Search Results

Interviewee:

Anderson, Edgar, approximately 1922-  Search this

Anderson, Joyce, 1925-  Search this

Interviewer:

Gold, Donna, 1953-  Search this

Creator:

Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America  Search this

Names:

American Craft Council  Search this

American Crafts Council. Museum of Contemporary Crafts  Search this

Chilton Professional Automotive (Firm)  Search this

Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America  Search this

United States. Agency for International Development  Search this

Campbell, David Robert, 1907-1963  Search this

Cooke, Edward S., 1954-  Search this

Grotta, Lou  Search this

Grotta, Sandra  Search this

Larsen, Jack Lenor  Search this

Malarcher, Patricia  Search this

Maloof, Sam  Search this

McPhee, John, 1931-  Search this

Meier, Richard, 1934-  Search this

Milan, Emil, 1922-1985  Search this

Smith, Paul J., 1931-  Search this

Stocksdale, Bob, 1913-2003  Search this

Takaezu, Toshiko  Search this

Tibbs, Thomas S., 1917-2002  Search this

Webb, Aileen O.  Search this

Wegner, Hans J., 1914-  Search this

Wirkkala, Tapio, 1915-1985  Search this

Wyman, William, 1922-1980  Search this

Extent:

143 Pages (Transcript)

34 Items (Sound recording: 34 sound files (5 hr., 56 min.), digital, wav)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Pages

Sound recordings

Interviews

Place:

World Trade Center Site (New York, N.Y.)

Honduras -- Description and Travel

Date:

2002 September 17-19

Scope and Contents:

An interview of Edgar and Joyce Anderson conducted 2002 September 17-19, by Donna Gold, for the Archives of American Art's Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America, in Morristown, New Jersey.

The interview begins in the home of their frequent patrons, Sandra and Lou Grotta, in Harding Township, New Jersey. The Grottas are not present. They discuss several of their pieces in situ, including tables, beds, a piano bench, the grandfather clock (carved in the shape of Edgar's arm wearing a wristwatch), and the Knight table. Many of these pieces are discussed in detail in terms of their design and construction. They also allude briefly to other pieces in the Grotta's collection by Toshiko Takaezu, Hans Wegner, Bill Wyman, Sam Maloof, and Bob Stocksdale. The Grotta's house, designed by architect Richard Meier, is also discussed. Edgar recalls that Meier designed the house to accommodate the collection. They also talk about the Grotta's participation in the American Craft Council, and the relationship among collectors. The interview continues at the artists' home Harding Township, New Jersey. They discuss several projects for other clients, and they reflect on the relationships that developed. These include: a gaming table for Doug Dayton of Monteath Lumber Company, a jewelry chest for Thelma Newman, collaboration with Newman on a book for Chilton Publishing Company (not published), and a figural chest for Mako Stewart, which is still in the artists' private collection. They reflect on their private and professional partnership and the balance of skills they shared. They recall that their early success was bolstered by a New York Times article by Betty Pepis. This publicity led to new clients, such as Reverend John Mason of the Episcopal Chapel at the University of Maine, who is discussed in detail along with his wife Elizabeth Mason. They explain their expertise in humidity and wood shrinkage, including their work as consultants for the Museum of Contemporary Crafts, before it became the American Craft Museum. There is lengthy discussion of the Andersons' own house, which they designed and built themselves over a period of years. Frank Lloyd Wright was an influence. They discuss other church commissions in general, speaking of the influence of their spirituality. St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Haworth, New Jersey, is discussed in some detail. Edgar briefly talks about a local World Trade Center memorial which he has been working on. They recall the importance of the support of the American Craft Museum, Aileen Osborne (Vanderbilt) Webb, and David Campbell. They discuss in depth their time in Honduras, under the sponsorship of the USAID program, teaching craft techniques to local inhabitants. Joyce describes this as a Kennedy era demonstration program. Other participants in the Honduras program included Dave Chapman, Roy Ginstrom, Bill Wyman, and Emil Milan. They also recall participating in a similar program in Antigua. They also recall Herb and Marje Noyes, Ruth Martin, Patricia Malarcher, John Geraci, Mike Langan, Bob and Rowena MacPhail, Sterling North, Zelda Strecker, Paul Smith, Tom Tibbs, Walker Weed, Lois Moran, Toshiko Takaezu, Tapio Wirkkala, Jack Lenor Larsen, Edward Cooke, Michael Stone, John McPhee, and Dot Blanchard.

