BAM x Alfreda’s Cinema, ARTNoir co-present Alice Coltrane’s Eternity’s Pillar

Eternity’s Pillar offers a rare opportunity to encounter Alice Coltrane not only as a musician and spiritual teacher, but as a filmmaker. Following the death of her husband, John Coltrane, in 1967, she pursued a profound spiritual path that reshaped her music and artistic practice, eventually establishing a spiritual community in Southern California. Produced from 1985—1988 and originally broadcast late night on Los Angeles’ KTTV Channel 11, this kaleidoscope brings together devotional music, meditation, philosophy, scripture, and moving image.

For its first New York theatrical presentation, six episodes screen continuously, offering a deeper look into a largely under-explored dimension of Coltrane’s creative practice. Introduced by musician Surya Botofasina, the program continues with a conversation with filmmaker Ephraim Asili (Isis & Osiris), exploring Coltrane’s visual language, spiritual practice, and enduring influence on spiritual cinema.

Program

Episode 2B| 28:32 – Swamini talks about how meditation enlivens and enlightens the mind. Swamini plays harp, Spiritual: ‘Going Home’

Episode 4| 28:29 – Swamini speaks about the Lord’s laws

Episode 7B| 28:21 – Swamini speaks about the subject of sincerity in worship.

Episode 15| 28:19 – Swamini speaks about demigods, the universe, exalted beings, creators, seraphic beings, and angelic beings.

Episode 19| 28:34 – Swamini talks to young members of the Vedantic Center community about what Easter means to them. They sing “He Arose,” and Swamini accompanies on synthesizer.

Episode 21| 28:33 – Swamini speaks about the Supreme, Infinite, Merciful Lord, the One who radiates our immortal souls