Guide to the Edith C. Blum Art Institute Archives
MSS.001

Published in 2014
©2014 CCS Bard Archives

Summary Description

Repository
Center for Curatorial Studies Library & Archives
Creator
Edith C. Blum Art Institute
Title
Edith C. Blum Art Institute Archives
ID
MSS.001
Date [inclusive]
1981-1992
Extent
8.0 Linear feet (9 boxes)
Language
English
Author
Finding aid prepared by Lydia Aikenhead, 2011; Polly Giragosian, 2012.
Summary
The Edith C. Blum Art Institute Archives contains materials related to the exhibitions, administration, educational programs and exhibition publications of the Edith C. Blum Art Institute. Located on the Bard College campus, the Institute served as an educational resource for the visual arts in the mid-Hudson Valley from 1981-1992. During this time the Institute organized a wide range of programs, including original, scholarly exhibitions of historical and modern art, educational programs, and exhibition publications.

Preferred Citation

Published citations should take the following form:

Identification of item, date (if known); Edith C. Blum Art Institute Archives; MSS.001; [box number]; [folder number], Center for Curatorial Studies Library and Archives, Bard College.

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Historical note

Established on October 14, 1978 by trustees of Bard College, the Edith C. Blum Art Institute opened its doors on May 30, 1981 with an inaugural exhibition of the work of Milton Avery. Housed in the then newly constructed Milton and Sally Avery Center for the Arts, the Institute consisted of teaching, exhibition, workshop and storage areas. Its mission was to serve as an educational facility for the arts and culture for Bard College students, the Hudson Valley community, as well as for the national and international arts communities.

In 1982, Linda Weintraub was hired as the curator of the Edith C. Blum Art Institute and in 1984 she was appointed the director - a position she held until the Institute’s close in 1992. Under her leadership, the Institute organized with the assistance of guest curators, approximately 60 original and scholarly exhibitions. The topics of the exhibitions ranged widely and included shows of little known regional artists such as Ornament and Glory: Theme & Theory in the Work of Karl Knaths to exhibitions of the little known work of well known artists such as  Archipenko: Drawings, Reliefs & Constructions. All exhibits strove to contribute new scholarship to the field of art history. Many exhibits toured to other venues and included an impressive range of works on loan from institutions and individuals from the United States and abroad.  Art What Thou Eat: Images of Food in American Art included work on loan from over 80 institutions and individuals. While not a collecting institution, the Institute did hold the Bard College Collection which included a large donation of prints from the 1960s and 1970s, some of which were included in the exhibition,  Sixties Graphics: Culture & Counterculture.

Education was a key component of the Institute and its exhibitions. Programs such as educational symposia, lectures, gallery tours, concerts, films and events helped to increase understanding of the visual arts in an historical and cultural context. Over 1,000 children from local schools participated in the Institute’s educational events. The Institute also organized educational events on public policies in the arts and how the arts relate to other fields, including the Aesthetic Evaluation Project (1986-1990) which carried out research on the impact of aesthetic education on children.

Funding for the Institute came from a wide variety of private and public sources, including the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts, the Milton Avery Trust and the Edith C. Blum Foundation, as well as from private individuals, corporations, businesses. In 1986, a membership fund was established and in the early 1990s, the Board of Overseers sought to create an endowment fund.

In 1991 the Institute revised its operating procedures to organize more exhibitions of Bard College student and faculty work with only one original exhibit of national importance to be mounted each year. More effort would be placed on publishing scholarly books that focused on unexplored issues in the arts. On December 6, 1992, the Edith C. Blum Art Institute closed its doors.

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Scope and Contents note

The Edith C. Blum Art Institute Archives includes materials that document the exhibitions, exhibition publications and the administrative life of the Institute during its tenure from 1981 to 1992.

