindshift: The Re-education of the American Public Concerning Extraterrestrial Life, 1947-Present" by New Yorker writer Michael Mannion, both focused on the Culture of Contact through the influence and use of science fiction movies, TV shows and other venues.

"The Lure of the Edge: Scientific Passions, Religious Beliefs, and the Pursuit of UFOs" by Brenda Denzler, PhD. (University California Press) examined in-depth primary aspects of the Contact Culture, and its author continues to do so through an ogoing longterm research project (www.abductionproject.com). "UFOs and the National Security State" by Richard Dolan of the University of Rochester is a remarkable study of official recation and response to the Culture of Contact (Volume Two is due out this year).

FROM AN INSPIRED IDEA AND NEED

In fact, it was two local authors who initiated the festival concept. In his cover feature article in the January "UFO Magazine," author, columnist and film-maker Jeremy Vaeni ("No One's Watching: An Alien Abductee's Story" movie and "I Know Why the Aliens Don't Land" book) writes how he met ufologist and writer Farah Yurdozu, who authored UFO and paranormal books in Turkey, about a year ago. They, writes Vaeni, "got to talking about what a shame that there's no New York UFO convention. She told me it was her goal to create one; I said me too, and together we agreed that the best way to do it would be to have it exist as a centerpiece of a larger multimedia event event involving all sorts of entertainment..." ["Whose Time Has Come?" by Vaeni, "UFO Magazine" Jan. 2007.] And, lo, Vaeni said, "the snowball" rolled larger with others adding their input, and, presto, "UFOs: The Culture of Contact (1947-2007)" was born!

Soon after the Sound of Close Encounter Music came into play through the popular book "Alien Rock: The Rock 'n' Roll Extraterrestrial Connection" (Pocket Books, 2005). It was authored by New Yorker Michael Luckman (organizer of several NYC UFO conferences including the Multimedia UFO Festival at the Village Gate in 1993 and the Hudson Bar & Grill in 1997) focused on the role of rock bands and singers who used UFO-themes in their music.

The festival, with the support of "UFO Magazine" and cooperation of The Pioneer movie theatre, was a collaboration of UFO witnesss and educators, including Jeremy Vaeni, Farah Yurdozu, William Birnes, David Huggins, Alan Steinfeld, Michael Mannion, Trish Corbett, Michael Luckman, Melissa Reed, and Harold Egeln, among others. They reflect no one group nor viewpoint, but call for openness on the topic.

 

www.cultureofcontact.com

 

How It All Began! Where It All Went! Where's It All Going?

Pendleton, Ore., June 25, 1947 (AP) --- Nine bright saucer-like objects flying at "incredible speed" at 10,000 feet altitude were reported here today by Kenneth Arnold, a Bosie, Idaho, pilot who said he could not hazard a guess as to what they were.

Arnold, a United States Forest Service employee engaged in seaching for a missing plane, said he sighted the mysterious objects yesterday at three p.m. They were flying between Mount Rainier and Mount Adams, in Washington State, and appeared to weave in and out of formation. Arnold said that he clocked and estimated their speed at 1200 miles an hour.

Enquires at Yakima last night brought only blank stares, he said, but he added he talked today with an unidentified man from Utah, south of here, who said he had seen similar objects over the mountains near Ukiah yesterday.

"It seems impossible," Arnold said, "but there it is."

************* #30#.... and BEYOND..... **************

 

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"They're here! They're here!" -- from "The Day the Earth Stood Still" *** "We did not contact you. You contacted us." -- the ETI to SETI scientist Dr. Eleanor Arroway in "Contact" *** "What are we saying to each other? - "This means something." -- from "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" *** "You are a strange species - not like any other; and you would be surprised how many others there are." -- "Starman"

 

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE CINEMA KIND: MOVIES SCHEDULED @ THE PIONEER THEATRE (East 3rd St. east of Avenue A)

