An interview of Roy De Forest conducted 2004 April 7-June 30, by Lynn Robert Matteson, for the Archives of American Art, in Port Costa, California.
De Forest speaks of an early interest in painting and drawing; acceptance to California School of Fine Arts; his time spent in San Francisco; working at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; studying and teaching at Junior College in Yakima, California School of Fine Arts, San Francisco State, and the University of California, Davis; his relationship with other artists including Allan Stone, Allan Frumkin, Jim Newman; gallery shows at Dilexi Gallery, King Ubu Gallery, Six Gallery; time spent in the army; teaching at San Quentin State Prison; his opinions on and influence of Abstract Expressionism in his work; the influence of Paolo Uccello, Guieseppe Acrimboldo, and Piet Mondrian in his work; having a traveling show through the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City; West Coast versus East Coast artists; artists' interest in history of art; techniques in art; types of paint and motives of use, specifically between water-based paint over oil; paint technology; the durability of pieces as a result of using particular types of paint; art restoration; sculpture and frame constructions; the history of his casting period; pieces he was working on at the time of the interview; his work with tile and ceramics; his book, "Journey to the Canine Territory"; his period in scroll painting; references and iconography in his work and influences from previous artists, pieces, and periods; opinions on artists including Agnes Martin, Eva Hesse, Cy Twombly, and Joan Brown; poetical influences and his poetic preferences; Surrealist elements in pieces; his use of animals in paintings; philosophical influences; the influences of technology such as television and computers; his printmaking career; scale and size in his pieces; painting "streaks"; the creation of characters and figures in his paintings; the influence of travel on his art; the nature and attitude of contemporary artists; modern architecture and museum spaces; architects including Frank Gehry and Richard Meier; his hobbies of model creation and woodworking; and his perception of himself. De Forest recalls Hassel Smith, Richard Crozier, Robert Duncan, John Guttman, George Adams, Robert Arneson, Lucian Pompili, John Humphrey, Peter Saul, and others.
Biographical / Historical:
Interviewee Roy De Forest (1930-2007) was a painter and sculptor from Port Costa, California. Interviewer Lynn Robert Matteson (1939- ) is an art historian from Santa Barbara, California.
General:
Originally recorded on 4 sound discs and 1 sound cassette. Reformatted in 2010 as 10 digital wav files. Duration is 4 hr., 17 min.
Microphone was not working during last session, 2004 June 30. Interview equipment was replaced with an analog recorder and the sound for the last forty-five minutes is not as clear as the rest of the interview. It is difficult to hear the interviewer during this session.
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.
Keystone Saw, Tool, Steel and File Works ; Disston Co. (Danville, VA) Search this
Notes content:
Files and rifflers. Rasps ; saws ; tools ; knives ; steel and file works ; hand tools ; power tool accessories ; lawn and garden tools ; firewood and forestry tools ; chain saws ; tool boxes ; "The Saw in History" ; "The File in History" ; Disston Co. 150th Anniversary catalog...this comprises the uncataloged portion.
Includes:
Trade catalog, price lists, manual and histories
Black and white images
Color images
Physical description:
56 pieces; 5 boxes
Language:
English
Type of material:
Trade catalogs
Trade literature
Place:
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Date:
1800s
Topic (Romaine term):
Garden and lawn equipment and supplies Search this
Quotes and excerpts must be cited as follows: Oral history interview with Roy De Forest, 2004 April 7-June 30. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
1905-1970's ; motor-generator sets for converting alternating current to direct current (1930) ; 1930 unique photos of factory settings ; direct current motors ; tracer drive to control path of tool to automatically duplicate outline of template ; gearmotors and unibrakes ; induction motors ; adjustable speed motor ; electric speed indicator ; tool drilling machines ; Programmed Numerical Control ; industrial power transmission ; "AutoMage" programmable controller ; air conditioning units ; engineering services ; pulse-width modulated inverter ; mechanical, electrical and mining repair services ;
1894 ; machine shop, mill and factory supplies ; "Dodge" wood split pulleys ; shafting, hangers and clutches ; appliances for the transmission of power ; elevating and conveying machinery ; dealer in mill supplies and steam goods ; unique cover and front page with period design, typeset and letterhead ;
Includes:
Trade catalog
Black and white images
Physical description:
2 pieces; 1 box
Language:
English
Type of material:
Trade catalogs
Trade literature
Place:
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Date:
1800s
Topic (Romaine term):
Paint; varnishes; adhesives; coatings; etc. Search this
wood-working machines ; suitable for ship work and railroad car building ; transverse planers ; planing, matching and molding machines ; dimension planers ; band sawing machines ; car mortising and boring machines ; 1870 ;
Includes:
Trade catalog
Black and white images
Physical description:
4 pieces; 1 box
Language:
English
Type of material:
Trade catalogs
Trade literature
Place:
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Date:
1800s
Topic (Romaine term):
Railroad; streetcar; subway and tramway equipment and supplies Search this
1917-1964 ; hardware specialties ; conveying equipment ; fire doors and automatic fire door hardware ; overhead monorail conveying systems ; elevator door equipment ; sliding door hangers for warehouses, garages, barns, residences, class-room partitions ; casement window hardware ; rolling store ladders ; steel store shelving ; mounted grindstones ; manual training benches ; woodworkers' vises ; automobile turntables ; portable cranes ; locks, bolts, latches ; barn door and airplane hangar door hardware ; "R-W" ; overhead trolley and I beam carrying equipment ; garage door hardware
Includes:
Trade catalog and price lists
Black and white images
Color images
Physical description:
44 pieces; 5 boxes
Language:
English
Type of material:
Trade catalogs
Trade literature
Place:
Aurora, Illinois, United States
Date:
1900s
Topic (Romaine term):
Automobiles and automotive equipment (including trucks and buses) Search this
circle cutters for holes in metal, plastic, composition, fibre, and wood sheets and plates ; die holder for chasing threads on reversible machines ; spindle stop for lathe repeat operations ; "Mo-Master" mowers
Includes:
Trade catalog
Black and white images
Physical description:
4 pieces; 1 box
Language:
English
Type of material:
Trade catalogs
Trade literature
Place:
Miamisburg, Ohio, United States
Date:
1900s
Topic (Romaine term):
Garden and lawn equipment and supplies Search this
Industrial equipment or mechanical machinery (including supplies and components) Search this
