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UC San Diego. Stuart Collection Records
RSS 1250  
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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Descriptive Summary
  • Restrictions
  • Acquisition Information
  • Preferred Citation
  • Publication Rights
  • Administrative History
  • Scope and Content of Collection
  • Restrictions
  • Related Materials
  • Digital Content
  • Unprocessed Additions

  • Descriptive Summary

    Contributing Institution: Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego
    9500 Gilman Drive
    La Jolla 92093-0175
    Title: Stuart Collection Records
    Creator: Wegman, William
    Creator: Hawkinson, Tim, 1960-
    Creator: Ferrara, Jackie
    Creator: Asher, Michael
    Creator: Allen, Terry, 1943-
    Creator: Holzer, Jenny, 1950-
    Creator: Irwin, Robert, 1928-
    Creator: Finlay, Ian Hamilton
    Creator: Fleischner, Richard, 1944-
    Creator: Baldessari, John, 1931-
    Creator: Paik, Nam June, 1932-2006
    Creator: Nauman, Bruce, 1941-
    Creator: Murray, Elizabeth, 1940-2007
    Creator: Stuart Collection (San Diego, Calif.)
    Creator: Smith, Kiki, 1954-
    Creator: Smith, Alexis, 1949-
    Creator: Saint-Phalle, Niki de, 1930-2002
    Creator: Hawkinson, Tim, 1960-
    Identifier/Call Number: RSS 1250
    Physical Description: 9.95 Linear feet (8 records cartons, 1 archives box, 2 flat boxes, 21 map case folders, and 19 art bin items)
    Date (inclusive): 1982-2006
    Abstract: The Stuart Collection Records contains the materials documenting art pieces held in the Stuart Collection as well as proposals for projects that were not built.
    Languages: English .

    Restrictions

    Original media recording formats are restricted. Viewing/listening copies are available for researchers.

    Acquisition Information

    Acquired 2002, 2006, 2017, and 2021.

    Preferred Citation

    UC San Diego. Stuart Collection Records. RSS 1250. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego Library.

    Publication Rights

    Publication rights are held by the creator of the collection.

    Administrative History

    The Stuart Collection was created in 1981 through a partnership between the University of California, San Diego and the Stuart Foundation with a gift from businessman and philanthropist James Stuart deSilva (1919-2002). DeSilva's goal was to establish a collection of public art in a setting where people who might not otherwise seek it and could encounter it as a part of their everyday lives. In addition to its original $1.5 million endowment, the collection has received financial support from organizations such as the National Endowment for the Arts, the Russell Foundation, the Lannan Foundation, and the California Arts Council. Since 1998, the Friends of the Stuart Collection International Advisory Committee has also provided an important network of support both for new projects and the long-term care of built works. Founding director, Mary Beebe, has overseen the collection and its growth since 1981.
    Artists invited by the Stuart Collection's Advisory Committee to contribute proposals are prominent figures of twentieth-century conceptual art, including artists not typically associated with environmental sculpture. The Advisory Committee includes the Stuart Foundation's chair and at least one artist, an art critic, and a member of the UCSD faculty. As of 2002, more than forty artists had submitted proposals.
    All sites on UCSD's campus are available for an artist's consideration, though projects are subject to a campus review and final approval of the chancellor. Throughout the proposal, design, and construction processes, artists tailor their work to the selected site.
    Proposals may be rejected for a variety of reasons, including conflicts with the University's plans for a site, logistical infeasibility, safety concerns, or insufficient funding. The obstacles which occasionally occur during the approval or construction process are illustrated by several projects represented in the Stuart Collection Archive. Bruce Nauman's Vices and Virtues, originally conceived for the Mandel Weiss theater, was ultimately relocated to the Powell Structural Laboratory when area residents objected to the proposed use of neon lights and the general nature of the work. Objections from residents also played a part in the ultimate rejection of two amphitheater proposals from James Turrell ( Laodicea and Amphitheater Proposal). Works cancelled due to conflicts with University plans include George Trakas's Pepper Canyon (1987), and Richard Fleischner's preliminary proposals for works in a canyon (not included in this archive) and a eucalyptus grove (included). For more information on the subject of project changes, researchers should see Landmarks: Sculpture Commissions for the Stuart Collection at the University of California (Rizzoli International, 2001). Additional information about the Stuart Collection may be found at the collection's website http://stuartcollection.ucsd.edu.
    As of 2006, the Stuart Collection includes 16 completed works: Sun God (1983), Niki de Saint Phalle; Two Running Violet V Forms (1983), Robert Irwin; La Jolla Project (1984), Richard Fleischner; Trees (1986), Terry Allen; Something Pacific (1986), Nam June Paik; UNDA (1987), Ian Hamilton Finlay; Vices and Virtues (1988), Bruce Nauman; La Jolla Vista View (1988), William Wegman; Untitled (1991), Michael Asher; Terrace (1991), Jackie Ferrara; Green Table (1992), Jenny Holzer; Snake Path (1992), Alexis Smith; Red Shoe (1996), Elizabeth Murray; Standing (1998), Kiki Smith; READ/WRITE/THINK/DREAM (2001), John Baldessari; Bear (2005), Tim Hawkinson.