  • FOO FIGHTER FRIDAY. JUNE 22, 7:00-10:00 PM....
  • 7:00 p.m.: Program Introduction by FARAH YURDOZU, a "UFO Magazine" columnist, and UFO & paranormal author, Learning Channel TV show star and a "Jerry Pippin" radio producer/interviewer & HAROLD EGELN, professional journalist and director of S.P.A.C.E. [Search Project for Aspects of Close Encounters]
  • 7:15 p.m.: "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" Talk by WILLIAM J. BIRNES, "UFO Magazine" Publisher and co-author of the NY Times best-seller "The Day After Roswell."
  • 8:00 p.m. FEST-FLICK #1: "EARTH VS. THE FLYING SAUCERS" (1956--Dir. Fred F. Sears, 83 min.) --- "Operation Skyhook" space program scientist Dr. Russell Marvin (Hugh Marlowe) is contacted by an alien species from a dying world, and the contact goes wrong, resulting in a battle for Earth's survival. Special effects wizard Ray Harryhausen highlights this cinematic classic.
  • 9:25 p.m.: "What's Real & Unreal on Reel?" Post-Movie Q&A Discussion by Close Encounter Witnesses of the movie
  • ****************************************************
  • STARS IN THE DARK SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 3:00 p.m.-1:30 a.m. (Sun.)
  • 3:00 p.m.: Introduction by writer and movie-maker JEREMY VAENI, movie producer of "No One's Watching: An Alien Abductee's Story," author of "I Know Why the Aliens Don't Land," and a "UFO Magazine" columnist ("Valiens").
  • 3:15 p.m.: FEST-FLICK #2: "INVADERS FROM MARS" (1953-dir. William Cameron Menzies, 83 mins.) --- A boy is awakening at night by a UFO landing, tells his parents who then undergo a personality change due to alien implants. The boy alerts the police (who don't help), but gets the help of a doctor and astronomer to stop a Martian invasion..
  • 5:00 p.m.: "Alien Abduction Research Lecture" by legendary reseacher and artist BUDD HOPKINS, author of "Missing Time," "Intruders" & "Witnessed," and co-author "Sight Unseen," who will bring us up-to-speed on the latest in UFO abduction research.
  • 5:45 p.m.: FEST-FLICK #3: "STRANGER FROM VENUS" (1954-dir. Burt Balaban, 75 mins.) --- A friendy visitor from Venus lands in the English countryside to deem humankind's worthiness. Given limitedless power, humanity's fate is in the hands of an alien force if humanity miscalculates its response. Academy-Award winner Patricia Neal stars in this British variation on "The Day the Earth Stood Still," with the screenplay by Irish UFO researcher and author Desmond Leslie.
  • 7:15 p.m.: "UFOs In The USA" talk by MICHAEL MANNION, co-directors of The Mindshift Institute. Science and health writer Mannion is author of "Project Mindshift: The Re-education of the American Public Concering Extretrerrestials, 1947-Present."
  • 8:00 p.m.: FEST-FLICK #4: "STARMAN'" (1984-dir. John Carpenter, 115 mins.) --- Jeff Bridges stars as a space alien who quickly assumes a human form, thus acquiring human emotions and desires, and is pursued by government authorites while he tries to complete his mission on Earth.
  • 10:00 p.m.: Talk by STEPHEN BASSETT, Executive Director, Paradigm Research Group
  • 10:30 p.m.: FEST-FLICK #5: "CONTACT" (1997-dir. Robert Zemeckis, 153 mins.) -- Starring Academy Award- winner Jodie Foster as SETI scientist Dr. Ellie Arroway, whose team gets a message from ETI, resulting in the construction of a cosmic-vehicle in which she makes a contact that she cannot prove. Based on Carl Sagan's "Contact" novel, the movie raises the science and spiritual issues of Contact.

 

For Full Details on The Pioneer Theater Film Festival & Conference Schedule, visit the link below:

 


 

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"Whether we know it or not, we have a relationship with the visitors. But that relationship is presently one-sided.... I feel it is up to us to make it work (by) working in groups, supporting one anoher.... I am convinced that we can create conditions that will provide the basis for a fruitful association with them." -- WHITLEY STRIEBER in "The Communion Letter" Issue #1 (1989) *** "Open Contact will be up to us, see?" -- JEREMY VAENI in "UFO Magazine" (2006) *** "We regard our proactive interface out-reach program to the nonhuman realm as going 'beyond abduction victimization' into a revolutionay new approach to the Close Encounters Experience. Some of us refuse to be pawns and are creatively trying to affect the nature of this contact experience which may, in our reaching out, result in new discoveries about this relationship, moving it forward." -- HAROLD EGELN, Search Project for Aspects of Close Encounters [S.P.A.C.E.] (2000)

 

