Kate Manheim

Kate Manheim hails from a diverse background of academic study and theatre. The daughter of famous translator Ralph Manheim, she received a classical education at the Sorbonne in Paris, specializing in History of the Medieval Ages and Chinese language. Turning her sights towards the acting world, Kate became one of the leading actresses in Richard Foreman's Ontological-Hysteric Theatre in Paris and New York City. In 1983, she was a lead performer in the stagings of Heiner Muller's work by Jean Jourdheuil and Jean-Francois Peyret at the Petit Odeon in Paris. In 1987 she retired from acting and was admitted to Cooper Union in New York City to pursue her passion for art. Since attending Cooper Union, Kate Manheim has been evolving her complex computer-based imagery, creating over 600 paintings, in them calling attention to the mystery of inspiration. In May and June of 1996, Manheim exhibited a lifetime's work of artwork from childhood paintings of Christ to the "grief portraits" of her mother who died in 1985. Manheim's exhibition at CUE marks her first solo show in New York.

Drawing on his experience in a variety of genres including jazz, rock, hardcore punk, classical, klezmer, film, cartoon, popular and improvised music, John Zorn has created an influential body of work that defies academic categories. A native of New York City, he has been a central figure in the downtown scene since 1975, incorporating a wide range of musicians in various compositional formats. He learned alchemical synthesis from Harry Smith, structural ontology with Richard Foreman, how to make art out of garbage with Jack Smith, cathartic expression at Sluggs and hermetic intuition from Joseph Cornell. Early inspirations include American innovators Ives, Varese, Cage, Carter and Partch, the European tradition of Berg, Stravinsky, Boulez and Kagel, soundtrack composers Herrmann, Morricone and Stalling as well as avant-garde theater, film, art and literature.