The bulk of the archive is comprised of documents related to the Institute’s exhibitions including invitations, budgets, exhibition checklists, loan agreements, rights and reproduction agreements, correspondence between Institute staff and lenders, press clippings and curricula for exhibition related educational events. Photographic prints, slides and transparencies document the work in the exhibits, views of the installations, as well as educational events. The administrative life of the Institute is reflected in the Board of Overseers’ meeting minutes, agendas and correspondence between the Institute staff, Bard College staff and the Board. Correspondence between Institute staff and funders, lists of grants and funding sources, budgets, mission statements, by-laws, attendance records and a full set of press clippings on Institute activities further reflect the administrative life of the Institute. The museum education department’s activities are documented through correspondence between the Institute staff, grantors and school officials, grant proposals, attendance reports, educational curricula, press clippings, photographic prints and slides of events, as well as slides used for teaching. The archive includes a full set of exhibition catalogs.

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Arrangement note

The archive is organized into three series. This arrangement was established by the former archives staff of the Center for Curatorial Studies and has, for the most part, been kept intact.

Series I: Exhibition History Files is organized chronologically by exhibition date.

Series II: Administrative Files is divided into three subseries.

Subseries A: Board of Overseers is organized chronologically by meeting date.

Subseries B: Operations, Funding and Publicity and  Subseries C: Museum Education are organized by topic.

Series III: Exhibition Publications is organized chronologically by publication date.

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Information for Users

Publication Information

Center for Curatorial Studies Library & Archives  2014

Bard College
Annandale-on-Hudson, NY, 12504-5000
845-758-7567
[email protected]

Access Restrictions

The collection is open to researchers without restrictions. Appointments are necessary to consult manuscript and archival materials. Access copies for media materials may not be available yet. Please contact the CCS Archivist for further details.

Use Restrictions

Collection use is subject to all copyright laws. Permission to publish materials must be obtained in writing from the Director of the Library & Archives at the Center for Curatorial Studies at Bard College. Please contact [email protected] or 845-758-7567 for more information.

Provenance

The Edith C. Blum Art Institute Archives was tranferred to CCS Bard following the Institute's closing in 1992.

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Controlled Access Headings

Corporate Name(s)

  • Edith C. Blum Art Institute

Genre(s)

  • Administrative records
  • Clippings (information artifacts)
  • Color transparencies
  • Exhibition catalogs
  • Invitations
  • Photographs
  • Promotional materials
  • Slides (photographs)

Personal Name(s)

  • Archipenko, Alexander, 1887-1964
  • Avery, Milton, 1885-1965
  • Benton, Thomas Hart, 1889-1975
  • Bielutin, Ely, 1925-
  • Bishop, Isabel, 1902-1988
  • Brown, Joan
  • Cramer, Konrad, 1888-1963
  • Curtis, Edward, S., 1868-1952
  • De Kooning, Elaine
  • Evergood, Philip, 1901-1973
  • Fuller, R. Buckminster (Richard Buckminster), 1895-1983
  • Greene, Stephen, 1918-1999
  • Hartigan, Grace
  • Klee, Paul, 1879-1940
  • Knaths, Karl, 1891-1971
  • Kuniyoshi, Yasuo, 1889-1953
  • Landsman, Stanley, 1930-
  • Leger, Fernand, 1881-1955
  • Lichtenstein, Roy, 1923-1997
  • McNeil, George, 1908-1995
  • Miro, Joan, 1893-1983
  • Neel, Alice, 1900-1984
  • Strand, Paul, 1890-1976
  • Sugarman, George, 1912-1999
  • Weintraub, Linda
  • Yllanes, Alejandro Mario

Subject(s)

  • Abstract expressionism
  • Art, Modern -- 20th Century
  • Art--20th century--Exhibitions

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Contents List

Series I: Exhibition History Files 1981-1992   6.25 Linear feet

Box Folder

Milton Avery - Early and Late, May-July 1981 1979-1981 

1 1

Konrad Cramer, Nov. 21, 1981-Jan. 24, 1982 1980-1983 

1 2

The Floating World: Japanese Prints from the Munsterberg Collection, Feb. 14-Mar. 20, 1982 1981-1982 

1 3

On Paper, April-May 1982 1982 

1 4

The Shape of Space: The Sculpture of George Sugarman, May 23-July 31, 1982 1982-1983 

1 5

The Rebounding Surface, Aug. 15-Sept. 24, 1982 1982 

1 6

Ornament and Glory: Theme & Theory in the Work of Karl Knaths, Oct. 9-Nov. 21, 1982 1982-1983 