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE UFO WITNESS & RESEARCH KIND : FEATURED SPEAKERS

  • JEREMY VAENI --- author of "I Know Why The Alien's Don't Land," movie-maker of "No One's Watching: An Alien Abductee's Story" (now on DVD), playwright, video-producer, & "Valiens" columnist for "UFO Magazine" -- Festival Organizer Introducing the June 23rd Movie Program-3:00 p.m. @ The Pioneer @ P.S. 63 --- www.valiens.com
  • FARAH YURDOZU --- UFO and paranormal researcher, author of books in Turkey on UFOs and paranormal phenomena, "Dead Tenants" TV show host on The Learning Channel, "Alien in the Attic" columnist for "UFO Magazine" and producer/interviewer for "The Jerry Pippin Show" -- A Festival organizer, co-introducing the Pioneer Program, June 22 @ 7:00 p.m.; a Power-Point Presenter June 24. 1:00 p.m. @ P.S. 63. --- www.farahyurdozu.com
  • BUDD HOPKINS --- UFO abduction researcher, Intruders Foundation Director, artist, sculpture & author of four books on UFO abductions -- "Missing Time," "Intruders," "Witnessed" and "Sight Unseen." -- Speaking after "INVADERS FROM MARS" movie, Talk @ The Pioneer Theater: June 23 @ 5:00 p.m. --- www.intrudersfoundation.org
  • HAROLD EGELN --- professional journalist, S.P.A.C.E. (Search Project for Aspects of Close Encounters) founder/facilator, President of the National Space Society's NYC Chapter, and former executive director of a NYC nonprofit peace organization (1984-89); a Festival organizer & program co-introducer on June 22 @ 7:00 p.m, The Pioneer Theater.; --- http://community.webtv.net/HEgeln/SPACESearchProject
  • WILLIAM J. BIRNES --- "UFO Magazine" publishers (the magazine was 20 years old in 2006!) & co-author of "The Day After Roswell" (a N.Y. Times best-seller)Bill Birnes will launch the Friday Movie Program at The Pioneer Theater, June 22 @ 7:15 p.m. --- www.ufomag.com
  • MICHAEL MANNION --- Mindshift Institute Co-Director, health science writer Michael Mannion is author of "Project Mindshift: The Re-education of the American Public Concerning Extraterrestrial Life, 1947-Present" (1998); at The Pioneer on June 23 on "The Evolving Image of UFOs in the Media and American Culture" @ 7:15 p.m., The Pioneer, after "Stranger From Venus" showing and before "Starman" --- www.mindshiftinstitute.org
  • ALAN STEINFELD --- "New Realities" TV host in Manhattan, Close Encounter Witness Panel moderator on June 22 atThe Pioneer Theater, and radio program host - A speaker (12:20) and moderator @ P.S. 63 on 6/24 --- www.newrealitiestv.com
  • JEFFREY MORGAN FOSS --- author of "The Jeffrey Morgan Foss Experience" about his positive UFO encounters -- A Presenter @ The Secret School, June 24, 4:50 p.m. --- www.blogger.com/profile/15023924 - 9k
  • PHIL IMBROGNO --- astronomy & science school teacher, UFO sighting researcher, author of "The Hudson Valley UFO Sightings" and two other books on UFO Contact and stone chambers in the Hudson Valley -- Power-Point Presentation @ P.S. 63 June 24, 2:3 0 p.m.
  • MICHAEL LUCKMAN --- Author "ALIEN ROCK: The Rock 'n' Roll Extraterrestrial Connection" (Pocket Books/VH1, 2005); Director, New York Center for Extraterrestrial Research; Founder, the "Cosmic Majority"; New Yorker Luckman, a musicologist and PR professional, taught the USA's first college course on rock music. -- He will introduce the Music Programs. atLit Lounge, 6/21. 9p.m. & talk @ P.S. 63, 6/24, 4:00 p.m.(see link at end of webpage)
  • ROBERT MORNINGSTAR --- "UFO Digest" Co-Editor, pilot and UFO researcher, who will be a presenter at P.S. 63 on June 24, 1:30 p.m.
  • CLAY & SHAWN PICKERING --- from the NY-Disclosure Network, speaking on "A Whistle-Blower's Story" at P.S. 63 June 24, 2:00 p.m
  • CAROL RAINEY, FRANK SORIANO & JIM BOUCK --- Rainey is a leading documentary filmmaker and co-author of "Sight Unseen" (with Budd Hopkins) will show her new documentary short about abductee FRANK SORIANO & his UFO video, with JIM BOUCK, MUFON-NYS on June 24, 3:00 p.m. at P.S. 63
  • DAVID HUGGINS --- An artist who depicts his close encounters through his many paintings, which have been exhibited at show in NYC and elsewhere. He will present a slideshow talk on his artwork and experiences at P.S. 63 (June 23-24). [More details on Huggins in the ART section.]
  • POSEY GILBERT --- UFO abductee who has videotaped UFOs in Brooklyn. Sun., 3:45 p.m @ P.S. 63
  • J. ANTONIO HUNEEUS -- Famed UFO lecturer for nearly 30 years, on "South America UFOs" @ P.S. 63, June 24, 12:30 p.m.
  • ALEX WRIGHT --- Combustive Motor Corp. "U/F.O." graf photo book, "UFO/Alien Symbols Through the Ages" - @ P.S. 63, June 24, 4:20 p.m.

