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Elyn Zimmerman papers

Creator:
Zimmerman, Elyn, 1945-  Search this
Names:
Dicker, Ruth  Search this
Diebenkorn, Richard, 1922-1993  Search this
Gund, Agnes  Search this
Teraoka, Masami, 1936-  Search this
Varnedoe, Kirk  Search this
Extent:
35.9 Linear feet
1,710.223 Gigabytes
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Gigabytes
Sound recordings
Video recordings
Interviews
Date:
1967-2019
Summary:
The papers of sculptor and site-specific installation artist Elyn Zimmerman measure 35.9 linear feet and 1710.223 gigabytes, and date from 1967-2019. The collection documents the artist's life and work through correspondence, interviews, writings, project and commission files, exhibition files, teaching files, printed material, and photographic material. Project and commission files comprise the majority of the collection at 19.40 linear feet and comprehensively document dozens of Zimmerman's site-specific sculptural projects and proposals for public and private sites across the United States and internationally. Items include correspondence, contracts, photographs, models, blueprints, and original sketches and drawings. Photographic material documents Zimmerman's work through color and black and white slides, transparencies, contact sheets, negatives, and prints. The papers include a small number of born digital records, including interviews, digital images of projects, construction sites, and floorplans, as well as PowerPoint presentations.

There is a 2.1 linear foot unprocessed addition to this collection donated in 2022 that includes project fies relating to photographic and outdoor projects. Material consists of photographs, plans, announcements and clippings. Materials date from circa 2009-2017.
Scope and Contents:
The papers of sculptor and site-specific installation artist Elyn Zimmerman measure 35.9 linear feet and 1710.223 gigabytes, and date from 1967-2019. The collection documents the artist's life and work through correspondence, interviews, writings, project and commission files, exhibition files, teaching files, printed material, and photographic material. Project and commission files comprise the majority of the collection at 19.40 linear feet and comprehensively document dozens of Zimmerman's site-specific sculptural projects and proposals for public and private sites across the United States and internationally. Items include correspondence, contracts, photographs, models, blueprints, and original sketches and drawings. Photographic material documents Zimmerman's work through color and black and white slides, transparencies, contact sheets, negatives, and prints. The papers include a small number of born digital records, including interviews, digital images of projects, construction sites, and floorplans, as well as PowerPoint presentations.

Correspondence is comprised predominately of received letters and fewer drafts and copies of outgoing letters. Notable correspondents include Zimmerman's late husband, curator Kirk Varnedoe, arts advocate Agnes Gund, and artists Ruth Dicker, Richard Diebenkorn, Kady Hoffman, and Masami Teraoka. Interviews include digital video recordings of Elyn Zimmerman discussing various public projects between circa 1991 and 2005. Writings include drafts of journal articles, a book mock-up, project notes, and statements. Agendas and address books are filed with writings. Project and commission files comprise the bulk of the collection and comprehensively document dozens of Zimmerman's site-specific sculptural projects and proposals for public and private sites across the United States and internationally. Items include correspondence, contracts, photographs, models, blueprints, and original sketches and drawings. The files include a small number of born digital records, including digital images of projects, construction sites, and floorplans, as well as PowerPoint presentations. Exhibition files document Zimmerman's site-specific installations and exhibitions in a gallery and museum context. Files include correspondence, photographs, slides, statements, press releases, shipping information, and price lists. Teaching files document the many courses Zimmerman taught in painting, drawing, design, architecture, and landscape architecture. Items include syllabi, assignments, lecture notes, reading lists, and articles. Printed material primarily consists of items cataloging Zimmerman's career including exhibition announcements, catalogs, and press clippings. Subject files were saved and collected by Zimmerman and are arranged at the end of the series. Photographic material document Zimmerman's installations of commissioned works, exhibitions, and other installations through color and black and white slides, negatives, contact sheets, prints, and digital photographs.

There is a 2.1 linear foot unprocessed addition to this collection donated in 2022 that includes project fies relating to photographic and outdoor projects. Material consists of photographs, plans, announcements and clippings. Materials date from circa 1967-2019.
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged as nine series.

Series 1: Correspondence, 1978-2011 (3.70 linear feet; Box 1-4)

Series 2: Interviews, circa 1991-2005 (0.20 linear feet; Box 100)

Series 3: Writings, Agendas, and Address Books, 1970-2003 (0.50 linear feet; Box 4-5)

Series 4: Project and Commission Files, 1970-2019 (19.40 linear feet, Box 5-15, 21-22, 100, OV 23-85, 109-116, 120-121, RD 97-98; 0.223 gigabytes, ER01-04)

Series 5: Exhibition Files, 1969-2018 (4.59 linear feet; Box 15-16, 20-21, 100, 103, OV 86-96,105-108, 120, RD 99)

Series 6: Teaching Files, 1970-1994 (0.40 linear feet; Box 16)

Series 7: Printed Material, 1970-2018 (2.21 linear feet; Box 16-19, 100)

Series 8: Photographic Material, 1967-2018 (2.80 linear feet; Box 100-102, OV 117-119)

Series 9: Unprocessed Addition, circa 2009-2017 (2.1 linear feet, Box 123-127, OV 127)
Biographical / Historical:
Elyn Zimmerman (1945-) is a New York City and Los Angeles based sculptor best known for her large scale site-specific outdoor installations incorporating granite, water features, and landscape architecture.