Biographical / Historical:

Edgar Anderson (1922- ) and Joyce Anderson (1923- ) are woodworkers from Morristown, New Jersey.

General:

Originally recorded 5 sound discs. Reformatted in 2010 as 34 digital wav files. Duration is 5 hr., 56 min.

Provenance:

This interview is part of the Archives of American Art Oral History Program, started in 1958 to document the history of the visual arts in the United States, primarily through interviews with artists, historians, dealers, critics and administrators.

Restrictions:

Transcript available on the Archives of American Art website.

Topic:

Woodworkers -- New Jersey -- Interviews.  Search this

Decorative arts  Search this

September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001  Search this

Genre/Form:

Sound recordings

Interviews

Sponsor:

Funding for this interview was provided by the Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America.

Funding for the digital preservation of this interview was provided by a grant from the Save America's Treasures Program of the National Park Service.

Identifier:

AAA.anders02a

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Art

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw9ae8bf067-31d4-4221-a0a6-7913411f8cdb

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-aaa-anders02a

Interviewee:

Anderson, Joyce, 1925-  Search this

Interviewer:

Gold, Donna, 1953-  Search this

Creator:

Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America  Search this

Names:

Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America  Search this

New York University -- Students  Search this

Anderson, Edgar, approximately 1922-  Search this

Esherick, Wharton  Search this

Maloof, Sam  Search this

Nakashima, George, 1905-1990  Search this

Stickley, Gustav, 1858-1942  Search this

Stocksdale, Bob, 1913-2003  Search this

Tibbs, Thomas S., 1917-2002  Search this

Wiley, Hugh, 1884-1968  Search this

Wright, Frank Lloyd, 1867-1959  Search this

Extent:

50 Pages (Transcript)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Pages

Interviews

Sound recordings

Date:

2002 September 18-19

Scope and Contents:

An interview of Joyce Anderson conducted 2002 September 18-19, by Donna Gold, in Morristown, New Jersey, for the Archives of American Art's Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America.

Anderson describes her training in economics at New York University, and her interrupted career in that field; her childhood, "a good bringing-up," and her family; dating Edgar Anderson in high school, and marrying him after World War II; and on the early years of their partnership and her own self-education as a woodworker; the design and construction of their home, the influence of Frank Lloyd Wright, and living briefly in Wright's Robie House in Chicago; Scandanavian furniture as an important early influence on their work, as well as the enduring influence of the local environment; the general spirit of the early period, infused with a sense of "breaking tradition"; the New Jersey Designer Craftsmen, and friends such as George Nakashima and Wharton Esherick; on her status as a woman in the movement, which was "never" problematic; projects executed for institutional clients, including furniture designed for public libraries, churches, and synagogues; private clients, and their relationships with clients; her design approach, which differs greatly from her husband's, as well as shared attitudes towards applied decoration and problem solving; her inclusion in the exhibition "Women Designers in the USA 1900-2000: Diversity and Difference," at the Bard Graduate Center for Studies; the difficulties of the spousal partnership, on her own health which was compromised by sawdust, and on the future of the house which is being donated to a preservation trust; large parties they hosted at the house, which included children in elaborate performances. She also recalls Tom Tibbs, Lou and Sandy Grotta, Sam Maloof, Hugh Wiley, Zelda Strecker, Emil Milan, Gustav Stickley, Bob Stocksdale, and others.

Biographical / Historical:

Joyce Anderson (1925- ) is a woodworker from Morristown, New Jersey.

General:

Originally recorded 3 sound discs. Reformatted in 2010 as 16 digital wav files. Duration is 2 hr., 50 min.

Provenance:

This interview is part of the Archives of American Art Oral History Program, started in 1958 to document the history of the visual arts in the United States, primarily through interviews with artists, historians, dealers, critics and administrators.

Restrictions:

Transcript available on the Archives of American Art website.

Occupation:

Furniture designers -- New Jersey  Search this

Woodworkers -- New Jersey  Search this

Topic:

Women artists  Search this

Women designers  Search this

Decorative arts  Search this

Genre/Form:

Interviews

Sound recordings

Sponsor:

Funding for this interview was provided by the Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America.

