Guide to the Sarah Lawrence College Art Gallery Records, 1972-1991
RG 3.9

Summary Information

Repository

Sarah Lawrence College Archives

Creator

Sarah Lawrence College. Art Gallery.

Title

Art Gallery Records, 1972-1991

ID

RG 3.9

Date [bulk]

Bulk, 1973-1990

Date [inclusive]

1957-2004

Extent

4.5 linear feet 3 record cartons, 1 letter box, 1 portfolio box

Language

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

Sarah Lawrence College Archives September 2007

Revision Description

 Finding Aid entered in Archivists’ Toolkit by Stephanie Coleman November 2014

Terms of use

Administrative records are closed for 20 years from the date of creation. Partially restricted or restricted folders are labeled as such and are usually restricted for 75 years from the date of creation or death of the individual(s) mentioned. The Archives reserves the right to deny photocopying. See Archivist for further information.

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Historical note

From its inception, the arts have been central to the curriculum and the community at Sarah Lawrence. Aside from some studio space in Bates, the College had no physical center or focal point for the visual arts on campus until the founding of the Sarah Lawrence College Art Gallery. The Gallery was created with the purpose of becoming primarily a teaching gallery in which the wide range of exhibitions would follow particular themes in conjunction with studio arts and art history curricula as well as serving as a cultural link between the College and the community, mainly the southern Westchester community. Students, guided by the Gallery Director and faculty members, were involved in all stages of the exhibition process. Many of the gallery programs and policies were established by the Gallery Committee, made up of faculty (primarily art and art history faculty—Mary Delahoyd, Philip Gould, Joseph Forte, Mikhail Zakin), staff, and students. Gallery operations were usually overseen by the Gallery Director. Even though it was not dedicated until 1975, from 1973 to 1990 the Gallery presented exhibitions in the Performing Arts Center on the Sarah Lawrence College campus.

The Gallery, throughout its history, fell into periods of inactivity, and was often in financial straits, suffered problems with the physical plant, and sometimes failed to capture the interest of the greater Sarah Lawrence community. At times, despite its convictions as being a teaching gallery, catering to the curriculum and students, students felt that they could not use the gallery to exhibit their own work as often they should with a college gallery. Various members of Sarah Lawrence community expressed concerns that the gallery was trying to function more like a fashionable New York City gallery rather than the teaching gallery it intended to be. (For more information about the debates over the Gallery’s purpose and function see SLC Gallery—Administrative Files – Correspondence – General, 1976-1992). In 1991, the Gallery Assessment and Search Committee recommended closure of the Gallery. (For more information about the Gallery’s closure see SLC Art Gallery—Administrative Files - Reports –The Committee to Assess the Sarah Lawrence Art Gallery, [May 29, 1990])

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Scope and Contents note

The collection consists of the records of the Sarah Lawrence College Art Gallery, which operated from 1972 to 1991 and held shows from 1973 to 1990. Some material is confidential and those folders are marked in the finding aid and on the folder as such. The collection is arranged into two series:

Series I. Administrative Files (arranged alphabetically)

Series II. Exhibition Files (arranged chronologically)

The Exhibition records for some exhibitions are largely incomplete and some exhibitions lack material, but are indicated in the SLC Gallery—Administrative Files – Exhibitions Schedules and the Gallery Timeline located below the Folder List in this document.

Photographs, negatives, and AV materials were removed from the collection and housed in their respective collections. A folder list of the Art Gallery Photograph Collection is included as Appendix A along with a list of the negatives, audio cassette and video tapes removed.

A timeline of the Gallery’s history and exhibitions follows in Appendix B.

Note: The Exhibition “Artists’ Sets and Costumes” was originally organized by Janet Kardon for Philadelphia College of Art in 1977 and was on display at the Sarah Lawrence College Art Gallery in 1978.

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Series Description

Series I. Administrative Files Contains materials on the inner operations of the Gallery, including collection materials, acquisitions and deaccessions, financial information, grant applications and correspondence, the docent program, records of the various committees associated with the Gallery and other general information.

Series II. Exhibition Files Contains materials on the individual exhibitions displayed at the Gallery from 1973 to 1990, including catalogs, checklists, publicity, planning, correspondence and other general information. Not all exhibitions are represented in the Exhibitions Files as materials for some exhibitions do not exist; more information can be found in the SLC Gallery –Administrative Files – Exhibition Schedules and the Gallery Timeline located below the Folder List in this document.

