The papers of filmmaker and art historian Judith Wechsler measure 17.4 linear feet and consist of film production material from several of Wechsler's documentary films released between 1989 and 1994. Most of the collection consists of sound recordings and motion picture film. Notable content includes interviews with Jasper Johns, Frank Stella, David Hockney, Philip Pearlstein, Joel Meyerowitz, Jo Spence, Yolanda Sonnabend, Dominique de Menil, Walter Hopps, Aaron Siskind, and Harry Callahan, as well as footage of artists working in their studios. Production elements found include original sound recordings, original camera negative outtakes, work print picture and soundtrack, trims, various pre-print master material, and video copies of completed works.
Scope and Contents:
The papers of filmmaker and art historian Judith Wechsler measure 17.4 linear feet and consist of film production material from several of Wechsler's documentary films released between 1989 and 1994. Most of the collection consists of sound recordings and motion picture film. Notable content includes interviews with Jasper Johns, Frank Stella, David Hockney, Philip Pearlstein, Joel Meyerowitz, Jo Spence, Yolanda Sonnabend, Dominique de Menil, Walter Hopps, Aaron Siskind, and Harry Callahan, as well as footage of artists working in their studios. Production elements found include original sound recordings, original camera negative outtakes, work print picture and soundtrack, trims, various pre-print master material, and video copies of completed works.
Documentaries with production material in the collection include Jasper Johns: Take An Object, produced with Hans Namuth, Harry Callahan (1994), Aaron Siskind: Making Pictures (1991), and five episodes of The Painter's World: Changing Constants of Art from the Renaissance to the Present (1989), a six-part television series produced by WGBH in Boston. Episodes of the series for which records are found include "The Training of Painters," "The Arrested Moment," "Portraits," "Abstraction," and "Painting and the Public". Also found are two reels of soundtrack labeled "Two Photographers," a title for which no other documentation is found.
The Painter's World episodes "Abstraction," "The Arrested Moment," and "Portraits" address the evolution of painting style and traditions, and the "Painting and the Public" episode addresses the role of patronage and the evolution of art museums. Footage found for "The Training of Painters" consists of footage of Josef Albers teaching at Yale University shot around 1955, likely shot by John Cohen.
Jasper Johns: Take An Object was a collaborative project between Wechsler, Hans Namuth, and Paul Falkenberg, who worked together under the corporate name of Museum at Large. Footage consists of multiple interviews with Johns, a 1971 session of Johns working in his Houston Street studio, and a 1989 session of Johns working at Universal Limited Art Editions, as well as additional material of John Cage and others speaking about Johns' work.
In Harry Callahan, Callahan discusses the inspiration behind his work and recollects about his time with Ansel Adams, Alfred Stieglitz, Edward Steichen, and Aaron Siskind. For Aaron Siskind: Making Pictures, Siskind covers the beginning of his career, and the inspiration and methods behind his work. The "Two Photographers" content and relationship to the collection is unknown.
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged as 5 series.
Series 1: -- The Painters World: Changing Constants of Art from the Renaissance to the Present -- Production Records, 1985-1989 (5.5 linear feet; Boxes 1, 3-6, 15, 20)
Series 2: -- Jasper Johns: Take an Object -- Production Records, 1971-1972, 1989-1990 (5.9 linear feet, Boxes 2, 7-11, 20-24)
Series 3: -- Aaron Siskind: Making Pictures -- Production Records, 1990-2003 (2.5 linear feet; Boxes 2, 11-12, 16-18, 21)
Series 4: -- Harry Callahan -- Production Records, 1992-1994 (3.3 linear feet; Boxes 2, 12-14, 18-19, 21)
Series 5: Unidentified Program Material, circa 1940-1994 (0.3 linear feet; Boxes 2, 14, FC 147)
She has taught at Brown University, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Hebrew University, and Rhode Island School of Design and joined the faculty at Tufts University in 1989, where she remained until her retirement in 2011.
Wechsler received a Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres from the French government in 2007, and became professor emerita at Tufts in 2011. She lives and works in Massachusetts.
Related Materials:
Release prints of each of the titles represented in the collection are held by the Harvard Film Archive. Digital video copies of edited films are available on Judith Wechsler's website (http://www.judithwechsler.com/films, accessed 2017).
Provenance:
Donated 2008, 2017, and 2019 by Judith Wechsler.
Restrictions:
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center. Use of archival audiovisual recordings with no duplicate copy requires advance notice.
Rights:
The Painter's World: Copyright retained by Judith Wechsler.
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:
Art historians -- Massachusetts -- Boston Search this
New Lost City Ramblers--Wildwood weed--Dirt farmer--Little girl and the dreadful snake; Antonio Mosquera--March in-three instrumentals; Norman Kennedy--She's only my old shoes when he gets her
Track Information:
101 Old Time String Band / New Lost City Ramblers, John Cohen, Mike Seeger. Guitar,Banjo,Fiddle. English language.
103 Scottish Songs / Norman Kennedy. English language.
General note:
DPA number 70.101.12
Local Numbers:
FP-1970-10RR2-0012
General:
CDR copy
70.101.12
Date/Time and Place of an Event Note:
Recorded in: Washington (D.C.), United States, July 3, 1970.