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Zimmerman moved to California for college, earning both her BFA and MFA from University of California, Los Angeles. While at UCLA, she studied with Richard Diebenkorn and Robert Irwin, and worked in photography, drawing, and site-specific installation. In 1978 she created Monarch's Trough for Artpark in Lewiston, New York, her first site-specific work using granite. For the next several decades Zimmerman would complete dozens of site-specific installations in public and private spaces across the United States, and submit proposals for dozens more. Working frequently with stone and granite, she developed a decades long relationship with a granite quarry in Cold Spring, Minnesota, which fabricated many of her designs. Zimmerman's clients have included the National Geographic Society, the Birmingham Art Museum, and the New York City Parks Department.

In addition to her site-specific work, Zimmerman has had an extensive exhibition history, and has shown for many years with Gagosian Gallery. In 2016, Zimmerman was the recipient of the Isamu Noguchi Award. She has taught at Mills College, California Institute of the Arts, Harvard University, New York University, and the University of Pennsylvania.

Zimmerman was married to the late curator Kirk Varnedoe from 1978-2002.
Provenance:
The collection was donated in 2015-2022 by Elyn Zimmerman.
Restrictions:
This collection is open for research. Access to original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center. Researchers interested in accessing born-digital records or audiovisual recordings in this collection must use access copies. Contact References 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:
Sculptors -- California -- Los Angeles  Search this
Sculptors -- New York (State) -- New York  Search this
Installation artists -- California -- Los Angeles  Search this
Installation artists -- New York (State) -- New York  Search this
Topic:
Women sculptors  Search this
Installations (Art)  Search this
Women artists  Search this
Genre/Form:
Sound recordings
Video recordings
Interviews
Citation:
Elyn Zimmerman papers, 1967-2019. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
AAA.zimmelyn
See more items in:
Elyn Zimmerman papers
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw907b8edfc-e9ed-4849-99fa-3bc8ec9991a6
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-aaa-zimmelyn
Online Media:

Oral history interview with Alan Michelson, 2009 Aug. 5-14

Interviewee:
Michelson, Alan, 1953-  Search this
Interviewer:
Berman, Avis, 1949-  Search this
Subject:
United States. General Services Administration. Design Excellence and the Arts Oral History Project  Search this
Type:
Sound recordings
Interviews
Citation:
Quotes and excerpts must be cited as follows: Oral history interview with Alan Michelson, 2009 Aug. 5-14. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Topic:
Installations (Art)  Search this
Theme:
Native American  Search this
Record number:
(DSI-AAA_CollID)15705
(DSI-AAA_SIRISBib)283569
AAA_collcode_michel09
Theme:
Native American
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_oh_283569

Oral history interview with Nayland Blake

Interviewee:
Blake, Nayland, 1960-  Search this
Interviewer:
Fialho, Alex, 1989-  Search this
Names:
ACT UP San Francisco (Organization)  Search this
Visual Arts and the AIDS Epidemic: An Oral History Project  Search this
Extent:
59 Pages (Transcript)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Pages
Interviews
Sound recordings
Date:
2016 November 25-26
Scope and Contents:
An interview with Nayland Blake, conducted 2016 November 25-26, by Alex Fialho, for the Archives of American Art's Visual Arts and the AIDS Epidemic: An Oral History Project, at Blake's home in Brooklyn, New York.
Blake speaks of growing up in a bi-racial family in New York City; visiting museums, art exhibits and shows, and going to the theatre with their parents; attending Charlotte Moorman's Avant Garde Festivals as a teenager; relating their emerging sexuality to the television shows Batman, The Addams Family, and Star Trek; the decision to attend Bard College; the influence of Times Square Show; co-organizing Bard's first gay and lesbian alliance; attending California Institute of the Arts and the different culture they experienced there; their struggle to make explicitly gay work without it being beefcake; not feeling connected to a gay community in Los Angeles but feeling camaraderie with other artists; their decision to move to San Francisco; first hearing about HIV/AIDS while at CalArts and experiencing the first loss of a friend in San Francisco; the undercurrent of more and more men testing positive in their community; the long two-week wait to receive test results; the generational split within the gay community and how that was squashed by the epidemic; the subjects of mortality and mourning in gay art and how that changed the reception of gay artists; the gay and lesbian shows Extended Sensibilities and Against Nature; the organization of ACT UP San Francisco and subsequent split into ACT UP SF, ACT UP Golden Gate, and ACT UP San Francisco; the "imperiled and heightened physicality" Blake began using in their work; participating in Art Against Aids on the Road; directly addressing the frequency of AIDS deaths in their piece Every 12 Minutes; the social network of caregivers that rallied to support those dying from AIDS through home care and food delivery; curating In A Different Life; the pleasure in curating shows; The Shreber Suite installation pieces; purchasing Wayland Flowers' puppet Madame at auction; being a child of the '60s and believing sex is an expression of one's cultural identity; feeling attacked by the dismissive and oppressive Republican government in the 1980s; the extensive symbolism and meaning in their bunny themed work; the technology boom's affect on the Bay Area and their return to New York City; the show Double Fantasy about their relationship with their partner Philip Horvitz; teaching at International Center for Photography and their work in the kink community; the distance their students have to the HIV/AIDS epidemic; and their identification as an American artist. Blake also recalls Jeff Preiss, Cliff Preiss, William Hohauser, Debra Pierson, Nancy Mitchnick, Jake Grossberg, Robert Kelly, Kathy Acker, Gerry Pearlberg, Kathe Burkhart, Judie Bamber, Catherine Opie, Nancy Barton, Julie Ault, William Olander, Robert Glueck, Kevin Killian, Dodie Bellamy, D-L Alvarez, Stephen Evans, Michael Jenkins, Richard Hawkins, Ann Philbin, Rick Jacobsen, Amy Sholder, David Wojnarowicz, Rudy Lemcke, A.A. Bronson, Philip Horvitz, and others.
Biographical / Historical:
Nayland Blake (1960-) is a performance artist and installation artist in New York, New York. Alex Fialho (1989-) is a curator and arts writer who is the Programs Director for Visual AIDS in New York, New York.
General:
Originally recorded as 4 digital wav files. Duration is 5 hr., 49 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.
Topic:
Installations (Art)  Search this
Performance artists -- New York (State) -- New York -- Interviews  Search this
African American artists  Search this
Genre/Form:
Interviews
Sound recordings
Identifier:
AAA.blake16
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw97a70d548-59b6-40ed-83e3-54d0fb340c9c
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-aaa-blake16
Online Media:

Robert Kushner papers, 1967-2011

Creator:
Kushner, Robert, 1949-  Search this
Subject:
Goldin, Amy  Search this
Solomon, Holly  Search this
98 Green St. Loft  Search this
Kitchen, The  Search this
Clocktower Gallery  Search this
Paula Cooper Gallery  Search this
St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery (New York, N.Y.)  Search this
Type:
Sound recordings
Video recordings
Place:
SoHo (New York, N.Y.)
Citation:
Robert Kushner papers, 1967-2011. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Topic:
Painters -- New York (State) -- New York  Search this
Performance artists -- New York (State) -- New York  Search this
Pattern and decoration (Art movement)  Search this
Theme:
Lives of artists  Search this
Record number:
(DSI-AAA_CollID)16135
(DSI-AAA_SIRISBib)363702
AAA_collcode_kushrobe
Theme:
Lives of artists
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_coll_363702
Online Media:

Moses Ros papers, 1978-2012

Creator:
Ros, Moses, 1958-  Search this
Citation:
Moses Ros papers, 1978-2012. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Topic:
Artists -- New York (State) -- New York  Search this
Installations (Art)  Search this
Latino and Latin American artists  Search this
Dominican American artists  Search this
Theme:
Latino and Latin American  Search this
Lives of artists  Search this
Record number:
(DSI-AAA_CollID)16318
(DSI-AAA_SIRISBib)379533
AAA_collcode_rosmose
Theme:
Latino and Latin American
Lives of artists
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_coll_379533
Online Media:

Oral history interview with Ericka Beckman

Interviewee:
Beckman, Ericka, 1951-  Search this
Interviewer:
Isgro, Marina  Search this
Extent:
3 Items (video files (5 hrs., 49 min.), digital, mp4)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Interviews
Video recordings
Date:
2022 June 28-July 8
Scope and Contents:
An interview with Ericka Beckman conducted 2022 June 28-July 8, by Marina Isgro for the Archives of American Art, at Beckman's studio in New York, NY.­
Biographical / Historical:
Ericka Beckman (1951- ) is an artist known for her works in film and installations that hybridize and liquefy genre conventions. She was affiliated with the Pictures Generation and has worked across the Northeastern United States. Marina Isgro (1986- ) is an art historian and curator; she is currently the Associate Curator of Media and Performance Art at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.
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:
This interview is open for research. Contact Reference Services for more information.
Rights:
The Archives of American Art makes its Oral History Program interviews available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. Quotation, reproduction and publication of the recording is governed by restrictions. If an interview has been transcribed, researchers must quote from the transcript. If an interview has not been transcribed, researchers must quote from the recording. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.
Occupation:
Installation artists -- New York (State) -- New York  Search this
Filmmakers -- New York (State) -- New York  Search this
Topic:
Women filmmakers  Search this
Pictures Generation (Group of artists)  Search this
Women artists  Search this
Genre/Form:
Interviews
Video recordings
Identifier:
AAA.beckma22
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw9c5c26b32-4707-4817-a405-94137d26aad2
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-aaa-beckma22

Oral history interview with Barbara Bloom, 2012 October 18-2013 January 31

Interviewee:
Bloom, Barbara, 1951-  Search this
Interviewer:
McElhinney, James, 1952-  Search this
Subject:
Baldessari, John  Search this
Berger, John  Search this
Brock, Paul  Search this
Broodthaers, Marcel  Search this
Byars, James Lee  Search this
Castelli, Leo  Search this
Cotton, Paul  Search this
Duchamp, Marcel  Search this
Fischl, Eric  Search this
Fuller, R. Buckminster (Richard Buckminster)  Search this
Gorney, Jay  Search this
Gould, Claudia, (Art museum curator)  Search this
Higgins, Dick  Search this
Irwin, Robert  Search this
Knowles, Alison  Search this
Kappe, Ray  Search this
Kienholz, Edward  Search this
Mullican, Matt  Search this
Mulvey, Laura  Search this
Orr, Eric  Search this
Paik, Nam June  Search this
Palestine, Charlemagne  Search this
Paz, Octavio  Search this
Ruppersberg, Allen  Search this
Ruscha, Edward  Search this
Salle, David  Search this
Sontag, Susan  Search this
Tcherepnin, Serge  Search this
Tillim, Sidney  Search this
Trockel, Rosemarie  Search this
Wheeler, Doug  Search this
Wilde, Oscar  Search this
Young, La Monte  Search this
Bennington College  Search this
California Institute of the Arts  Search this
Biennale di Venezia  Search this
Type:
Interviews
Sound recordings
Place:
Europe -- description and travel
Germany -- description and travel
Germany (East) -- Description and travel
Holland -- description and travel
Netherlands -- description and travel
Citation:
Quotes and excerpts must be cited as follows: Oral history interview with Barbara Bloom, 2012 October 18-2013 January 31. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Topic:
Art -- Collectors and collecting  Search this
Art -- Study and teaching  Search this
Fluxus (Group of artists)  Search this
Judaism  Search this
Women artists  Search this
Women photographers  Search this
Women designers  Search this
Theme:
Women  Search this
Record number:
(DSI-AAA_CollID)16106
(DSI-AAA_SIRISBib)362118
AAA_collcode_bloom12
Theme:
Women
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_oh_362118
Online Media:

Oral history interview with Barbara Bloom

Interviewee:
Bloom, Barbara, 1951-  Search this
Interviewer:
McElhinney, James Lancel, 1952-  Search this
Names:
Bennington College -- Students  Search this
Biennale di Venezia  Search this
California Institute of the Arts -- Students  Search this
Baldessari, John, 1931-  Search this
Berger, John  Search this
Brock, Paul  Search this
Broodthaers, Marcel  Search this
Byars, James Lee  Search this
Castelli, Leo  Search this
Cotton, Paul, 1939-  Search this
Duchamp, Marcel, 1887-1968  Search this
Fischl, Eric, 1948-  Search this
Fuller, R. Buckminster (Richard Buckminster), 1895-1983  Search this
Gorney, Jay, 1896-1990  Search this
Gould, Claudia, (Art museum curator)  Search this
Higgins, Dick, 1938-1998  Search this
Irwin, Robert, 1928-  Search this
Kappe, Ray, 1927-  Search this
Kienholz, Edward, 1927-  Search this
Knowles, Alison, 1933-  Search this
Mullican, Matt, 1951-  Search this
Mulvey, Laura  Search this
Orr, Eric, 1939-1998  Search this
Paik, Nam June, 1932-  Search this
Palestine, Charlemagne  Search this
Paz, Octavio, 1914-  Search this
Ruppersberg, Allen, 1944-  Search this
Ruscha, Edward  Search this
Salle, David, 1952-  Search this
Sontag, Susan, 1933-2004  Search this
Tcherepnin, Serge  Search this
Tillim, Sidney, 1925-  Search this
Trockel, Rosemarie, 1952-  Search this
Wheeler, Doug, 1939-  Search this
Wilde, Oscar, 1854-1900  Search this
Young, La Monte  Search this
Extent:
9 Items (Sound recording: 9 sound files (6 hr., 12 min.), digital, wav)
132 Pages (Transcript)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Pages
Interviews
Sound recordings
Place:
Europe -- description and travel
Germany -- description and travel
Germany (East) -- Description and Travel
Holland -- Description and Travel
Netherlands -- description and travel
Date:
2012 October 18-2013 January 31
Scope and Contents:
An interview of Barbara Bloom conducted 2012 October-2013 January 31, by James McElhinney, for the Archives of American Art, at Bloom's home and studio, in New York, New York.
Bloom speaks of growing up in Brentwood, California; her first experience with art; her childhood and exposure to creativity; the influence of art and philosophy; going to museums as a kid; living in Monte Factor and then Los Angeles; her creative process, influences, and life as an artist; art mentors and art lessons with Cathy Herman; traveling with her family; her mom being an actress; attending Bennington College in Vermont, the 1960s, the and collage aesthetic; attending CalArt; the changes in art education at the university level; drugs use; Fluxus; John Cage and attending 4'33; living in Europe and specifically Netherlands, Germany, and Holland; books and love of reading; her daughter; the post-studio era; film and meta-movies; making "The Diamond Lane;" images and objects' connection to meanings; The Gaze; undressing the wall; Homage to Jean Seberg, Godard, Berlin; East Germany; being agnostic and Jewish; Venice Biennale; collectors; cycle of shows; MFA programs; The Tip of the Iceberg; surgeries; hospital visit, personal training, and recovery; The Seven Deadly Sins; her father; Tellus Magazine; Judaism; fabrications and drawings; archives; relationship between the artist and the viewer; her husband; 010011.net; recent show; and As It Were, So To Speak. Bloom also recalls Monte and Betty Factor, Ed Kienholz, Ron Kappe, Robbie Robe, Ray Kappe, Matt Mullican, Eric Orr, Robert Irwin, Doug Wheeler, Total: digital recordings; Claire Steinman, Rosemarie Trockel, Ash Grove, James Lee Byars, Frances Rey, Sidney Tillim, Norman O. Brown, Paul Cotton, Paul Brock, Buckminster Fuller, John Baldessari, Nam June Paik, Dick Higgins, Alison Knowles, Serge Tcherepnin, Simone Forte, Charlemagne Palestine, La Monte Young, David Salle, Eric Fischl, Marcel Broodthaers, Susan Sontag, Tim Maul, Caroline Tisdale, Marcel Duchamp, Laura Mulvey, John Berger, Oscar Wilde, Ed Ruscha, Isabella Kacprzak, Octavio Paz, Leo Castelli, Allen Ruppersberg, Jay Gorney, Claudia Gould, Susan Bronstein, Donald Judd, Robert DuGrenier, Pistoletto, Anthony Coleman, Mel Bochner, and Ken Saylor.
Biographical / Historical:
Barbara Bloom (1951- ) is a photographer, designer, and installation artist in New York, New York. James McElhinney (1952- ) is an artist and professor in New York, New York.
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.
Occupation:
Designers -- New York (State) -- New York  Search this
Photographers -- New York (State) -- New York  Search this
Installation artists -- New York (State) -- New York  Search this
Topic:
Art -- Collectors and collecting  Search this
Art -- Study and teaching  Search this
Fluxus (Group of artists)  Search this
Judaism  Search this
Women artists  Search this
Women photographers  Search this
Women designers  Search this
Genre/Form:
Interviews
Sound recordings
Identifier:
AAA.bloom12
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw9e966c1f9-880c-46de-a7ab-b3eb08c8d2cc
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-aaa-bloom12
Online Media:

Oral History interview with David Reed

Interviewee:
Reed, David, 1946-  Search this
Interviewer:
Leddy, Annette  Search this
Extent:
16 Items (sound files (3 hrs., 50 min.), digital, wav)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Interviews
Sound recordings
Date:
2022 July 19–22
Scope and Contents:
An interview with David Reed conducted 2022 July 19–22, by Annette C. Leddy for the Archives of American Art, at Reed's studio and apartment in New York City.­
Biographical / Historical:
David Reed (1946- ) is a painter and installation artist based in New York. Reed is known for his oblong abstract canvases and engagement with film's history and medium.
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:
This interview is open for research. 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:
Painters -- New York (State) -- New York  Search this
Installation artists -- New York (State) -- New York  Search this
Genre/Form:
Interviews
Sound recordings
Identifier:
AAA.reed22
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw9d1a05535-d233-4c59-9a37-5c6e517596df
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-aaa-reed22

James Graham & Sons records

Creator:
James Graham & Sons  Search this
Names:
Coe Kerr Gallery  Search this
Duveen-Graham (Gallery)  Search this
Graham Gallery  Search this
Graham Modern (Gallery)  Search this
Cicero, Carmen, 1926-  Search this
Coheleach, Guy  Search this
Crile, Susan, 1942-  Search this
De Kooning, Elaine  Search this
Dickinson, Edwin Walter, 1891-1978  Search this
Duveen, Albert  Search this
Fogel, Seymour, 1911-1984  Search this
Fried, Nancy  Search this
Graham, Robert Claverhouse, 1913-1994  Search this
Kriesberg, Irving, 1919-  Search this
Melchers, Gari, 1860-1932  Search this
Perrine, Van Dearing, 1869-1955  Search this
Santlofer, Jonathan, 1946-  Search this
Schley, Reeve, 1936-  Search this
Stevens, Peter  Search this
Thorne, Joan, 1943-  Search this
Trieff, Selina, 1934-  Search this
Wyeth, Andrew, 1917-2009  Search this
Wyeth, Jamie, 1946-  Search this
Wyeth, N. C. (Newell Convers), 1882-1945  Search this
Extent:
103.6 Linear feet
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Scrapbooks
Photographs
Date:
1821
1815
circa 1896-2011
Summary:
The records of the New York City gallery James Graham & Sons measure 103.6 linear feet and date from 1815, 1821, circa 1896-2011 (bulk 1950s-1980s). The collection generally documents the gallery's contemporary art department during the time in which Robert Claverhouse Graham, Sr. worked at the gallery (1940-1979); records prior to 1954 are sparse and scattered. Gallery records include artist files; correspondence; exhibition files; financial records; inventory records; printed materials; sales, loans, and consignment records; scrapbooks; and photographic materials. Also found are records from Coe Kerr Gallery regarding exhibitions.
Scope and Content Note:
The records of the New York City gallery James Graham & Sons measure 103.6 linear feet and date from 1815, 1821, circa 1896-2011 (bulk 1950s-1980s). The collection generally documents the gallery's contemporary art department during the time in which Robert Claverhouse Graham, Sr. worked at the gallery (1940-1979); records prior to 1954 are sparse and scattered. Gallery records include artist files; correspondence; exhibition files; financial records; inventory records; printed materials; sales, loans, and consignment records; scrapbooks; and photographic materials. Also found are records from Coe Kerr Gallery regarding exhibitions of artwork by Jamie Wyeth, and to a lesser extent, Andrew and N.C. Wyeth.

Over the years, the gallery changed names and established contemporary art departments. In addition to records of James Graham & Sons, the collection holds the records of Duveen-Graham Modern Art (in partnership with Albert Duveen), Graham Gallery, Graham Modern, JG|Contemporary, and, to a lesser extent, The Clapp and Graham Co.

Alphabetical files are a mix of business correspondence and business records. The bulk of the series contains correspondence with galleries, museums, other institutions, and, to a lesser extent, clients regarding sales, consignments, and loans of artwork. Also found are materials relevant to the daily operations of the gallery, including correspondence, subject files, and scattered financial, business and legal records.

Exhibition files provide scattered documentation of the gallery's exhibitions through catalogs, clippings, correspondence, guest books, notes, photographs, press materials, price lists, and sales receipts and other financial records.

Artists' Files document the numerous artists who have been represented by the gallery, especially modern American artists. Folders for each artist can contain a variety of materials, including correspondence with the artist or with institutions regarding consignments, loans, sales and exhibitions; photographic materials primarily of artwork; sales invoices; exhibition catalogs, postcards, and other printed materials; press releases; magazine and newspaper clippings; price lists; artist binders; and research materials on artists and artwork. Also found are some subject files, per original arrangement. There is extensive material related to artists Carmen Cicero, Susan Crile, Elaine De Kooning's portrait of President John F. Kennedy, Edwin Dickinson, muralist Seymour Fogel, Nancy Fried, Irving Kriesberg, Gari Melchers, Jonathan Santlofer, Reeve Schley, Peter Stevens, Joan Thorne, and Selina Trieff.