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Related Materials

See also

For related materials to the SLC Art Gallery Records, please see Gallery files in the Dean of the College Records under Alison Baker, Ilja Wachs, and Barbara Kaplan as well the Philip Gould Papers. The Gallery banner from circa 1980 is housed with other banners in 07/01/A. It is 52.5”x23.5”. The exhibitions files in SLC Library Records.

Appendix A - Art Gallery Photographs

Box 1:

Deaccessions

Exhibitions – 1980 – “Sarah Lawrence Collects” at the Meredith Long Gallery – Never Exhibited

Exhibitions – 1981-1982 – Miscellaneous

Exhibitions – 1981 [May] – An Exhibition of Graphic Art by Wilhelm Morgner, A German Expressionist

Exhibitions – 1982 [Nov. 16-Dec. 12] – Traditional Korean Pottery, Contemporary Korean Painting

Exhibitions – 1983 [Sept.27-Oct. 23] – The Art of the Kimono in Textile and Print

Exhibitions – 1983 [Nov. 16-Dec. 16] – Performance as Identity

Exhibitions – 1984 [Feb. 7-Mar. 11] Contemporary Drawing as Idea: Concepts, Records, Projects

Exhibitions – 1984 [Oct. 2-Nov. 18] – Edvard Munch: Alpha and Omega

Exhibitions – 1984 [Dec. 5-16] – Kurt Roesch Memorial Exhibition

Exhibitions – 1985 [Feb. 5-Mar. 10] – Builtworks/Installations

Exhibitions – 1985 [Apr. 2-28] – Ansei Uchima: A Retrospective

Exhibitions – 1985 [Oct. 8-Nov. 17] – Sculptural Expressions: Seven Artists in Metal and Drawing, 1947-1960 # 1

Box 2:

Exhibitions – 1985 [Oct. 8-Nov. 17] – Sculptural Expressions: Seven Artists in Metal and Drawing, 1947-1960 # 2

Exhibitions – 1986 [Feb. 26- Apr. 27] – Traditional Anatolian Kilims

Exhibitions – 1986 [Oct. 7- Dec. 7] – Women in Oriental Art: Han Dynasty to Present, 2000 Years of Far Eastern Art

Exhibitions – 1987 [Feb. 24-Apr. 26] – Inner Worlds: Fantastic Landscapes of the 1950s

Exhibitions – 1987 [Sept. 29-Nov. 22] – Artists from China: New Expressions

Exhibitions – 1988 [Feb. 16-Apr. 24] – Personal Places: American Landscapes, 1905-1930

Exhibitions – 1988 [Sept. 27-Nov. 23] – Process and Print

Exhibitions – 1989 [Feb. 14-Apr. 18] – Still Surreal: Contemporary Photographs in the Surrealist Tradition

Box 3:

Exhibitions – 1989 [Oct. 3-Dec. 3] – Mikhail Zakin: A Retrospective in Company

Exhibitions – 1990 [Feb. 13-Apr. 22] – Egypt: The Source and the LegacyGallery Views

Miscellaneous- Bernier (Rosamond) Benefit and Docents

Negatives

NC0839 – 1986 [Oct. 7- Dec. 7] – Women in Oriental Art: Han Dynasty to Present, 2000 Years of Far Eastern Art – Installation, Docent Tour/Children’s Programming

NC0839 – 1988 [Feb. 16-Apr. 24] – Personal Places: American Landscapes, 1905-1930 – Emergency Dismantling and Installation

NC0840 – 1988 [Sept. 27-Nov. 23] – Process and Print – Installation

NC0841 – 1984 [Oct. 2-Nov. 18] – Edvard Munch: Alpha and Omega – Dance Program by Rober Wechsler

NC0842 – 1984 [Oct. 2-Nov. 18] – Edvard Munch: Alpha and Omega – Installation

NC0843 - 1985 [Oct. 8-Nov. 17] – Sculptural Expressions: Seven Artists in Metal and Drawing, 1947-1960

