During the 1920’s an experimental film genre emerged that celebrated the life of a metropolis- The City Symphony. 

This year Homegrown Stories collaborators are again paired, this time to create a City Symphony. A video artist will create a silent City Symphony video track and an audio artist will interpret the track though sound.

This is the first installment of the process- the silent video tracks.

Please allow the beauty of the images and the rhythms of the editing to transport you inside the CITY.

City Symphony, Sonali Gulati

Symphony for Iowa City, Sandra Louise Dyas

1000003371, Todd Kimm

Fever Drift, Markus Haala

From her, I come, Chor Guan

City Symphony: Rise and Fall, Jon Shumway

Nocturne: Music of the Spheres V1, Miriam Bennett

During 2025-26 we are touring a retrospective compilation of eleven years of Homegrown Stories experimental work. This 68 minute compilation features over 30 experimental films created by over 20 international film, video and sound artists.

Retrospective screenings:

CyberArts, Boston MA, October 10, 2026

ATA Gallery, San Francisco, date, TBA

Donahue Academic Arts Center, Lowell MA, fall date, TBA

FilmScene, Iowa City IA, May 6, 2026

Studio Two Three, Richmond VA, March 27, 2026

Philadelphia Film Society, Philadelphia PA, September 15, 2025

If you are interested in booking Homegrown Stories: The Art of Moving Poetry please contact:

LeAnn Erickson, leannericksonfilms(at)gmail(dot)com

Sandy and I are excited to share that Homegrown Stories was selected for an artist residency. In May we attended a week long residency in an old farm house situated on the edge of the White Rock Conservancy, located near Coon Rapids, Iowa.

This conservancy is a 5500 acre nonprofit land trust that protects native landscape and promotes sustainable farming. Sandy and I shot footage all over the area, wandering along the Raccoon River, exploring fields of prairie grass, meadows of wild flowers, and bur oak savannas.

During the remainder of 2025, we created videos inspired by the residency. We also collaborated with Pieta Brown on a musical video titled “Riverhouse”.

Thank you Liz Garst for selecting Homegrown Stories for the 2025 Riverhouse Artist Residency!

• LeAnn Erickson