Funding for the digital preservation of this interview was provided by a grant from the Save America's Treasures Program of the National Park Service.

Identifier:

AAA.andersj02

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Art

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw9b27a02be-a331-48d0-9038-8af9b9350bbc

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-aaa-andersj02

Interviewee:

Anderson, Edgar, approximately 1922-  Search this

Interviewer:

Gold, Donna, 1953-  Search this

Creator:

Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America  Search this

Names:

American Crafts Council. Museum of Contemporary Crafts  Search this

Fallingwater (Pa.)  Search this

Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America  Search this

Philadelphia College of Art -- Faculty  Search this

Pratt Institute -- Students  Search this

Taliesin Fellowship  Search this

Woodstock School of Painting  Search this

Anderson, Joyce, 1925-  Search this

Eco, Umberto  Search this

Grotta, Lou  Search this

Grotta, Sandra  Search this

Hornbostel, Caleb  Search this

Johnson, Philip, 1906-2005  Search this

Kelsey, John, 1946-  Search this

Meier, Richard, 1934-  Search this

Rand, Ayn  Search this

Roman, Paul  Search this

Slivka, Rose  Search this

Smith, Paul J., 1931-  Search this

Sperber, Robert  Search this

Wright, Frank Lloyd, 1867-1959  Search this

Extent:

78 Pages (Transcript)

24 Items (Sound recording: 24 sound files (5 hr., 52 min.), digital wav)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Pages

Sound recordings

Interviews

Place:

Liberty State Park (Jersey City, N.J.)

Date:

2002 September 17-19

Scope and Contents:

An interview of Edgar Anderson conducted 2002 September 17-19, by Donna Gold, in Morristown, New Jersey, for the Archives of American Art's Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America.

Anderson describes his philosophy of nature, and the genetic affinities between trees and humans. He discusses childhood in Jersey City, New Jersey; his parents; his grandfather, who was a bookbinder and leather craftsman; and other influences from his childhood, including his uncles and the Stickley family's Craftsman Farms. He recalls that his mother was an accomplished painter and amateur architect; his father was responsible for constructing the foundations for the Chrysler Building. He describes his early admiration for Frank Lloyd Wright, and a meeting with Wright to inquire about the Taliesin Fellowship. Anderson did not join the Fellowship. He briefly discusses Ayn Rand and The Fountainhead. He recalls his architectural studies at Pratt Institute, including a structural investigation of Wright's Fallingwater house, and studying architectural rendering with Caleb Hornbostel. He describes his service during World War II, serving in Italy as a platoon commander for the Army Engineers. He talks about meeting his wife, Joyce, and the genesis of their working partnership. After the war, he and Joyce studied at Pratt under Philip Johnson; he recalls his student projects and the continuing influence of Frank Lloyd Wright. He also studied at Chicago Technical College. He recalls his apprenticeship building boats with his uncle. He describes, in technical detail, the early years of the practice, including a discussion of his wood supplier, the Monteath Company. He comments at length on his personal creative process, which includes elliptical references to a wide variety of sources, including Umberto Eco and the film 2001. He describes several projects for Lou and Sandy Grotta, including an anthropomorphic grandfather clock in the shape of a hand and wristwatch, an illusionary headboard, and the Knight table. He also comments on the Grotta house, designed by Richard Meier. He briefly mentions the editorial strategy of American Craft, and later Craft Horizon, and his relationships with editors such as John Kelsey, Paul Roman, and Rose Slivka. He mentions having taught at Philadelphia College of Art. He recalls racing in a demolition derby. He discusses his attitude towards criticism, mentioning Paul Smith, the director of the Museum of Contemporary Crafts, at length. He briefly describes his design for a 9/11 memorial at Liberty State Park and the political character of his work. He also reflects on his work relative to the culture at large. He talks about new technologies and new tools, and the evolution of the partnership. He describes his involvement in the craft community at Peters Valley, New Jersey. He comments at length on his apprentice Rob Sperber, and their development of the chainsaw mill.

Biographical / Historical:

Edgar Anderson (1922- ) is a woodworker from Morristown, New Jersey. Donna Gold (1953- ) is an art writer from Stockton Springs, Maine.