1 7

Interpretations of Reality: Photographs of the North American Indian, Dec. 1, 1982-Jan. 13, 1983 1982-1985  (Bulk, 1982-1983)

1 8

Aspects of Perception: Art & Cognitive Science, Jan. 23-Mar. 6, 1983 1983 

1 9

Distinct Visions: Expressionist Sensibilities in the Work of Elaine de Kooning, Stephen Greene and Grace Hartigan, Mar.-May 8, 1983 1983-1991  (Bulk, 1983)

1 10

In Search of the Picturesque, May 15-July 10, 1983 1982-1984 

1 11

Alice Neel, July 17-Aug. 28, 1983 1983 

1 12

Yasuo Kuniyoshi / Painter-Photographers of the 1930s, Sept. 3-Oct. 13, 1983 1982-1984 

1 13

The Graphic Legacy of Paul Klee, Oct. 23-Dec. 28, 1983 1982-1984 

1 14

Art As Social Conscience, Feb. 9-Mar. 28, 1984 1983-1984 

1 15

Joan Miro: a toute epreuve, April 6, 1984 1984 

1 16

Bard College Art Faculty, Apr. 8-May 25, 1984 1984-1988  (Bulk, 1984)

1 17

Contemporary Triptychs, June 3-July 15, 1984 1984 

1 18

An Open Landscape: Photographs of the Midwest 1852-1982, July 22-Sept. 9, 1984 1984 

1 19

Land Marks: New Site Proposals by 22 Original Pioneers of Environmental Art, Sept. 16-Oct. 28, 1984 1983-1987  (Bulk, 1984-1985)

1 20

Thomas Hart Benton: Chronicler of American Folk Heritage, Nov. 3-Dec. 19, 1984 1982-1986  (Bulk, 1984-1985)

1 21

Thomas Hart Benton: Chronicler of American Folk Heritage, Nov. 3-Dec. 19, 1984 1982-1986 (Bulk, 1984-1985) 

1 22

Byrdcliffe: Life by Design, Jan. 27-Mar. 15, 1985 1984-1985 

2 23

Byrdcliffe: Life by Design, Jan. 27-Mar. 15, 1985 1985 

2 24

The Maximal Implications of the Minimal Line, Mar. 24 - Apr. 29, 1985 1984-1985 

2 25

The Maximal Implications of the Minimal Line, Mar. 24-Apr. 28, 1985 1984-1985 

2 26

Contemporary Monotypes, May 8-July 10, 1985 1984-1985 

2 27

Three Reflections on the World: Works by Joan Brown, Roy Lichtenstein & George McNeil, May 8-Aug. 15, 1985 1985-1987 

2 28

Archipenko: Drawings, Reliefs & Constructions, Aug. 24-Oct. 26, 1985 1985 

2 29

Stanley Landsman, Aug. 24-Oct. 26, 1985 1984-1986 

2 30

Out of the Ooo Cloud: Artists Salute the Return of Halley's Comet, Nov. 8, 1985-Feb. 16, 1986 1985-1987 

2 31

Out of the Ooo Cloud: Artists Salute the Return of Halley's Comet, Nov. 8, 1985-Feb. 16, 1986 1985-1986 

2 32

Herakles Hercules: Passage of the Hero Through 1000 Years of Classical Art, Mar. 1-May 31, 1986 1984-1986 

2 33

Herakles Hercules: Passage of the Hero Through 1000 Years of Classical Art, Mar. 1-May 31, 1986 1985-1987 

2 34

Style & Imagery: A Survey of Japanese Paintings, Mar. 9-May 31, 1986 1985-1986 

2 35

Arctic Vision: Art of the Canadian Inuit, June 15-Aug. 22, 1986 1985-1986 

2 36

Arctic Vision: Art of the Canadian Inuit, June 15-Aug. 22, 1986 1985-1986 

2 37

Neo Neo Classicism, Aug. 31-Oct. 25, 1986 1985-1986 

2 38

Neo Neo Classicism, Aug. 31-Oct. 25, 1986 1985-1986 

2 39

Never Separate from the Heart: Philip Evergood 1901-1973, Nov. 1-Dec. 19, 1986 1984-1986 

