Skip to main content Smithsonian Institution

Additional Online Media

Catalog Data

Creator:
Bender, Gretchen, 1951-2004  Search this
Extent:
2.8 Linear feet
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Date:
1980-2004
Summary:
The papers of Gretchen Bender measure 2.8 linear feet and date from 1980-2004. This material documents her career as a filmmaker and multimedia artist through biographical materials, correspondence, personal business records, writings, notebooks, printed material, photographs, slides and transparencies, and artwork. Also included are project files detailing Gretchen's collaborations with dancer/choreographer Bill T. Jones, as well as a handwritten transcription of a conversation between Bender and Cindy Sherman.
Scope and Contents:
The papers of Gretchen Bender measure 2.8 linear feet and date from 1980-2004. This material documents her career as a filmmaker and multimedia artist through biographical materials, correspondence, personal business records, writings, notebooks, printed material, photographs, slides and transparencies, and artwork. Also included are project files detailing Gretchen's collaborations with dancer/choreographer Bill T. Jones, as well as a handwritten transcription of a conversation between Bender and Cindy Sherman.
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged as 9 series. Series 1: Biographical Material, 1996 (Box 1; 4 folders) Series 2: Correspondence/Letters, 1985-2003 (Box 1; 4 folders) Series 3: Personal Business Records, 1985-1990 (Box 1; 4 folders) Series 4: Project Files, 1982-2002 (Boxes 1-2, 5; 0.9 Linear Feet) Series 5: Writings, 1983-1988 (Box 2; 0.1 Linear Feet) Series 6: Notebooks, 1980-2000 (Box 2; 0.6 Linear Feet) Series 7: Printed Material, 1981-2004 (Boxes 3, 6; 0.3 Linear Feet) Series 8: Photographs, 1984-1989 (Boxes 3-4, 0.3 Linear Feet) Series 9: Artwork, 1984-1985 (Boxes 4, 5; 0.2 Linear Feet)
Biographical / Historical:
Gretchen Bender (1951-2004) was a New York City based filmmaker, multimedia, and conceptual artist. Bender borrowed from elements found in advertising, television, popular contemporary art, and computer graphics to explore issues of race, gender, politics, and culture in her work. During the 1990s, Bender worked with choreographer/dancer Bill T. Jones as a co-director, set designer, and filmmaker on a number of theater and television projects. Bender was a director, editor, and producer for television, primarily working on music videos. Bender participated in solo and group exhibitions at Metro Pictures and Nature Morte in New York.
Provenance:
Donated 2005 by Kate Bender, Gretchen Bender's sister.
Restrictions:
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center. Contact Reference Services for more information.
Rights:
The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.
Occupation:
Filmmakers -- New York (State) -- New York  Search this
Multimedia artists -- New York (State) -- New York  Search this
Conceptual artists -- New York (State) -- New York  Search this
Topic:
Women artists  Search this
Citation:
Gretchen Bender papers, 1980-2004. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
AAA.bendgret
See more items in:
Gretchen Bender papers
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw9d03d3835-8843-41cc-a8b5-350011ccaa81
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-aaa-bendgret