General:

Originally recorded 5 sound discs. Reformatted in 2010 as 24 digital wav files. Duration is 5 hr., 52 min.

Provenance:

This interview is part of the Archives of American Art Oral History Program, started in 1958 to document the history of the visual arts in the United States, primarily through interviews with artists, historians, dealers, critics and administrators.

Restrictions:

Transcript available on the Archives of American Art website.

Topic:

Art -- Political aspects  Search this

Decorative arts  Search this

September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001  Search this

Woodworkers -- New Jersey -- Interviews.  Search this

World War, 1939-1945  Search this

Woodwork  Search this

Function:

Memorials

Genre/Form:

Sound recordings

Interviews

Sponsor:

Funding for this interview was provided by the Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America.

Funding for the digital preservation of this interview was provided by a grant from the Save America's Treasures Program of the National Park Service.

Identifier:

AAA.anders02

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Art

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw9c3439b7f-11b0-45e1-9c09-4cc57490edbd

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-aaa-anders02

Interviewee:

Anderson, Edgar, 1922-  Search this

Interviewer:

Gold, Donna, 1953-  Search this

Subject:

Anderson, Joyce, 1925-  Search this

Campbell, David Robert  Search this

Cooke, Edward S.  Search this

Grotta, Lou  Search this

Grotta, Sandra  Search this

Larsen, Jack Lenor  Search this

Malarcher, Patricia  Search this

Maloof, Sam  Search this

McPhee, John  Search this

Meier, Richard  Search this

Milan, Emil  Search this

Smith, Paul J.  Search this

Stocksdale, Bob  Search this

Takaezu, Toshiko  Search this

Tibbs, Thomas S.  Search this

Webb, Aileen O.  Search this

Wegner, Hans J.  Search this

Wirkkala, Tapio  Search this

Wyman, William  Search this

Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America  Search this

American Craft Council  Search this

Chilton Professional Automotive (Firm)  Search this

American Crafts Council. Museum of Contemporary Crafts  Search this

United States. Agency for International Development  Search this

Type:

Sound recordings

Interviews

Place:

World Trade Center Site (New York, N.Y.)

Honduras -- description and travel

Citation:

Quotes and excerpts must be cited as follows: Oral history interview with Edgar and Joyce Anderson, 2002 September 17-19. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Topic:

Woodworkers -- New Jersey -- Interviews.  Search this

Decorative arts  Search this

September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001  Search this

Theme:

Craft  Search this

Record number:

(DSI-AAA_CollID)13240

(DSI-AAA_SIRISBib)237696

AAA_collcode_anders02a

Theme:

Craft

Data Source:

Archives of American Art

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:AAADCD_oh_237696

Interviewee:

Anderson, Joyce, 1925-  Search this

Interviewer:

Gold, Donna, 1953-  Search this

Subject:

Anderson, Edgar  Search this

Esherick, Wharton  Search this

Maloof, Sam  Search this

Nakashima, George  Search this

Stickley, Gustav  Search this

Stocksdale, Bob  Search this

Tibbs, Thomas S.  Search this

Wiley, Hugh  Search this

Wright, Frank Lloyd  Search this

New York University  Search this

Nanette L. Laitman Documentation Project for Craft and Decorative Arts in America  Search this

Type:

Interviews

Sound recordings

Citation:

Quotes and excerpts must be cited as follows: Oral history interview with Joyce Anderson, 2002 September 18-19. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Topic:

Women artists  Search this

Women designers  Search this

Decorative arts  Search this

Theme:

Craft  Search this

Women  Search this

Record number:

(DSI-AAA_CollID)12981

(DSI-AAA_SIRISBib)237708

AAA_collcode_andersj02

Theme:

Craft

Women

Data Source:

Archives of American Art

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:AAADCD_oh_237708

Author:

Anderson, Joyce 1925-  Search this

Smithsonian Libraries Art and Artist Files Collection DSI  Search this

Subject:

Anderson, Joyce 1925-  Search this

Type:

Books

Vertical files

Artist files

Call number:

AAF--Anderson, Joyce

Restrictions & Rights:

FOLDER(S) DO NOT CIRCUATE. FOLDERS MUST BE CONSULTED ON SITE

Data Source:

Smithsonian Libraries

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:siris_sil_565223