2 40

British Pop Prints, Feb. 6-Mar. 29, 1987 1987 

3 41

The Arts at Black Mountain College: 1933-1957, Apr. 11-Dec. 19, 1987 1986-1987 

3 42

The Arts at Black Mountain College: 1933-1957, Apr. 11-Dec. 19, 1987 1986-1987 

3 43

The Arts at Black Mountain College: 1933-1957, Apr. 11-Dec. 19, 1987 1986-1987 

3 44

The Arts at Black Mountain College: 1933-1957, Apr. 11-Dec. 19, 1987 1985-1988 

3 45

The Arts at Black Mountain College: 1933-1957, Apr. 11-Dec. 19, 1987 1987 

3 46

Pre-Modern Art of Vienna, July 19-Sept. 12, 1987 1985-1987 

3 47

Pre-Modern Art of Vienna, July 19-Sept. 12, 1987 1985-1987 

3 48

Pre-Modern Art of Vienna, July 19-Sept. 12, 1987 1986-1987 

3 49

Pre-Modern Art of Vienna, July 19-Sept. 12, 1987 1982, 1985-1988 

3 50

Avery Professors, Sept. 27-Nov. 8, 1987 1984-1988 

3 51

Process & Product: The Making of Eight Contemporary Masterworks, Nov. 15, 1987-Feb. 14, 1988 1987-1988 

3 52

Faculty Exhibition, Feb. 21-Apr. 6, 1988 1987-1988 

3 53

Lo & Behold: Visionary Art in the Post Modern Era, Sept. 4-Nov. 6, 1988 1988 

3 54

Lo & Behold: Visionary Art in the Post Modern Era, Sept. 4-Nov. 6, 1988 1988 

3 55

Lo & Behold: Visionary Art in the Post Modern Era, Sept. 4-Nov. 6, 1988 1988 

3 56

Charmed Places: Hudson River Artists & Their Houses, Studios and Vistas, Apr. 1988-Jan. 24, 1989 1985-1989  (Bulk, 1987-1988)

4 57

Charmed Places: Hudson River Artists & Their Houses, Studios and Vistas, Apr. 1988-Jan. 24, 1989 1985-1988 

4 58

Charmed Places: Hudson River Artists & Their Houses, Studios and Vistas, Apr. 1988-Jan. 24, 1989 1986-1989 

4 59

Charmed Places: Hudson River Artists & Their Houses, Studios and Vistas, Apr. 1988-Jan. 24, 1989 1985-1989 

4 60

Charmed Places: Hudson River Artists & Their Houses, Studios and Vistas, Apr. 1988-Jan. 24, 1989 1987-1988 

4 61

The Figure Speaks, Nov. 20, 1988-Jan. 31, 1989 1988-1989 

4 62

Historical Mexican Textiles, Nov. 20, 1988-Jan. 31, 1989 1988 

4 63

Sequence (con)Sequence: (sub)version of Photography in the 80s, Feb. 4-Mar. 12, 1989 1988-1989 

4 64

The Emerging Figure, Apr. 28-June 25, 1989 1988-1989 

4 65

Chasing the Shadows of the Times: The Drawings of Isabel Bishop & Her Colleagues, July 2-Aug. 25, 1989 1988-1991 

4 66

Chasing the Shadows of the Times: The Drawings of Isabel Bishop & Her Colleagues, July 2-Aug. 25, 1989 1988-1991 

4 67

Chasing the Shadows of the Times: The Drawings of Isabel Bishop & Her Colleagues, July 2-Aug. 25, 1989 1989 

4 68

The Complete Graphic Legacy of Fernand Leger, Sept. 3-Nov. 19, 1989 1989 

4 69

The Complete Graphic Legacy of Fernand Leger, Sept. 3-Nov. 19, 1989 1989-1990 

4 70

The Complete Graphic Legacy of Fernand Leger, Sept. 3-Nov. 19, 1989 1989 

4 71

The Fine Art of American Folk: The Collection of Howard Rose & Raymond Saroff, Dec. 8, 1989-Mar. 23, 1990 1989-1990 

