OBITUARY -- Julian B. Backus- heart failure, aggravated by a severe case of Lyme disease


OBITUARY -- Julian B. Backus
Monday, December 9, 1996

A memorial will be held in Berkeley on Saturday for Julian B. ``Jules''
Backus, a photographer and pioneer of videography. Mr. Backus died in
New York on November 21 of heart failure, aggravated by a severe case
of Lyme disease he had been fighting since June. He was 52.

Mr. Backus was born in Detroit. He studied at Hotchkiss School in
Lawrenceville, Mass., and other prep schools and went to the University
of Michigan at Ann Arbor in the mid-'60s. There, he began his career as
a painter, which led to an interest in photography.

He developed anti-war views and became a conscientious objectors,
performing alternative service in Puerto Rico.

He operated on both coasts, but was very active in the local art and
video scenes. He was a founder of the Bay Area Video Coalition, Optic
Nerve, which he helped form in 1972, and Project One.

In 1975, he was a member of the Optic Nerve crew that shot the
memorable conceptual event, ``Media Burn,'' produced by the Ant Farm.
He also worked with the San Francisco Mime Troupe and many anti-war and
anti-nuclear projects.

He worked on videotapes including ``Psychological Bull Rider'';
``Artwork,'' about the San Francisco Comprehensive Employment and
Training Act; ``Dead Action,'' dealing with medical issues at the San
Bruno jail; and ``On the Boulevard,'' a documentary on independent
truckers.

Several films on which he worked as a cameraman were produced by Doug
Hall, including ``Terrible Uncertainty of the Thing Described,''
``Songs of the 80s,'' ``Storm Stress'' and ``Almost Like A Dance.''

He is survived by his siblings, Annie Strobel of Vermont, Joe of
Michigan and Charles of Washington state.

Saturday's Berkeley memorial will be held at 4 p.m. Call (510) 548-
4049 for more information.

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