    Scope and Content of Collection

    The Stuart Collection Records contains the materials documenting art pieces held in the Stuart Collection as well as proposals for projects that were not built.
    The Stuart Collection at the University of California, San Diego, is a collection of site-specific public art in settings where people can encounter it as part of their everyday lives. The artists invited to contribute proposals by the Stuart Collection's Advisory Committee are prominent conceptual artists, including some not typically associated with environmental sculpture. As of 2006, 16 works have been completed: Sun God (1983), Niki de Saint Phalle; Two Running Violet V Forms (1983), Robert Irwin; La Jolla Project (1984), Richard Fleischner; Trees (1986), Terry Allen; Something Pacific (1986), Naum June Paik; UNDA (1987), Ian Hamilton Finlay; Vices and Virtues (1988), Bruce Nauman; La Jolla Vista View (1988), William Wegman; Untitled (1991), Michael Asher; Terrace (1991), Jackie Ferrara; Green Table (1992), Jenny Holzer; Snake Path (1992), Alexis Smith; Red Shoe (1996), Elizabeth Murray; Standing (1998), Kiki Smith; READ/WRITE/THINK/DREAM (2001), John Baldessari; Bear (2005), Tim Hawkinson. The records include design materials from fourteen of the artists whose works have been built for the Stuart Collection, and proposal materials from thirteen artists whose works have not been built, as well as photos of an early non-constructed proposal from Richard Fleischner. The greatest portion of the materials are blueline print or whiteprint plans, although drawings, photographs, and other graphic materials are also present. Also included are audio and videorecordings of interviews, installations and other events, and brochures.
    The collection includes audio and videorecordings documenting the installation of Stuart Collection projects, interviews with artists, and promotional materials. Formats include Beta-Sp video, 3/4-inch video, Hi8 video, and audiocassette recordings.
    This collection also contains plans and proposals for Stuart Collection projects. Work by a total of 27 artists is included; fourteen artists whose works were constructed, and thirteen artists whose proposals were not constructed. One artist, Richard Fleischner, appears in both categories. The greatest portion of materials are whiteprint or blueline print plans with specifications for a project's construction. Since Stuart Collection works are outdoors, and typically large scale, some artists employed large photographs, maps, or topographical surveys of a proposed site with additional artwork or transparent overlays illustrating features of the project. Drawings, photographs, and other graphic media are also included.
    Arranged in five series: 1) DERIVATIVE RECORDINGS, 2) ORIGINAL RECORDINGS, 3) WORKS BUILT, 4) WORKS NOT BUILT, and 5) PUBLICITY MATERIALS.

    Restrictions

    Selected items from Series 3) WORKS BUILT are on indefinite loan to the Stuart Collection office. For access, please contact the Stuart Collection office.
    Additionally, artworks by Bruce Nauman relating to Vices and Virtues are restricted without advance permission of the Director of Special Collections & Archives.

    Related Materials

    Digital Content

    A selection of audiovisual recordings from the collection have been digitized.

    Unprocessed Additions

    This collection has additional unprocessed materials not described in this finding aid. See the UC San Diego Library catalog record  to view the acquisition dates and extent of unprocessed additions.

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    Public sculpture -- California -- San Diego
    Art, Modern
    Stuart Collection (San Diego, Calif.)
    Stuart Collection (San Diego, Calif.)