MYRON HELFGOTT

Literary/Criticism

Myron Helfgott's Literary/Criticism is a group of mixed-media pieces—some with kinetic components—composed of written texts, still images, and simultaneous audio texts. In a physical gallery space, where these works are usually found, viewers approach a work to discern individual sounds or voices.

While Blackbird cannot (yet) recreate a virtual 3D exhibition space with kinetic machinery and the rich buzzing of a roomful of simultaneous audio, we endeavor to give you an essential taste of Helfgott's work. Step forward. Turn up your speakers and enjoy.  

Below you may enter the show for a sequential viewing, or select individual works by clicking thumbnails on the Table of Works or Credits page; in addition we offer Dinah Ryan's essay, "Helfgott's Parade," commenting on the artist's work.

Literary/Criticism  |  Table of Works  |  Credits  |  Helfgott's Parade

   Contributor's notes

Blackbird Founders Archive Restoration Note

The audio content for Literary/Criticism was not available after VCU shutdown the server supporting Real Media content in 2016.

In the original presentation, RealPlayer auto-played on any page with associated audio. Though I will set each repaired instance to autoplay, viewers may have to manually start the audio depending on overriding browser settings.

Audio on the first Gallery page of our documentation simulates the sound of all the audio pieces in the open physical gallery playing siultaneously. Following, the audio for each individual piece is paired with its image. I am using the HTML 5 audio interface pointed to mp3s (no frills, but the easiest solution) in this restoration.

Literary/Criticism audio was restored on August 10, 2026.

M.A. Keller