5 72

Highlights of Japanese Culture, Dec. 3, 1989-Mar. 23, 1990 1989-1990 

5 73

Parade of Crafts from East to West, Dec. 3, 1989-Mar. 23, 1990 1990 

5 74

Parade of Crafts from East to West, Dec. 3, 1989-Mar. 23, 1990 1987-1990 

5 75

Buckminster Fuller: Harmonizing Nature, Humanity & Technology, Apr. 1-July 17, 1990 1989-1991 

5 76

Buckminster Fuller: Harmonizing Nature, Humanity & Technology, Apr. 1-July 17, 1990 1989-1990 

5 77

Buckminster Fuller: Harmonizing Nature, Humanity & Technology, Apr. 1-July 17, 1990 1989-1991 

5 78

Buckminster Fuller: Harmonizing Nature, Humanity & Technology, Apr. 1-July 17, 1990 1989-1990 

5 79

A Connoisseur's Quest: Integrating New Discoveries into the Annals of Art History, June 30-Aug. 26, 1990 1990 

5 80

A Connoisseur's Quest: Integrating New Discoveries into the Annals of Art History, June 30-Aug. 26, 1990 1988-1992 

5 81

A Connoisseur's Quest: Integrating New Discoveries into the Annals of Art History, June 30-Aug. 26, 1990 1990 

5 82

Art What Thou Eat: Images of Food in American Art, Sept. 2-Nov. 18, 1990 1987-1992 

6 83

Art What Thou Eat: Images of Food in American Art, Sept. 2-Nov. 18, 1990 1987-1991 

6 84

Art What Thou Eat: Images of Food in American Art, Sept. 2-Nov. 18, 1990 1989-1992 

6 85

The Transparent Thread: Asian Philosophy in Recent American Art, Dec. 2, 1990-Feb. 14, 1991 1990-1991 

6 86

The Transparent Thread: Asian Philosophy in Recent American Art, Dec. 2, 1990-Feb. 14, 1991 1989-1991 

6 87

The Transparent Thread: Asian Philosophy in Recent American Art, Dec. 2, 1990-Feb. 14, 1991 1989-1991 

6 88

The Transparent Thread: Asian Philosophy in Recent American Art, Dec. 2, 1990-Feb. 14, 1991 1989-1991 

6 89

A Bestiary, March 1991 1991 

6 90

Eli Bielutin & The New Russian Avant-Garde, May 5-Sept. 15, 1991 1991 

6 91

Eli Bielutin & The New Russian Avant-Garde, May 5-Sept. 15, 1991 1991-1992 

6 92

Eli Bielutin & The New Russian Avant-Garde, May 5-Sept. 15, 1991 1987-1994  (Bulk, 1991)

6 93

The Odyssey and Ancient Art, Oct. 6, 1991-Mar. 1, 1992 1988-1992  (Bulk, 1989-1992)

6 94

The Odyssey and Ancient Art, Oct. 6, 1991-Mar. 1, 1992 1987-1992  (Bulk, 1988-1991)

6 95

The Odyssey and Ancient Art, Oct. 6, 1991-Mar. 1, 1992 1988-1992  (Bulk, 1990-1991)

6 96

Sixties Graphics: Culture & Counterculture, Mar. 18-Summer, 1992 1992 

7 97

Sixties Graphics: Culture & Counterculture, Mar. 18-Summer, 1992 1992 

7 98

Alejandro Mario Yllanes: Being Discovered, Oct. 4-Dec. 6, 1992 1992 

7 99

Preserving the Past: Latin-American, African-American & European-American Printmakers, Oct. 4-Dec. 6, 1992 1992 

7 100

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Series II: Administrative Files 1981-1992   1.75 Linear feet

II.A: Board of Overseers 

Box Folder

Meetings, Nov. 1982-Jun. 1986 1982-1986 

7 101

Meetings, Sep. 1986-Dec. 1987 1986-1988 

7 102

Meetings, Mar. 1988-Dec. 1988 1986-1988  (Bulk, 1988)

7 103

Meetings, Jan. 1989-Dec. 1989 1989 

7 104

Meetings, Mar. 1990-Aug. 1991 1990-1991 

7 105

Correspondence 1985-1992 

7 106

II.B: Operations, funding, publicity 

Box Folder

Museum opening and closing 1981, 1992 

7 107

Exhibition and event attendance 1982-1989 

7 108

Aborted exhibitions; date span: 1980-1992 

7 109

Flight n.d. 

