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
29 cu. ft. (27 record storage boxes) (4 document boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Manuscripts
Brochures
Electronic records
Compact discs
Color transparencies
Color photographs
Audiotapes
Videotapes
Place:
Middle East -- Social conditions
Date:
1995-2015
Descriptive Entry:
This accession consists of audio and visual recordings of Lemelson Center special events, exhibitions, symposia, and general activities used for broadcast. Major programs
documented within this collection include "Nobel Voices: Celebrating 100 Years of the Nobel Prize;" "Lewis Latimer: Renaissance Man;" "Reinventing the Wheel: The Continuing
Evolution of the Bicycle;" "Crossroads: Historical Perspectives on Topics Related to September 11;" "Invention at Play;" "Inventing for the Environment;" "The Inventor and
the Innovative Society;" "The Colors of Invention: An Exploration of Color, Technology, and Culture;" "Cultures of Innovation;" "Sound, Light, Edison! Celebrating 150 Years
of Invention;" "She's Got It! Women Inventors and Their Inspirations;" "Mind's Eye, Mind's Invention: Chuck Hoberman's Unfolding Structures and the Math Behind Them;" "Electric
Guitar: Its Makers and Its Players;" "The Copenhagen Interpretation: Science and History on Stage;" and "From Frying Pan to Flying V: The Rise of the Electric Guitar." Materials
include participant releases, color photographs and transparencies, audio and video recordings, transcripts, agendas, flyers, and program brochures. Some materials are in
electronic format.
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.
A nation challenged : a visual history of 9/11 and its aftermath / introduction by Howell Raines ; photographs edited by Nancy Lee and Lonnie Schlein ; text edited by Mitchel Levitas ; additional texts by Dan Barry ... [et al.] ; designed by Toshiya Masuda
World Trade Center building performance study : data collection, preliminary observations, and recommendations / [report editor, Therese McAllister : chapter leaders and authors, Gene Corley [and others]
An interview with Mindy Weisel conducted 2001 September 21-November 1, by Anne Louise Bayly, for the Archives of American Art, in Washington, D.C.
Weisel speaks of her parents and their surviving the Holocaust; her mother showing her beauty as a child; being the daughter of survivors; wanting to draw as a child; studying art in college; her marriage and motherhood; balancing the role of wife, mother and artist; September 11th; her Ella Fitzgerald series; her time at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts; process of working; creating Lily Let's Dance and It's Ok Kid; writing her books "Daughters of Absence", "Touching Quiet", "The Rainbow Diet"; art and survival.
Biographical / Historical:
Mindy Weisel (1947- ) is a painter from Washington, D.C.
General:
Originally recorded on 2 sound discs. Reformatted in 2010 as 3 digital wav files. Duration is 1 hr.; 28 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.
Occupation:
Painters -- New York (State) -- New City Search this
Education and Public Programs, Department of (NMAH, SI) Search this
National Museum of American History (U.S.) Search this
Extent:
20 Cubic feet (21 boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Questionnaires
Date:
2002-2003.
Scope and Contents:
Comment cards, on which museum visitors recorded their memories of the events of September 11, 2001, and their opinions on how their lives have changed as a result of those events. Comment cards have been made available in the exhibition hall in every venue for visitors to record their comments.
Arrangement:
Collection is divided into 3 series, Series 1: Cards collected from the National Museum of American History, Series 2: Cards collected from the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, and Series 3: Cards Collected from the East Tennessee Historical Society.
Biographical / Historical:
The "September 11: Bearing Witness to History" exhibition was on display at the National Museum of American History from September 11, 2002 until July 6, 2003. After it closed in Washington, the exhibition traveled to Fort Worth, Texas, for exhibit in the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, September 11, 2003-January 4, 2004; it was then shown at the East Tennessee Historical Society, Knoxville, January 31-April 25, 2004; and opened May 22, 2004 at the Japanese American National Museum, Los Angeles, California.
Provenance:
Immediate source of acquisition unknown.
Restrictions:
UNPROCESSED COLLECTION.
Unrestricted research access on site by appointment.
Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
