Sprockets

Contrasting environments, in and outside.

Elam records several men moving boxes and furniture as they track across her backyard.

“Tai Chi II,” similarly to Elam’s “Tai Chi Bowling” and “Tai Chi,” focuses on movement. Through a sequence of close-ups, Elam coyly records portions of several individuals practicing tai chi, primarily focusing on the practitioners’ extremities as they float about. Distinct from its affiliates, “Tai Chi II” finds the action taking place outside.

Consists of frantic and (mostly) uninformative pans sprinting across Elam's lawn.

Elam's husband prepares vegetables at the sink.

Two pumpkins.

Cleaning supplies and flames.

Abstract short.

Digging in the woods.

A covered bridge and the nature surrounding it.

Elam turns in place while filming nature.

An outdoor gathering.

Two women gardening on a sunny day.

At home, outdoors. Street shots.

Filmed during the 52nd National Convention of the American National Association of Letter Carriers in August 1980.

Elam films her close friend, Chuck Kleinhans.

This footage is almost entirely black, save for a few shots possibly showing electric poles outside.

JoAnn Elam plants collards.

Farm work and nature.

USPS workers go bowling.