There are 126 "art journals" created by Janice Lowry between 1973 and 2009 and three abandoned journals. She kept journals for most of her adult life, averaging about four per year. They include written text and visual imagery in the form of sketches, paintings, and collage in widely varied mediums. She glued in some of her children's artwork, and let them draw directly in her journals. She added slips of loose papers with notes, phone numbers, studies, plans, diagrams, and pockets of loose papers, letters, photographs, and objects. Some pages are collaged with ephemera such as ticket stubs, pictures, newspaper clippings, receipts, appointment cards, IDs, comics, cards, maps, and bills. Inserted are many articles about crime, politics, and death, as well as newspaper adverts for art shows. She often included definitions, quotes, things she had recently learned, and notes for lesson plans. Other objects and materials were used in the artwork, such as fabric, graph paper, sewing patterns, measuring tape, string, stickers, glitter, tape, stamps, and pieces cut out of a dictionary. She also included dried flowers, butterfly wings, leaves, and seeds. Topics include travel, thoughts, lists, dreams, finances, critiques, correspondence, timelines, and her relationship with her mother. Lowry also created storyboard journal entries, combining small, square sketches with commentary.
Arrangement note:
Journals were named and numbered by Lowry and are arranged in chronological order.
Collection Restrictions:
Use of original papers requires an appointment.
Collection Rights:
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Collection Citation:
Janice Lowry papers, 1957-2009. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