NC0844 - 1982 [Feb. 24-Mar. 15] – English Visionaries: Prints by Samuel Palmer and Edward Calvert/1982 [Feb. 23-Mar.12] – Anne Eaton Parker

NC0845 - 1985 [Feb. 5-Mar. 10] – Builtworks/Installations

NC0846 - Exhibitions – 1983 [Nov. 16-Dec. 16] – Performance as Identity – Performance Art

NC0847 - Family Day, 1989

NC0848 -1985 [Feb. 5-Mar. 10] – Builtworks/Installations

NC0849 -1984 [Dec. 5-16] – Kurt Roesch Memorial Exhibition

NC0850 – Sarah Lawrence Collection

NC0851 - Still Surreal: Contemporary Photographs in the Surrealist Tradition

NC0852 - Docent Outing to the Cloisters

NC45759-NC45768 - 1986 [Feb. 26- Apr. 27] – Traditional Anatolian Kilims

NC4569-NC45770 - 1985 [Oct. 8-Nov. 17] – Sculptural Expressions: Seven Artists in Metal and Drawing, 1947-1960

NC57012 - 1990 [Feb. 13-Apr. 22] – Egypt: The Source and the Legacy

NC57013 - Mark Rothko, "210," 1959 - Deaccessions Mark Rothko, "210," 1959 – Deaccessions

NC57014 - Willem deKooning, "Figure in Marsh Landscape," 1966 - Deaccessions

Slides

Unprocessed Slides are housed with Slide Collection.

AV Collection

Cassette Tape: C 1260 – Bobbi Angell and Frances Barth Botanical Show for the SLC Gallery Exhibition: Art and the Science of Botany, 1840-1895 – from file:  SLC Gallery –Exhibition Files –1985-1986 [Dec. 3-Feb. 15] – Art and the Science of Botany, 1840-1895 – Planning

Video Tape: VHS 729 – Performance Art from SLC Gallery Exhibition: Performance as Identity – from file  SLC Gallery—Exhibition Files –1983 [Nov. 16-Dec. 16] – Performance as Identity – Video [temporary] (File no longer exists)

Appendix B - Timeline

1972 - 73

- Gallery and library exhibition space overseen by the Library.

- In Spaces [May 14 – 25]

1973 - 74

- An Exhibition of Chinese Decorated Letter-Papers [March 5 – 16]

- Questions, Answers [April 16 – 26]

1975 - 76

- Gallery inaugurated: September, 1975.

- Word, Image, Number [September 23 – October 19]

- Black Students’ Art Show: Various Media by Sarah Lawrence Black Students and Alumnae/i [October 28 – November 11]

- Jill Krementz: 70 Photographs of Famous People [October 28 – November 11]

- Art Faculty and Advanced Student Exhibition [November 20 – December 14]

- Yonkers Art Association at Sarah Lawrence [December 20 – January 16]

- Thailand and Malaysia: A Textural Assemblage (Esam or Madkmee cloth) [February]

- Lou Sgroi: Mixed Media [February]

- 24 x 24 : Garry Rich [February – March]

- Gilbert Hawkins : Ten Pieces [February 24 – March 14]

- Abraxas [March 18 – April 4]

- All-Studio Exhibition [April]

- Senior Art Exhibit : 1976 [April 23 – May 2]

1976 - 77

- Non-Collectible Art from the Collection of Horace and Holly Solomon [September 14 – October 10]

- Projects by Agrest, Gandelsonas, Machado, and Silvetti [October 18 – November 14]

- Art Owned by Sarah Lawrence 1976 [October 26 – November 14]

- Exhibition of Chinese Folk & Provincial Ceramics : Ming And Chi’ing Dynasties [November 23 – December 20]

- Puerto Rican Artists in Focus [November 23 – December 20]

- Photographs of Florentine Renaissance Sculpture [January 20 – February 12]

- Paintings by Margia Kramer [January 20 – February 13]

- 75 76 77 Painting 75 76 77 Part 1 [February 19 – March 10]

- 75 76 77 Painting 75 76 77 Part 2 [April 2 – 20]

- Summer, Hirschfield Exhibition by Green Gate Theater [1977]

1977 - 78

- Gallery Director, Nancy Rosen.

