Artists exhibit work at the ICA

A cornucopia of modern art adorned the walls last night at the Institute of Contemporary Art as it presented an exhibit entitled "Biographies: Philadelphia Narratives." Six artists from several parts of the art industry joined together to form the presentation, highlighted by award-winning documentary filmmaker Michael O'Reilly. The filmmaker and performance artist presented his work to an audience of about 60 people, consisting mainly of art students -- including some Penn students -- and friends. Through his film United States vs. O'Reilly, O'Reilly illustrates the story of the incarceration of his father for fraud, an event which had a profound effect on the filmmaker's life. According to the gallery notes, "the work is an exercise in coming to terms with painful family history." In the film, a personal documentary, O'Reilly incorporates many artistic mediums. "O'Reilly brings together a variety of artmaking strategies and modes: musical composition, video production, installation and personal narrative," according to the ICA. In a darkly lit sideroom to the "Biographies" exhibit, O'Reilly presented his film on a wide screen that helps illustrate his varied talents. The documentary is partially a series of rapidly flashing images of prisoners on the right of the screen, and pictures of biblical art, modern film clips and evidence from the court case on the left. Along with the visual images, O'Reilly stood behind the screen, performing the soundtrack he composed and narrating the story live. O'Reilly said that for future performances, he will record the narration rather than perform it in person. "Things get shuffled together when everything is done at the same time," he said, adding that he wants to free up more time to devote to the music. "Hopefully my playing will be the glue that holds all of these things together." And those who know his work say they are sure he will succeed in future exhibits. "[O'Reilly] is one of the most talented people I've ever met," friend Tamar Klausner said. United States vs. O'Reilly has been an ongoing part of a film series called "Prison Sentences," a project with Pennsylvania's Eastern State Penitentiary. O'Reilly said he performed the documentary for "two to three months" at the prison. He will return to the prison at some point in the future to screen the documentary again. O'Reilly studied communication at "the other Penn," the Indiana University of Pennsylvania and created another acclaimed documentary entitled Glass Jaw. And despite winning the Pew Fellowship, a prestigious honor awarded to only 10 artists per year, O'Reilly maintains modesty. "You won't get him to admit to his talents," Klausner said.