Last Saturday I had the pleasure of attending a new hotspot for experimental cinema in downtown Tucson. Exploded View, 197 Toole Ave., is an art gallery, music space and "microcinema". Portraits of visionary experimental filmmakers by local artist Danny Martin dot the walls, films are projected on a blank wall, and it seats around 45 people.

The venue is the brainchild of David Sherman and Rebecca Marten, the founders of San Francisco's Total Mobile Home microCINEMA. Exploded View opened to the public on Saturday night as part of the Toole Avenue Art Walk. Local avant-garde duo Algae and Tentacles played a staggering five hour set while films were projected behind them.

Tucson Weekly contributing writer and KXCI volunteer DJ Carl Hanni is programming a series of New York City-music related films, starting with Blank City tonight. It's a look back at the NYC No Wave scene, where experimental noise bands rubbed shoulders with aspiring filmmakers, fashion designers and artists. If you're a fan of Lydia Lunch, Jim Jarmusch and Steve Buscemi, you might want to check it out. A few short films by notorious transgressive cinema visionary Richard Kern will proceed the documentary. It starts at 7:30 p.m. and there's a suggested donation of $5. If you're over 21, there is a bar.

For a full schedule of events and other info at Exploded View, you can visit their website here. You can also visit them on Facebook.