Restrictions:
Restrictions on access. Some duplication is allowed. Use of materials needs permission of the Smithsonian Institution.
Collection Rights:
Copyright restrictions apply. Contact archives staff for information.
Copyright and other restrictions may apply. Generally, materials created during a Festival are covered by a release signed by each participant permitting their use for personal and educational purposes; materials created as part of the fieldwork leading to a Festival may be more restricted. We permit and encourage such personal and educational use of those materials provided digitally here, without special permissions. Use of any materials for publication, commercial use, or distribution requires a license from the Archives. Licensing fees may apply in addition to any processing fees.
Recorded in: Washington (D.C.), United States, July 1, 1970.
Restrictions:
Restrictions on access. Some duplication is allowed. Use of materials needs permission of the Smithsonian Institution.
Collection Rights:
Copyright restrictions apply. Contact archives staff for information.
Copyright and other restrictions may apply. Generally, materials created during a Festival are covered by a release signed by each participant permitting their use for personal and educational purposes; materials created as part of the fieldwork leading to a Festival may be more restricted. We permit and encourage such personal and educational use of those materials provided digitally here, without special permissions. Use of any materials for publication, commercial use, or distribution requires a license from the Archives. Licensing fees may apply in addition to any processing fees.
Blue Ridge Cloggers--Square dance--Cripple creek; Ralph Rinzler (MC); New Lost City Ramblers--instr.--Down on Penny's farm--Keep on the sunnyside
Track Information:
101 Square Dancing.
102 Old Time String Band / New Lost City Ramblers, John Cohen, Mike Seeger. Guitar,Banjo,Fiddle.
General note:
DPA number 70.101.46
Local Numbers:
FP-1970-7RR-0046
General:
CDR copy
70.101.46
Date/Time and Place of an Event Note:
Recorded in: Washington (D.C.), United States, July 3, 1970.
Restrictions:
Restrictions on access. Some duplication is allowed. Use of materials needs permission of the Smithsonian Institution.
Collection Rights:
Copyright restrictions apply. Contact archives staff for information.
Copyright and other restrictions may apply. Generally, materials created during a Festival are covered by a release signed by each participant permitting their use for personal and educational purposes; materials created as part of the fieldwork leading to a Festival may be more restricted. We permit and encourage such personal and educational use of those materials provided digitally here, without special permissions. Use of any materials for publication, commercial use, or distribution requires a license from the Archives. Licensing fees may apply in addition to any processing fees.
New Lost City Ramblers--Wildwood weed--Dirt farmer--Little girl and the dreadful snake; Antonio Mosquera--March in-three instrumentals; Norman Kennedy--She's only my old shoes when he gets her
Track Information:
101 Old Time String Band / New Lost City Ramblers, John Cohen, Mike Seeger. Guitar,Fiddle,Banjo. English language.
103 Scottish Songs / Norman Kennedy. English language.
General note:
DPA number 70.101.47
Local Numbers:
FP-1970-7RR-0047
General:
CDR copy
70.101.47
Date/Time and Place of an Event Note:
Recorded in: Washington (D.C.), United States, July 3, 1970.
Restrictions:
Restrictions on access. Some duplication is allowed. Use of materials needs permission of the Smithsonian Institution.
Collection Rights:
Copyright restrictions apply. Contact archives staff for information.
Copyright and other restrictions may apply. Generally, materials created during a Festival are covered by a release signed by each participant permitting their use for personal and educational purposes; materials created as part of the fieldwork leading to a Festival may be more restricted. We permit and encourage such personal and educational use of those materials provided digitally here, without special permissions. Use of any materials for publication, commercial use, or distribution requires a license from the Archives. Licensing fees may apply in addition to any processing fees.
Bob Siggins, Mike Seeger, John Cohen and Tracy Schwarz--Bluegrass workshop--Needle case--Sally goodin'/ Sally Ann--Blues ballad--Flint Hill special--Weeping willow tree-unk--Bugle call rag--Cripple creek--Darling Corey--Dallas rag--New Camptown Races--Get up John; Ralph Rinzler (MC); Antonio Mosquera--Amelia Conchita--My sunshine--two instrumentals; Tommy Standeven--Chanter demonstration
Track Information:
101 Banjo Workshop / Bob Siggins, Mike Seeger, Tracy Schwarz, John Cohen. Banjo. English language.
102 Gallican Pipes / Antonio Mosquera. Spanish pipes,Drum. Spanish language.
103 Irish Uilleann Pipes / Tommy Standeven. Uilleann pipes. English language.
General note:
DPA number 70.101.50
Local Numbers:
FP-1970-7RR-0050
General:
CDR copy
70.101.50
Date/Time and Place of an Event Note:
Recorded in: Washington (D.C.), United States, July 4, 1970.
Restrictions:
Restrictions on access. Some duplication is allowed. Use of materials needs permission of the Smithsonian Institution.
Collection Rights:
Copyright restrictions apply. Contact archives staff for information.
