The collection is arranged into one series. Series 1: Manuel Neri papers, 1940-1980 (0.01 linear feet; Folder 1)
Access Note / Rights:
This collection is open for research. Access to original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center.
Summary:
The papers of sculptor Manuel Neri measure 0.01 linear feet and date from 1940 to 1980. The papers owned by the Archives of American Art consist of an exhibition poster and an exhibition announcement for shows at the Six Gallery in San Francisco.
Citation:
Manuel Neri papers, 1940-1980. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Additional Forms:
Portions of the collection are available on 35mm microfilm reels 2290, 2291 and 3161 at Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan. Researchers should note that the arrangement of material described in the container inventory does not reflect the arrangement of the collection on microfilm.
Location of Originals:
Reels 2290 & 2291: Originals returned to the lender, Manuel Neri through his agent, Anne Kohs, after microfilming.
Use Note:
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.
Biography Note:
Manuel Neri (1930-2021) was a sculptor recognized for his life-size figurative sculptures in plaster, bronze, and marble. Neri was born in Sanger, California in 1930 to immigrant parents from Jalisco, Mexico. Originally planning to study electrical engineering, Neri switched to ceramics after being inspired by an art class taught by Peter Voulkos. Neri completed his studies at California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland, and at California School of Fine Arts.
In the late 1950s, Neri was a member of the artist-run cooperative gallery, Six Gallery in San Francisco, along with Joan Brown, Bruce Conner, Jay DeFeo, and other artists. In October 1955, he helped organize "6 Poets at 6 Gallery" Six Gallery reading, a landmark Beat era event where Allen Ginsberg gave the first public reading of Howl. In 1959, Neri was an original member of Bruce Conner's Rat Bastard Protective Association. In the 1960s, he was associated with the Bay Area Figurative Movement. He was married to Bay Area artist Joan Brown from 1962 to 1966, though their relationship and artistic collaboration dated back several years prior to this.
Neri taught sculpture and ceramics at California School of Fine Arts from 1959 to 1965, and taught classes in the art department at UC Berkeley in 19631964. He was a member of the art department faculty at the University of California, Davis from 1965 to 1990.
Neri died in 2021.
Language Note:
English .
Provenance:
Material on reels 2290 & 2291 lent for microfilming by Neri through his agent, Anne Kohs, 1982. Material on reel 3161 was donated by Neri, 1977.
Location Note:
Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, 750 9th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