( See ArtNews, October 1979 (student publication) in Dean of the College files — Alison Baker — Administration — Gallery)

- Artists’ Books and Artists’ Folios [September 14 – October 15] [unconfirmed]

- Ferrara, Lichtenstein, Nevelson, Ryman [September 15 – October 9]

- Artists and Architecture [October 23 – November 21] [unconfirmed]

- Alice Adams, Artist in Residence [October 23 – December 21] [unconfirmed]

- Artistry : Clay and Fiber [November 4 – 27]

- Kyra Markham : Graphic Works, 1934 – 1945 [December 3 – 22]

- Artists’ Sets and Costumes [January 24 – February 19]

- Ben Bianchi : Works on Paper, 1974 – 1977 [February 24 – March 16]

- Art Is Where You Find It [May 1 – 26]

1978 - 79

- Director Nancy Rosen secures NEA funding for her position, but leaves the College

( See ArtNews, October 1979 (student publication) in Dean of the College files — Alison Baker — Administration — Gallery)

- Gallery overseen by the Dean of the College Office.

( See memo TO: Alison Baker / FROM: Ray S. Pilkonis of 10/05/1978 in Dean of the College files — Alison Baker — Administration — Gallery)

- Provenance of the Gallery may have temporarily reverted to Ray S. Pilkonis.

- Upper Gallery allocated as additional teaching space to the Dance Department.

( See memo TO: Gerry Gomes / FROM: Phil Gould of 01/09/1979 in Dean of the College files — Alison Baker — Administration — Gallery)

- Joseph Forte appointed Gallery Administrator [unconfirmed]

- Rachel Sadler appointed Gallery Administrator, 1979 – Spring [unconfirmed]

- Exhibition of Japanese Tea Ceremony Pottery [October 10 – 27]

- Berenice Abbott : Photographs from Two Series [November 21 – December 21]

- Status and Rank in Oceanic Societies: Artifacts from Micronesia, Melanesia, and Polynesia [April 3 – 29]

- Venice – 1600 : Paintings, Drawings, Prints and Books [April 20 – May 4]

- Alumnae/i Artists: Linda Shearer, Susan Sollins, Nan Rosenthal [May 11 – 26] [unconfirmed]

1979 - 80

- According to ArtNews, the Gallery did not operate full-time on campus.

( See ArtNews, 10/1979 (student publication) in Dean of the College files— Alison Baker — Administration — Gallery)

- Gallery supervised by Office of Campus Events.

( See ArtNews, 10/1979 (student publication) in Dean of the College files — Alison Baker — Administration — Gallery)

- System of collaboration between art students and faculty administrators instituted to manage Gallery operations.

- According to memo to all Art and Art History faculty from the Art Group ( April 8, 1980 in Dean of the College files — Alison Baker — Administration — Gallery), Office of Student Employment and Priscilla Murolo responsible for Gallery staffing.

- Student Jed Novatt “in charge” of Gallery.

( See memo TO: Alice Baker / FROM: The Art Awareness Group in Dean of the College files — Alison Baker — Administration — Gallery)

- Paris/New York: A Photographic Survey of the Influence of French Baroque and Neo-Baroque Architecture on the Architecture of New York City [March]

- Richard Talbert [March 10 – April 4]

- Sicilia Interna : Photographs by Patricia Bennett [April 14 – 24]

- An Exhibition of Student Art [May 13 – 22]

1980 - 81

- Gallery Committee formed, Fall 1980.

( See memo TO: Administration, Studio Arts & Art History Faculty / FROM: The Gallery Committee November 20, 1980 in DeCarlo Paper – General – Art Gallery)

- Committee consists of Philip Gould, Mary Delahoyd, and Mikhail Zakin.

- Gallery policy statement developed.

- Upper Gallery will be managed by students, features first student shows.

( See memo TO: All Faculty / FROM: Philip Gould of 04/17/1981 in Dean of the College files — Ilja Wachs — Administration — Gallery)

- Lower Gallery will feature works from the permanent collection (shows to be curated by art students).

( See memo TO: All Faculty / FROM: Philip Gould of 04/17/1981in Dean of the College files — Ilja Wachs — Administration — Gallery)

- Barbara Cohn hired to administer gallery operations for one year. Term begins Spring 1981.

