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 temporarily closed to researchers due to archival processing. 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:
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
The Space Gallery records measure 10.5 linear feet and date from 1967 to 1995. The records document the history of the gallery through correspondence; artist statements, consignments, purchase orders, and other artist files; loan forms, donor records, and other registrar records; correspondence, loan forms, and printed material related to exhibitions hosted by the gallery; correspondence, purchases, artwork requests, and other related material from galleries and other institutions; and articles, reviews, exhibition announcements and catalogs, and other printed material.
Scope and Contents:
The Space Gallery records measure 10.5 linear feet and date from 1967 to 1995. The records document the history of the gallery through correspondence; artist statements, consignments, purchase orders, and other artist files; loan forms, donor records, and other registrar records; correspondence, loan forms, and printed material related to exhibitions hosted by the gallery; correspondence, purchases, artwork requests, and other related material from galleries and other institutions; and articles, reviews, exhibition announcements and catalogs, and other printed material.
Correspondence is with patrons and other institutions regarding exhibitions and acquiring artwork.
Artist files consist of files related to artists represented by the gallery, including Seiji Kunishima, Norman Lundin, Ann Page, Tom Stanton, and Masami Teraoka.
Registrar records consists of loan forms for objects loaned by the gallery between 1975 and 1993. Also included is a list of donors who donated items to the gallery.
Exhibition files consist of correspondence, loan forms, and printed material related to exhibitions held at the gallery, including "Three Views at Space," "Some Humorous Video," and "Natural Elements" exhibitions. Also included is a video recording about "The Death Show" exhibition.
Insitution files include purchase orders and correspondence with individuals, other galleries, and institutions related to works held by the gallery.
Printed material consists of articles and reviews, newsletters, exhibition announcements and catalogs, and a series of files on mock-ups for catalogs, announcements, and press releases.
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged into six series.
Series 1: Correspondence, 1976-1995 (0.5 linear feet; Box 1)
Series 2: Artist Files, 1967-1995 (6.7 linear feet; Boxes 1-8, 12)
Series 3: Registrar Records, 1975-1994 (0.5 linear feet; Box 80
Series 4: Exhibition Files, 1977-1995 (0.7 linear feet; Boxes 8-9, 12)
Series 5: Institution Files, 1974-1995 (1.7 linear feet; Boxes 9-10)
Series 6: Printed Material, 1973-1995 (0.4 linear feet; Boxes 10-12)
Biographical / Historical:
The Space Gallery, located in Hollywood, California between 1975 and 1995, presented the works of contemporary artists from Japan, Sweden, Hawaii, and across the mainland United States. The gallery was owned by Edward Den Lau.
Provenance:
Donated 1995 by gallery owner Edward Den Lau.
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 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.
Space Gallery records, 1967-1995. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
The processing of this collection received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care and Preservation Fund, administered by the National Collections Program and the Smithsonian Collections Advisory Committee.
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center. Use of audiovisual recordings and electronic records with no duplicate copies requires advance notice.
Collection Citation:
Masami Teraoka papers, 1966-2017. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
Funding for the processing of this collection was provided by Gerald and Bente Buck.
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center. Use of audiovisual recordings and electronic records with no duplicate copies requires advance notice.
Collection Citation:
Masami Teraoka papers, 1966-2017. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
Funding for the processing of this collection was provided by Gerald and Bente Buck.
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center. Use of audiovisual recordings and electronic records with no duplicate copies requires advance notice.
Collection Citation:
Masami Teraoka papers, 1966-2017. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
Funding for the processing of this collection was provided by Gerald and Bente Buck.
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center. Use of audiovisual recordings and electronic records with no duplicate copies requires advance notice.
Collection Citation:
Masami Teraoka papers, 1966-2017. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
Funding for the processing of this collection was provided by Gerald and Bente Buck.
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center. Use of audiovisual recordings and electronic records with no duplicate copies requires advance notice.
Collection Citation:
Masami Teraoka papers, 1966-2017. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
Funding for the processing of this collection was provided by Gerald and Bente Buck.
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center. Use of audiovisual recordings and electronic records with no duplicate copies requires advance notice.
Collection Citation:
Masami Teraoka papers, 1966-2017. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
Funding for the processing of this collection was provided by Gerald and Bente Buck.
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center. Use of audiovisual recordings and electronic records with no duplicate copies requires advance notice.
Collection Citation:
Masami Teraoka papers, 1966-2017. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
Funding for the processing of this collection was provided by Gerald and Bente Buck.
Included in this subseries is an artist statement, articles and essays, visitor responses to an exhibition, notes, and lists. Researchers should note that notes and lists present in this series appear to be generated by Catharine Clark Gallery regarding Teraoka projects and exhibitions and not by the artist himself.
Collection Restrictions:
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center. Use of audiovisual recordings and electronic records with no duplicate copies requires advance notice.
Collection Citation:
Masami Teraoka papers, 1966-2017. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
Funding for the processing of this collection was provided by Gerald and Bente Buck.
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center. Use of audiovisual recordings and electronic records with no duplicate copies requires advance notice.
Collection Citation:
Masami Teraoka papers, 1966-2017. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
Funding for the processing of this collection was provided by Gerald and Bente Buck.
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center. Use of audiovisual recordings and electronic records with no duplicate copies requires advance notice.
Collection Citation:
Masami Teraoka papers, 1966-2017. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
Funding for the processing of this collection was provided by Gerald and Bente Buck.
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center. Use of audiovisual recordings and electronic records with no duplicate copies requires advance notice.
Collection Citation:
Masami Teraoka papers, 1966-2017. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
Funding for the processing of this collection was provided by Gerald and Bente Buck.
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center. Use of audiovisual recordings and electronic records with no duplicate copies requires advance notice.
Collection Citation:
Masami Teraoka papers, 1966-2017. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
Funding for the processing of this collection was provided by Gerald and Bente Buck.
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center. Use of audiovisual recordings and electronic records with no duplicate copies requires advance notice.
Collection Citation:
Masami Teraoka papers, 1966-2017. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
Funding for the processing of this collection was provided by Gerald and Bente Buck.