Copyright and other restrictions may apply. Generally, materials created during a Festival are covered by a release signed by each participant permitting their use for personal and educational purposes; materials created as part of the fieldwork leading to a Festival may be more restricted. We permit and encourage such personal and educational use of those materials provided digitally here, without special permissions. Use of any materials for publication, commercial use, or distribution requires a license from the Archives. Licensing fees may apply in addition to any processing fees.
Pennywhistlers--unk--Bulgarian peasant song--Devanna Vesti--Dimitri hears tambouras tonight he will ask his sweetheart's hand in marriage--Southern Bulgarian folk song-unk-Leit Chait Uqui--Curly headed fellows--Dad Ozingtin--Niska Bania--I want to know--La do goy; Norman Kennedy--Pibroch/ Mouth music; Tommy Standeven--6/8 march--Swallow's tail--6/8 jig--Ten penny bit; Antonio Mosquera- Bagpipe tunes; Pennywhistlers--Macedonian song
Track Information:
101 Scottish Songs / Norman Kennedy.
102 Uilleann Pipes / Tommy Standeven. Uilleann pipes.
103 Gallican Spanish Pipes / Antonio Mosquera. Spanish pipes,Drum.
104 Eastern European Songs / Pennywhistlers (Musical group), Ethel Raim.
General note:
DPA number 70.101.51
Local Numbers:
FP-1970-7RR-0051
General:
CDR copy
70.101.51
Date/Time and Place of an Event Note:
Recorded in: Washington (D.C.), United States, July 4, 1970.
Restrictions:
Restrictions on access. Some duplication is allowed. Use of materials needs permission of the Smithsonian Institution.
Collection Rights:
Copyright restrictions apply. Contact archives staff for information.
Copyright and other restrictions may apply. Generally, materials created during a Festival are covered by a release signed by each participant permitting their use for personal and educational purposes; materials created as part of the fieldwork leading to a Festival may be more restricted. We permit and encourage such personal and educational use of those materials provided digitally here, without special permissions. Use of any materials for publication, commercial use, or distribution requires a license from the Archives. Licensing fees may apply in addition to any processing fees.
Pennywhistlers; New Lost City Ramblers--Old bell cow--Milk 'em in the evening blues--Farmer's daughter--Dirt farmer--Crow black chicken--Jolie blon (with Dewey Balfa)--J'etais bal--Lacassine special--Bas de bapa--Indian on a stump--Little glass of wine--Give the fiddler a dram; Don Yoder, Cora Jackson, Margaret Daetwyler, Mary Zickefoose, Juraslawa Thatch, Paul Shenk- dairy discussion
Track Information:
101 Eastern European Songs / Pennywhistlers (Musical group), Ethel Raim.
102 Old Time String Band / New Lost City Ramblers, John Cohen, Mike Seeger. Guitar,Fiddle,Banjo. English language.
103 Dairy discussion / Don Yoder, Cora Jackson, Jaroslawa Tkach, Mary Zickefoose, Paul Shenk, Margaret Daetwyler. English language.
General note:
DPA number 70.101.52
Local Numbers:
FP-1970-7RR-0052
General:
CDR copy
70.101.52
Date/Time and Place of an Event Note:
Recorded in: Washington (D.C.), United States, July 4, 1970.
Restrictions:
Restrictions on access. Some duplication is allowed. Use of materials needs permission of the Smithsonian Institution.
Collection Rights:
Copyright restrictions apply. Contact archives staff for information.
Copyright and other restrictions may apply. Generally, materials created during a Festival are covered by a release signed by each participant permitting their use for personal and educational purposes; materials created as part of the fieldwork leading to a Festival may be more restricted. We permit and encourage such personal and educational use of those materials provided digitally here, without special permissions. Use of any materials for publication, commercial use, or distribution requires a license from the Archives. Licensing fees may apply in addition to any processing fees.
Seth Mize and Bookmiller Shannon- Soldier's joy--Eighth of January--Buffalo gals--unk; Dewy Balfa and the New Lost City Ramblers--Jolie blon--J'etais au bal--Parlez nous a boire; Southeast-- two songs--Do you ears hang low?
Track Information:
101 String Band Music / John Cohen, Tracy Schwarz. Guitar. English language.
102 Cajun Music / Dewey Balfa. Fiddle. French language.
General note:
DPA number 70.101.54
Local Numbers:
FP-1970-7RR-0054
General:
CDR copy
70.101.54
Date/Time and Place of an Event Note:
Recorded in: Washington (D.C.), United States, July 4, 1970.
Restrictions:
Restrictions on access. Some duplication is allowed. Use of materials needs permission of the Smithsonian Institution.
Collection Rights:
Copyright restrictions apply. Contact archives staff for information.
Copyright and other restrictions may apply. Generally, materials created during a Festival are covered by a release signed by each participant permitting their use for personal and educational purposes; materials created as part of the fieldwork leading to a Festival may be more restricted. We permit and encourage such personal and educational use of those materials provided digitally here, without special permissions. Use of any materials for publication, commercial use, or distribution requires a license from the Archives. Licensing fees may apply in addition to any processing fees.