- “Sarah Lawrence Collects” at the Meredith Long Gallery – Never Exhibited

- “Recognition”: An Exhibition of Works by Women from the Center for Continuing Education [March]

- Acquisition of the Month Program: An Exhibition of Clement Meadmore Sculpture [April 14]

- The Graphic Art of Wilhelm Morgner, a German Expressionist [May]

- An Exhibition of Marisol Prints [May 6 – 8]

1981 - 82

- Barbara Cohn continues to administer Gallery operations.

- Gallery Committee revises policies:

--- Upper and Lower Gallery will operate as one entity.

--- Restrictions on student shows are instituted.

--- Exhibitors must be: 1) A current studio student and 2) A former studio student w/ a faculty sponsor.

--- There will be no senior show.

--- One or two large student shows will occupy the entire Gallery during April and May.

- Consultant Nina Gibans (alumna) hired to “explore the potential of the gallery space of the performing arts center” and advise the Gallery Committee. Gibans conducts research on-campus On December 7 and 8, 1981 and issues report in December of 1981.

- 1981/82 is designated as Year One of a three-year operating plan under which the Gallery will fundraise enough to cover operating expenses. “Friends of the Gallery” program inaugurated to raise money for Gallery operations.

- Soviet and Polish Theatre Posters [October 13 – November 6]

- Nine Contemporaries : Prints from the Sarah Lawrence Collection [November 17 – December 11]

- Painting : 7 N.Y. Painters [November 17 – December 11]

- James Zito : Another View [December 11 – 14]

- Religion and Art in West African Textiles [January 19 – February 12]

- English Visionaries : Prints by Samuel Palmer and Edward Calvert [February 24 – March 15]

- Anne Eaton Parker [February 23 – March 12]

- Student Show I [April 6 – 26]

- Student Show II [May 4 – 21]

1982 - 83

- Students partner with peers in the New York University Graduate Group in Arts Administration to curate Gallery shows.

- Students request idle Gallery space be used for student shows.

- Gallery occupies 3,300 square feet of Reisinger Performing Arts Center.

( Per fundraising proposal [draft] TO: Ilja Wachs / FROM: Barbara Cohn of 09/23/1982 in Dean of the College files — Ilja Wachs — Administration — Gallery)

- First grant application submitted to New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA).

- The Artist and the Fable [September 1 – 26]

- Acquisitions 1981-1982: Sarah Lawrence Collection [September 7 – 26]

- 36 – 18 – 6 – 1 [October 5 – November 21]

- Traditional Korean Pottery; Contemporary Korean Painting [November 16 – December 12]

- The United States of the Arts : The Contribution of the Arts Council, 1963 – 1983 [February]

- African Art from Nigeria and the Ivory Coast [April 6 – 24]

- Inside Masstransiscope, A Public Artwork in the Subway [April 6 – 24]

- Student Show I [May 3 – 12]

- Student Show II [May 17 – 26]

1983 - 84

- The Art of the Kimono in Textile and Print [September 27 – October 23]

- Performance as Identity [November 16 – December 16]

- Art and the Computer [January 24 – February 2]

- Contemporary Drawing as Idea : Concepts, Records, Projects [Feb. 7 – Mar. 11]

- Student Art Exhibition [April 10 – 22]

1984 - 85

- Sarah Lawrence Gallery Docent Program formed with members from the Junior League of Bronxville

- Edvard Munch : Alpha and Omega [October 2 – November 18]

- Deb Donnelly Photographs of Camp Rainbow [October 16]

- Kurt Roesch Memorial Exhibition [December 5 – 16]

- Builtworks / Installations [February 5 – March 10]

- Ansei Uchima : A Retrospective [April 2 – 28]

- Fashion Show [April 25]

- Student Art Exhibition [May 7 – 24]

1985 - 86

- Barbara Cohn resigns.

- Administration reviews the role of the Gallery Director role and recommends:

- Elizabeth Ilgenfritz hired as Assistant to Gallery Director at 25 hours / week. Term begins 10/28/1985.