Artwork files document sales, consignments, and loans of artwork primarily from the mid-1980s to 2000s. Materials include agreements and contracts; condition reports; correspondence; invoices and receipts; photographs of artwork; shipping records; and photocopied printed material and other documentation. This series requires written permission from the donor in order to access.

Sales records from 1959-1984 (missing 1974) are found in the Financial Records series. Also found are check stub books from the mid-late 1950s; price lists; records for the Four Seasons Charter Corp.; and scattered banking, consignment, tax, and other financial records. Inventory cards from mid-1950s-1970s and inventory lists, often with notations and prices, are found in the series Inventory Records.

Coe Kerr Gallery Records regarding the Wyeths document Jamie Wyeth's exhibitions primarily from the mid-1970s-early 1980s. Also found is limited material regarding Andrew Wyeth and N.C. Wyeth. Materials include correspondence, photographs, exhibition printed materials, and extensive newspaper clippings.

There are exhibition catalogs, books, announcements, magazines, clippings, postcards, posters and other printed materials related to artists, John Graham & Sons exhibitions, and exhibitions by Graham artists held at other galleries and museums. Also found is an 1815 fifty cent note which was redeemed in 1821.

Seven scrapbooks document discrete aspects of the business, including the gallery's advertising, participation in an art fair, and the careers of artists Guy Coheleach and Van Dearing Perrine. Materials housed in the scrapbooks include clippings, catalogs, photographs, and other printed materials.

Photographic Materials include mostly black and white photographs, negatives, slides and transparencies of artwork; scattered photographs of installations, artists, and the gallery; and a handful of personal snapshots. The bulk of the photographs are undated, but were likely printed between 1950s-1990s.
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged as ten series:

Missing Title

Series 1: Alphabetical Files, circa 1896, 1902-1999, bulk 1955-1986 (Boxes 1-15, 102; 15 linear feet)

Series 2: Exhibition Files, 1912, 1947-2004 (Boxes 16-24, 102; 8.1 linear feet)

Series 3: Artists' Files, circa 1907-2006, bulk 1955-1999 (Boxes 24-62, 95-96, 102-110; 47.5 linear feet)

Series 4: Artwork Files, circa early 1900s-2011, bulk mid-1980s-2009 (Boxes 63-71, 94, 101; 9.3 linear feet)

Series 5: Financial Records, circa 1937-1993 (Boxes 72-76, 96; 4.5 linear feet)

Series 6: Inventory Records, circa 1954-1993 (Boxes 76-78, 96; 2.1 linear feet)

Series 7: Coe Kerr Gallery Records Regarding Wyeths, 1964-1988 (Boxes 78-80, 97; 2.7 linear feet)

Series 8: Printed Materials, 1815, 1821, 1949-2006 (Boxes 81-82, 97; 2.1 linear feet)

Series 9: Scrapbooks, 1897-1990s (Boxes 82, 98-100; 0.9 linear feet)

Series 10: Photographic Materials, 1929-1990s (Boxes 83-93, 96, 100-101, 110; 11.5 linear feet)
Historical Note:
The James Graham & Sons gallery has been owned and managed by the Graham family in New York City since 1857. Throughout its history, the gallery has specialized in decorative arts, antiques, and 19th-early 20th century and contemporary American art.

In 1857, Samuel Graham founded a gallery at 66 Third Street and specialized in furniture. Graham was joined by his son James in the 1880s and expanded the business to include antiques and decorative arts. James A. Graham, the third generation Graham, joined the gallery in the early 20th century. James Graham and antiques dealer Marshall Clapp created Clapp & Graham in 1914, a partnership which was dissolved around 1940.

James R. Graham, the fourth generation Graham, joined the gallery in 1937, followed by his brother Robert Claverhouse Graham, Sr. in 1940. The gallery was then named James Graham & Sons and was located at 514 Madison Avenue. At this time, the gallery specialized in bronzes, ceramics, silver, sculptures, and 19th-early 20th century American art. Robert C. Graham, Sr. introduced modern American art, especially The Eight, into the gallery's inventory.

In 1955, the gallery moved to 1014 Madison Avenue, where it remained until the late 2000s. That same year, Graham opened its first contemporary department with Albert Duveen. Duveen-Graham Modern Art gallery was based on the third floor of the Madison Avenue building and dealt solely in contemporary art until its closing in 1958. Robert C. Graham, Jr. (Robin) joined the gallery in 1963, becoming the fifth generation Graham to run the family business. The gallery is currently located at 32 East 67th Street.

Betsy Fahlman's "James Graham & Sons: A Century and a Half in the Art Business" (2007) was a valuable resource in constructing this Historical Note.
Related Material:
Among the other resources relating to James Graham & Sons in the Archives of American Art is an oral history interview with Robert Claverhouse Graham, November 19, 1976, and the David Herbert papers, 1950-1995.
Provenance:
The James Graham & Sons records were donated in 2007, 2008, and 2012 by Priscilla Caldwell and Jay Grimm of James Graham & Sons and in 2018 by Cameron Shay of James Graham & Sons.
Restrictions:
This collection is open for research. Access to original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center.
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.
Topic:
Art -- Economic aspects  Search this
Painting -- United States  Search this
Sculpture -- United States  Search this
Function:
Art galleries, Commercial -- New York (State)
Genre/Form:
Scrapbooks
Photographs
Citation:
James Graham & Sons records, 1815, 1821, circa 1896-2011, bulk 1950s-1980s. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
AAA.jamegras
See more items in:
James Graham & Sons records
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw9ac9450b3-244a-4b81-a5b5-0426a0ade6f3
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-aaa-jamegras
Online Media:

Oral history interview with Judy Pfaff, 2010 Jan. 27-Feb. 4

Interviewee:
Pfaff, Judy, 1946-  Search this
Interviewer:
Richards, Judith Olch, 1947-  Search this
Type:
Sound recordings
Interviews
Citation:
Quotes and excerpts must be cited as follows: Oral history interview with Judy Pfaff, 2010 Jan. 27-Feb. 4. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Topic:
Installations (Art)  Search this
Women artists  Search this
Theme:
Women  Search this
Record number:
(DSI-AAA_CollID)15765
(DSI-AAA_SIRISBib)287545
AAA_collcode_pfaff10
Theme:
Women
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_oh_287545
Online Media:

Oral history interview with Vito Acconci, 2008 June 21-28

Interviewee:
Acconci, Vito Hannibal, 1940-  Search this
Interviewer:
Richards, Judith Olch, 1947-  Search this
Type:
Sound recordings
Interviews
Citation:
Quotes and excerpts must be cited as follows: Oral history interview with Vito Acconci, 2008 June 21-28. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Topic:
Sculptors -- New York (State) -- New York -- Interviews  Search this
Architects -- New York (State) -- New York -- Interviews  Search this
Designers -- New York (State) -- New York -- Interviews  Search this
Installations (Art)  Search this
Record number:
(DSI-AAA_CollID)15850
(DSI-AAA_SIRISBib)292693
AAA_collcode_acconc08
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_oh_292693
Online Media:

Oral history interview with Judy Pfaff

Interviewee:
Pfaff, Judy, 1946-  Search this
Interviewer:
Richards, Judith Olch  Search this
Extent:
7 Items (Sound recording: 7 sound files (6 hr., 15 min.), digital, wav file)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Sound recordings
Interviews
Date:
2010 Jan. 27-Feb. 4
Scope and Contents:
An interview with Judy Pfaff conducted 2010 Jan. 27 and Feb. 4, by Judith Olch Richards, for the Archives of American Art, at Pfaff's home, in Kingston, N.Y.
Biographical / Historical:
Interviewee Judy Pfaff (1946-) is an installation artist in Kingston, N.Y. Interviewer Judith Olch Richards (1947- ) is former Executive director of iCI in New York, N.Y.
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.
Occupation:
Installation artists -- New York (State)  Search this
Topic:
Installations (Art)  Search this
Women artists  Search this
Genre/Form:
Sound recordings
Interviews
Identifier:
AAA.pfaff10
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw9cf1b5890-cf3d-4a7b-ad93-6d48845a2037
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-aaa-pfaff10
Online Media:

Oral history interview with Vito Acconci

Interviewee:
Acconci, Vito, 1940-  Search this
Richards, Judith Olch  Search this
Extent:
4 Items (sound discs (5 hr., 2 min.), digital, 2 5/8 in.)
95 Pages (Transcript)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Pages
Sound recordings
Interviews
Date:
2008 June 21-28
Scope and Contents:
An interview of Vito Acconci conducted 2008 June 21 and 28, by Judith Olch Richards, for the Archives of American Art, at Studio Milo, 20 Jay St., in Brooklyn, New York.
Biographical / Historical:
Vito Acconci (1940- ) is an installation artist, designer, and architect in Brooklyn, New York. Judith Olch Richards (1947- ) is a former director of iCI in New York, New York.
General:
Originally recorded on 4 sound discs. Reformatted in 2010 as 7 digital wav files. Duration is 5 hrs., 2 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.
Topic:
Sculptors -- New York (State) -- New York -- Interviews  Search this
Architects -- New York (State) -- New York -- Interviews  Search this
Designers -- New York (State) -- New York -- Interviews  Search this
Installations (Art)  Search this
Genre/Form:
Sound recordings
Interviews
Identifier:
AAA.acconc08
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw9975ae7d2-53f0-4469-a71f-bce49b5bfd18
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-aaa-acconc08
Online Media:

Oral history interview with Jim Hodges

Interviewee:
Hodges, Jim, 1957-  Search this
Interviewer:
Carr, C.  Search this
Names:
Fort Wright College of the Holy Names  Search this
Pratt Institute -- Students  Search this
Visual Arts and the AIDS Epidemic: An Oral History Project  Search this
Arning, Bill  Search this
Chatham, Rhys  Search this
Feher, Tony, 1956-  Search this
Fuller, Marnie  Search this
Gonzalez-Torres, Felix, 1957-1996  Search this
Hoffman, Nancy, 1944-  Search this
Kaiser, Karen  Search this
McCarty, Lynn  Search this
Montano, Linda, 1942-  Search this
Morris, Bob  Search this
Nechvatal, Joseph  Search this
Nyzio, David, 1958-  Search this
Reynolds, Hunter, 1959-  Search this
Safranek, Doug, 1956-  Search this
Smith, Scott  Search this
Vallenciano, Robert  Search this
Extent:
16 Items (Sound recording: 16 sound files (3 hr., 44 min.), digital, wav)
87 Pages (Transcript)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Pages
Interviews
Sound recordings
Date:
2017 March 9-May 25
Scope and Contents:
Oral history interview with Jim Hodges, conducted 2017 March 9 and May 25, by Cynthia Carr, for the Archives of American Art's Visual Arts and the AIDS Epidemic: An Oral History Project, at Hodges' studio in Queens, New York.
Hodges speaks of his childhood in Spokane, Washington; exposure to art-making in high school and at Fort Wright College; attending Pratt Institute in 1983; his first New York gallery job in 1984; discovering his sexuality and becoming interested in queer life and history; the early years of the AIDS crisis; taking a studio with the Dannheisser Foundation; his body of work in mixed media; his gallery exhibitions in the late 1980s and early '90s; becoming sober in 1990; and the influence of the AIDS crisis on his artwork and art-making process. Hodges also recalls Karen Kaiser, Scott Smith, Marnie Fuller, Davie Nyzio, Lynn McCarty, Robert Vallenciano, Bob Morris, Linda Montano, Joseph Nechvatal, Rhys Chatham, Nancy Hoffman, Hunter Reynolds, Tony Feher, Bill Arning, Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Doug Safranek, and others.
Biographical / Historical:
Jim Hodges (1957- ) is an installation artist in New York, New York. Cynthia Carr (1950- ) is a writer in New York, New York.
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.
Topic:
AIDS (Disease)  Search this
Art -- Exhibitions  Search this
Artists -- New York (State) -- New York -- Interviews  Search this
Installations (Art)  Search this
Mixed media (Art)  Search this
Artists (LGBTQ)  Search this
Gay artists  Search this
Genre/Form:
Interviews
Sound recordings
Identifier:
AAA.hodges17
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw9b9961c06-6188-4bf5-85b8-65197d690c0b
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-aaa-hodges17
Online Media:

Oral history interview with Les Levine, 1972 July 21-Aug. 2

Interviewee:
Levine, Les, 1935-  Search this
Interviewer:
Cummings, Paul, 1933-1997  Search this
Type:
Sound recordings
Interviews
Citation:
Quotes and excerpts must be cited as follows: Oral history interview with Les Levine, 1972 July 21-Aug. 2. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Topic:
Art, American  Search this
Curators -- New York (State) -- New York -- Interviews  Search this
Sculptors -- New York (State) -- New York -- Interviews  Search this
Record number:
(DSI-AAA_CollID)12931
(DSI-AAA_SIRISBib)212837
AAA_collcode_levine72
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_oh_212837

Oral history interview with Hunter Reynolds, 2016 August 10-September 7

Interviewee:
Reynolds, Hunter, 1959-2022  Search this
Interviewer:
Kerr, Theodore, 1979-  Search this
Subject:
Visual Arts and the AIDS Epidemic: An Oral History Project  Search this
Type:
Interviews
Sound recordings
Citation:
Quotes and excerpts must be cited as follows: Oral history interview with Hunter Reynolds, 2016 August 10-September 7. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Topic:
AIDS (Disease) and the arts  Search this
Performance art  Search this
Performance artists -- New York (State) -- New York  Search this
Record number:
(DSI-AAA_CollID)17412
(DSI-AAA_SIRISBib)382891
AAA_collcode_reynol16
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_oh_382891
Online Media:

Oral history interview with Dara Birnbaum, 2017 May 30-31

Interviewee:
Birnbaum, Dara, 1946-  Search this
Interviewer:
Yablonsky, Linda, 1948-  Search this
Type:
Interviews
Sound recordings
Citation:
Quotes and excerpts must be cited as follows: Oral history interview with Dara Birnbaum, 2017 May 30-31. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Topic:
Installations (Art)  Search this
Women artists  Search this
Record number:
(DSI-AAA_CollID)17472
(DSI-AAA_SIRISBib)388185
AAA_collcode_birnba17
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_oh_388185
Online Media:

Oral history interview with Jim Hodges, 2017 March 9-May 25

Interviewee:
Hodges, Jim, 1957-  Search this
Interviewer:
Carr, C.  Search this
Subject:
Arning, Bill  Search this
Chatham, Rhys  Search this
Feher, Tony  Search this
Fuller, Marnie  Search this
Gonzalez-Torres, Felix  Search this
Hoffman, Nancy  Search this
Kaiser, Karen  Search this
McCarty, Lynn  Search this
Montano, Linda  Search this
Morris, Bob  Search this
Nechvatal, Joseph  Search this
Nyzio, David  Search this
Reynolds, Hunter  Search this
Safranek, Doug  Search this
Smith, Scott  Search this
Vallenciano, Robert  Search this
Fort Wright College of the Holy Names  Search this
Pratt Institute  Search this
Visual Arts and the AIDS Epidemic: An Oral History Project  Search this
Type:
Interviews
Sound recordings
Citation:
Quotes and excerpts must be cited as follows: Oral history interview with Jim Hodges, 2017 March 9-May 25. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Topic:
AIDS (Disease)  Search this
Art -- Exhibitions  Search this
Artists -- New York (State) -- New York -- Interviews  Search this
Installations (Art)  Search this
Mixed media (Art)  Search this
Artists (LGBTQ)  Search this
Gay artists  Search this
Record number:
(DSI-AAA_CollID)17480
(DSI-AAA_SIRISBib)388916
AAA_collcode_hodges17
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_oh_388916
Online Media:

Oral history interview with Martha Rosler, 2019 December 17-18

Interviewee:
Rosler, Martha, 1943-  Search this
Interviewer:
Schwartz, Stephanie  Search this
Type:
Sound recordings
Interviews
Citation:
Quotes and excerpts must be cited as follows: Oral history interview with Martha Rosler, 2019 December 17-18. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Topic:
Photographers -- New York (State) -- New York -- Interviews  Search this
Performance artists -- New York (State) -- New York -- Interviews  Search this
Theme:
Women  Search this
Record number:
(DSI-AAA_CollID)21736
(DSI-AAA_SIRISBib)398657
AAA_collcode_rosler19
Theme:
Women
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_oh_398657

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