 

********* Artwork of David Huggins on display in 2006 at a Staten Island book cafe (Photo by Harold Egeln). "What do you do with something that is part of you? I paint it." -- David Huggins *** "Art is a conversation with an alien being who lives within the deepest regions of what some might call the soul or life force. This being lies just beyond the self as a reflection of an obversity in the physical universe." -- urban UFO artist David Twidle

 

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE ART KIND: THE ARTISTS --- Artwork Exhibit at P.S. 63 on E. 3rd St. bet. Avenue A & 1st Ave.) JUNE 23 & 24

  • DAVID HUGGINS --- Since 1987 he has chronicled his close encounters from childhood to adulthood through paintngs; his work has been featured in "The NY Times" (Sept. 1997) and exhibited at art galleries nationwide, including the American Primitive Gallery and Hudson Bar & Grill --- (Hear an interview w David Huggins on link at end of this webpage)
  • JOHN SHELDON --- UFO-alien artist & sculptor; featured in "The NY Times" (Sept. 1997), in "In Advance of Landing" book and movie (1987); art exhibited at many venues, including the American Primitive Gallery, Hudson Bar & Grill & at the National UFO Conference in NYC in 1980
  • IONEL TALPAZAN --- NYC UFO street artist and sculptor from Romania; featured in "The NY Times" (Sept. 1997), at the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore, the American Primitive Gallery, Hudson Bar & Grill and on PBS-TV
  • THE COMBUSTIVE MOTOR CORPORATION --- "U.F.O." graf photo book published in NYC, 2006 by CHRIS NOBLE, CALEB SCOTT, JACK WARREN & ALEX WRIGHT --- www.combustivemotorcorp.com
  • SALVADOR ROSSILLO
  • MELISSA REED --- An artist who did the book cover art for "The Lure of the Edge" by Brenda Denzler (Univ. of California Press) --- www.mreedartworks.com
  • DAVID TWIDLE --- his art was seen in the Fringe Festival in Tompkins Square Park
  • JEFF SCHECTMANN --- his UFO-inspired art on exhibit for the first time
  • RICH T. --- A space artist with a 1950s comic book style.
  • PAUL LAFFOLEY --- Legendary visionary architect of the Boston Visionary Cell, whose visionary mindscapes reflect the occult and scientific potentials of systems and progress. At the conference, Paul provides his works which include visions of the realm of contact with other beings in the universe.
  • YANCEY SPENCE --- ET paintings and sculptures.

 

 

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"There's a UFO over New York and I ain't too surprised." -- John Lennon in "Nobody Told Me" *** "Have You Seen the Saucers?" -- Jefferson Starship *** "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Space." --- The Carpenters

 

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE MUSIC KIND: Musicians, Bands & Performing Artists -- Performances, introduced by MICHAEL LUCKMAN "ALIEN ROCK" Author, @ LIT LOUNGE, 2nd Ave. bet. 5th-6th Streets, Friday night after "CONTACT" movie, June 22, and at other venues

  • ALAN WHITE --- musician, singer and playwright ("Pop's Place Uptown" & "Viv From Venus"), and composer noted for his hit song "After the Lights Go Down Low" in the 1960s.
  • THE VIOLETS --- popular band, featured recently in the "New York Post's Page Six" and as a cover feature story in the Courier-Life's "24/7" magazine --- www.theviolets.com
  • MARCY GORDON & BRYAN-DAVID KEE --- NYC singers and composers, and peace, health and environmental activists --- www.bryanandmarcy.com
  • OTHER PERFORMING ARTISTS @ FESTIVAL WEEKEND:
  • JASON O'CONNELL --- stand-up comedienne
  • MASAHIRO KAHATA --- psychic brainwave machine inventor and producer, used at "WAVE UFO" art installations --- www.psychiclab.net

 

FESTIVAL SUPPORTERS:

 

CULTURE OF CONTACT NETWORK

The "UFOs: The Culture of Contact" Conference, Film Retrospective & Multi-Media Festival in NYC is created, conceptualized and curated by the CULTURE OF CONTACT NETWORK (CCN), with the sponsorship of "UFO Magazine" and JayVay Productions, and the support of The Pioneer Theater.

 

This information is freely provided by the "CLOSE ENOUNTERS NYC-NEWS," a FREE MSN Web-TV publication produced by S.P.A.C.E. (the Search Project for Close Encounters). To contact UFO Festival organizers, please visit www.myspace.com/cultureofcontact

 

WEBSITES & Related Links to Culture of Contact Committee organizers

 

For more information on "UFOs: The CULTURE OF CONTACT (1947-2007) MultiMedia Festival in NYC" CONTACT: jeremy@valiens.com

 

"I could see the outline of the objects quite plainly against the snow as they approached the mountain. They flew very close to the mountain tops, directly south to southeast down the hog's back of the range, like geese in a diagonal chain-like line, as if they were linked together... I watched for about three minutes.... a chain of saucer-like things at least five miles long swerving in an out of the high mountain peaks. They were like a pie pan and so shiny they reflected the sun like a mirror." -- Pilot Kenneth Arnold in his UFO report to the Air Force of his UFO sighting of June 24, 1947 near Mount Rainier, Washington State, USA -- U.S.A.F. Report from "Project Saucer."

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