( See memo TO: Alice Ilchman / FROM: Barbara Cohn of 11/05/1985 in Dean of the College files — Barbara Kaplan — Administration — Gallery)

- Docent Program begins giving tours – Fall 1985

( see Docents – Junior League/Docent Committee, 1985-1988/Docents – Publicity, 1985-1988/Docents – Tours, 1986-1990/Docents – Volunteer Programs, 1988-1990)

- Sculptural Expressions: Seven Artists in Metal and Drawing, 1947-1960 [October 8 – November 17]

- The Art and Science of Botany, 1840 – 1986 [December 3 – February 15]

- Traditional Anatolian Kilims [February 25 – April 27]

1986 - 87

- Elizabeth Ilgen Fritz resigns.

- Nancy Servis, Master of Arts candidate in Museology at New York University hired.

( See correspondence in Dean of the College files — Barbara Kaplan — Administration — Gallery)

- Alexanna Padilla hired as student assistant.

( See correspondence in Dean of the College files — Barbara Kaplan — Administration — Gallery)

- Stephen Lamia hired as Gallery Director.

- New Board of Advisors formed in February 1987 co-chaired by Wilbur and Judith Ross.

--- Members include artists, curators, directors, and board members of major galleries and museums.

--- Board expected to assist with Gallery operations, especially, (though not exclusively) finances and fundraising.

--- Board institutes program of two semester-long exhibitions per academic year.

- Appearances by guest museum educators: Alison Paul, Education Officer of the Hudson River Museum; Susan Vojta, docent at Asia Society.

- Gallery begins implementation of programs for young visitors, including art projects, story-telling, and gallery games per May Kanfer of Early Childhood Center request. - Women in Oriental Art : Han Dynasty to the Present, 2000 Years of Far Eastern Art [October 7 – December 7]

- Inner Worlds : Fantastic Landscapes of the 1950s [February 24 – April 26]

- Annual Student Show [May 5 – 31]

1987 - 88

- Benefit, “Great Artists Close-Up” by Rosamond Bernier [April 5]

- Artists from China : New Expressions [September 29 – November 22]

- Exhibit of Thai Ceramics: Sawankhalok Covered Bowls of the 14th and 15th Century – Library Exhibit in Art Section [February 8 – May 20]

- Personal Places : American Landscapes, 1905 – 1930 [February 16 – April 24]

- Student Art Show [May – June]

1988 - 89

- Gallery is no longer required to fundraise. College will collect Gallery income on Gallery’s behalf. Grant-making by Gallery is still encouraged.

- Debut of “Eyes On! Hands On!” visual literacy classes for young people (grades K-5), in the spring. This program involves students in art projects and gallery workshops in conjunction with current Gallery exhibitions.

- Process and Print [September 27 – November 23]

- Still Surreal : Contemporary Photographers in the Surrealist Tradition [February 14 – April 18]

- Annual Student Show [May 9 – June 2]

1989 - 90

- Merits of closing Gallery considered

( See memo TO: Alice Ilchman / FROM: Sha Fagan of 06/08/1990 in Dean of the College files — Barbara Kaplan — Administration — Gallery)

- Committee formed to assess viability of Gallery. Chaired by David Bernstein, with Gary Burnley, Charling (Sha) Fagan, and Margery Franklin.

( For findings, see report TO: Alice Ilchman / FROM: The Committee to Assess The Sarah Lawrence Art Gallery of 05/29/1990 in Dean of the College files — Barbara Kaplan — Administration — Gallery) - Mikhail Zakin : A Retrospective in Company [October 3 – December 3]

- Egypt : The Source and the Legacy [February 13 – April 22]

1990 - 91

- Committee recommends closing the Gallery on April 15, 1991.

* For more information on exhibitions without material in the Exhibition Files see Administrative Files – Exhibition Schedules, 1975-1990

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Controlled Access Headings

Corporate Name(s)

• Sarah Lawrence College. Office of the Dean of the College.

Genre(s)

• Clippings (information artifacts)
• Exhibition catalogs
• Works of art

Occupation(s)

• Artists

Personal Name(s)

• Gould, Philip
• Kandinsky, Wassily, 1866-1944
• Lichtenstein, Roy, 1923-1997
• Munch, Edvard, 1863-1944
• Parker, Anne Eaton, 1919-
• Roesch, Kurt, 1905-1984
• Rothko, Mark, 1903-1970
• Uchima, Ansei, 1921-2000
• Zakin, Mikhail, d. 2012
• Zito, James, 1925-1981

Subject(s)

• Art, African
• College art museums
• Pottery, Korean

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Collection Inventory