7 109a

Olivier Debroise 1990 

7 109b

Pictoral Effect/Naturalistic Vision: The Photographic Dispute Between P.H. Robinson and H.P. Emerson  1990-1992 

7 109c

Private Passions n.d. 

7 109d

P & P II n.d. 

7 109e

Writers, Artists 1991 

7 109f

Building expansion 1986-1991  (Bulk, 1988)

7 110

Awards 1988-1989 

7 111

Budgets/grants 1980-1992 

7 112

Exhibition calendars 1981-1992 

7 113

Edith C. Blum Foundation correspondence 1988-1992 

7 114

Gifts of artworks to Bard 1972-1992  (Bulk, 1980-1992)

7 115

Membership 1985-1990 

8 116

Bylaws/mission statement/fact sheet 1985-1986 

8 117

Endowment proposal 1983-1988 

8 118

Blum publicity 1983-1987 

8 119

Blum publicity 1988-1992 

8 120

II.C: Museum Education 

Box Folder

Educational events 1989-1991 

8 121

Funding and grant reports 1985-1991 

8 122

Aesthetic Evaluation project 1986-1990 

8 123

Accessibility: Arts for Everyone series 1990-1991 

8 124

Public program materials, The Arts at Black Mountain College n.d. 

8 125

Mailing lists and financial reports 1988-1991 

8 126

Lesson plans, newsletters 1987-1990 

8 127

Teaching images 1989 

8 128

Events photo documentation 1984, 1986, 1989 

8 129

Events photo documentation 1986-1990 

8 130

Events photo documentation 1987-1988 

8 131

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Series III: Exhibition Publications 1981-1990   0.5 Linear feet

Box Folder

Milton Avery - Early and Late catalog 1981 

9 132

Konrad Cramer: A Retrospective catalog 1981 

9 133

The Rebounding Surface: A Study in Reflections in the Work of Nineteen Contemporary Artists catalog 1982 

9 134

Ornament & Glory: Theme and Theory in the Work of Karl Knaths catalog 1982 

9 135

Aspects of Perception: Art and Cognitive Science catalog 1982 

9 136

In Search of the Picturesque: Nineteenth Century Images of Industry Along the Hudson River Valley catalog 1983 

9 137

Yasuo Kuniyoshi: Artist as Photographer catalog 1983 

9 138

The Graphic Legacy of Paul Klee catalog 1983 

9 139

Bard College Art Faculty catalog 1984 

9 140

Contemporary Triptychs catalog n.d. 

9 141

Thomas Hart Benton: Chronicler of American Folk Heritage catalog 1984 

9 142

Life by Design catalog 1984 

9 143

The Maximal Implications of the Minimal Line catalog 1985 

9 144

Archipenko: Drawings, Reliefs, and Constructions catalog 1985 

9 145

Stanley Landsman: A Tribute catalog 1985 

9 146

Herakles: Passage of the Hero Through 1000 Years of Classical Art catalog 1986 

9 147

Neo Neo-Classicism: The Uses of Tradition in Late 20th Century Art catalog 1986 

9 148

British Pop Prints catalog 1987 

9 149

The Arts at Black Mountain College catalog 1987 

9 150

Pre-Modern Art of Vienna 1848-1898 catalog 1987 

9 151

Process & Product: The Making of Eight Contemporary Masterworks catalog 1987 

9 152

Charmed Places: Hudson River Artists and Their Houses, Studios, and Vistas catalog 1988 

9 153

Sequence (con)Sequence: (sub)versions of Photography in the 80s catalog 1989 

9 154

The Emerging Figure catalog 1989 

9 155

Unexpected Eloquence:The Art in American Folk Art catalog 1990 

9 156

A Connoisseur's Quest: Integrating New Discoveries into the Annals of Art History catalog 1990 

9 157

Art What Thou Eat: Images of Food in American Art catalog 1991 

9 158

The Transparent Thread: Asian Philosophy in Recent American Art catalog 1990 

9 159

The Odyssey and Ancient Art: An Epic in Word and Image catalog 1992 

9 160

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Oversize Series III: Exhibition Publications 1991 

Oversize

Art What Thou Eat: Images of Food in American Art catalog 1991 

1

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