Barbara Turner Smith (American, born 1931) is one of the most influential figures in the history of performance and feminist art in Southern California. Her work – which has taken the varied forms of painting, drawing, installation, video, performance, and artists' books, and often involves her own body – explores concepts that strike at the core of human nature, including male and female sexuality, physical and spiritual sustenance, ecology, technology, and death. The archive, which offers an exceptionally rich resource for Smith's highly personal artistic practice, contains 160 diaries, 54 sketchbooks, hundreds of drawings, more than 850 vintage prints, thousands of negatives and contact sheets, approximately 90 films and 1100 audio and video tapes, in addition to all the notes, plans, and archival records related to her artistic projects from her student days forward. The archive encompasses not only Smith's career as an artist, but also her work as a writer, teacher, and advocate of the arts in Los Angeles.

Barbara Turner Smith (born in Pasadena, California in 1931) has been at the forefront of artistic movements in California for over fifty years, particularly in the areas of performance and feminist art. Her work – which has taken the varied forms of painting, drawing, installation, video, performance, and artists' books, and often involves her own body as a vehicle for her art – explores concepts that strikes at the core of human nature, including male and female sexuality, physical and spiritual sustenance, ecology, technology, and death.

187.4 Linear Feet(362 boxes, 9 flatfiles)

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The archive is open for use by qualified researchers with the following exceptions: audio visual materials and data disks are unavailable until reformatted. Film reels F88-F91 are unavailable pending conservation treatment. Boxes 354-355 are restricted due to fragility; contact the repository to request digital imaging. Box 64 is sealed due to privacy issues.