Finding aid for the Bienal Americana de Arte records, 1961-1969, 1977 970074
Alexis Adkins
Special Collections
2011
1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 1100
Los Angeles 90049-1688
Business Number: (310) 440-7390
Fax Number: (310) 440-7780
reference@getty.edu
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections
Title: Bienal Americana de Arte records
Creator:
Lanza, Alcides
Creator:
Brown, Earle, 1926-2002
Creator:
Vega, Jorge de la, 1930-1971
Creator:
Sorenson, Magda
Creator:
Moretto, Nelly, 1925-1978
Creator:
Villanueva, Carlos Raúl, 1900-1975
Creator:
Pellegrini, Aldo
Creator:
Sorenson, Christian
Creator:
Cage, John
Creator:
Bienal Americana de Arte
Creator:
Hunter, Sam, 1923-2014
Creator:
Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
Creator:
Barr, Alfred H., Jr., 1902-1981
Creator:
Bode, Arnold, 1900-1977
Creator:
Apollonio, Umbro, 1911-1981
Creator:
Industrias Kaiser Argentina
Identifier/Call Number: 970074
Physical Description:
20.61 Linear Feet
(26 boxes, 9 flatfile folders, 1 roll)
Date (inclusive): 1961-1969, 1977
Date (bulk): 1961-1969
Abstract: The Bienal Americana de Arte records document the series of art salons and biennials sponsored by Industrias Kaiser Argentina
(IKA). The biennials were important events for exhibiting contemporary art in Latin America in the 1960s. Although regional
in focus, they attracted significant international attention. An experimental music section in 1966 featured John Cage among
several Latin American composers. The archive documents the planning, realization, and reception of the biennials, as well
as two contemporary Latin American art salons.
Physical Location: Request access to the physical materials described in this inventory through the
catalog record for this collection. Click here for the
access policy .
Language of Material: Collection material is in Spanish with some English.
Acquisition Information
Acquired in 1997.
Arrangement
Arranged in five series:
Series I. Salons, 1961-1967;
Series II. I Bienal Americana de Arte, 1961-1963;
Series III. II Bienal Americana de Arte, 1963-1967;
Series IV. III Bienal Americana de Arte, 1961-1969, 1977;
Series V. Experimental Music, 1962-1969, 1977.
Access
Open for use by qualified researchers, except for unreformatted audio visual materials.
Publication Rights
Processing History
In 2010 and 2011, Alexis Adkins processed the collection and wrote the finding aid under the supervision of Andra Darlington.
Preferred Citation
Bienal Americana de Arte records, 1961-1969, 1977, The Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles, Accession no. 970074.
http://hdl.handle.net/10020/cifa970074
Scope and Content of Collection
The Bienal Americana de Arte records provide partial documentation of the planning, realization, and reception of Salons IV
and V and Bienales I, II, and III. The Salons are grouped into one series, each Bienal into its own series, and there is a
separate series for the Experimental Music section.
All of the series include administrative papers and ephemera. The third and fourth series have more extensive and varied records
-- including correspondence, photographs, and slides -- which reflect the growing scope and impact of the second and third
biennials. The series for the Experimental Music section includes correspondence with and a score by John Cage, and audio
recordings of works by the following composers: Earle Brown, Alcides Lanza, Nelly Moretto, and Jorge de la Vega in addition
to two compilations.
Separated Materials
Six monographs and eight serials were transferred to the library. These publications may be found by searching the
Library Catalog for the provenance, Bienal Americana de Arte Collection.
Biographical/Historical Note
The Bienales Americana de Arte were important events for exhibiting contemporary art in Latin America in the 1960s. Although
regional in focus, the biennials attracted significant international and critical attention.
Industrias Kaiser Argentina (IKA) began taking an interest in arts and cultural sponsorship in 1958, when it organized the
first of five contemporary visual arts salons in Córdoba, Argentina. The salons were held until 1963 and featured Argentine
artists working in a number of mediums. Inspired by the success of the salons, IKA organized the first Bienal Americana de
Arte in 1962 and expanded its scope to include artists from the neighboring countries of Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay, in addition
to Argentina. The jury was composed of a representative from each of these four countries, a representative from the Organization
of the American States (OAS), and headed by British critic Sir Herbert Read.
The second Bienal, in 1964, expanded further to include artists from ten Latin American countries. Umbro Apollonio, director
of the Venice Bienale, presided over a jury comprised again of representatives from each participating country and an OAS
representative. Selections from the second Bienal later toured North America.
The third and final Bienal took place in 1966. By this time, the event had grown to include artists from 13 Latin American
countries in addition to an Experimental Music section featuring John Cage and Earle Brown along with other contemporary musicians
and composers from all over the Americas. In a departure from previous years, the jury was restricted to a small pool of internationally
known art experts: Alfred Barr Jr., (Director of MoMA, N.Y.), Arnold Bode (Director of Documenta of Kassel, West Germany),
Sam Hunter (Director of the Jewish Museum, N.Y.), Carlos Raul Villanueva (an internationally known Venezuelan architect),
and Aldo Pellegrini (a highly respected Argentine writer and art critic). Christian Sorenson directed all three biennials
and his wife, Magda, coordinated the Experimental Music section.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Sound recordings
Photographic prints
Photographs, Original
Art, Latin America -- 20th century
Black-and-white photographs -- Latin America -- 20th century
Avant-garde (Music)
Color slides -- Latin America -- 20th century
Proceedings
Salons, Series I.
1961-1964, 1967
1961-1964
Physical Description:
0.32 Linear Feet
Scope and Contents note
This series includes papers regarding the administration of the fourth and fifth IKA salons, black-and-white photographs documenting
the events, and related ephemera. Also included are a disassembled photograph binder and poster documenting an IKA sponsored
competition for the design of a monument to honor industry in Argentina.
Arrangement
Arranged by document type.
box 1, folder 1
Papers,
1963-1964, 1967, undated
1963-1964
box 1, folder 2
Photographs,
1961, undated
box 1, folder 3
Catalog and pamphlet,
1963
Industry in Argentina monument competition,
1962
I Bienal Americana de Arte, Series II.
1961-1963
Physical Description:
0.1 Linear Feet
Scope and Contents note
Administrative papers and ephemera, as well as collected press clippings regarding the first Bienal.
Arrangement
Arranged by document type.
box 1, folder 7
Papers,
1961-1963, undated
box 1, folder 8
Photocopied press clippings,
1961-1962
II Bienal Americana de Arte, Series III.
1963-1967
Physical Description:
2.17 Linear Feet
Scope and Contents note
This series includes official correspondence with embassies and other international and regional organizations. Press clippings,
serials, black-and-white photographs and color slides document the exhibitions and events. Black-and-white photographs, both
loose and mounted in binders, provide artist name, title, size, medium and price of artworks. Also included are papers, correspondence
and photographs documenting the travelling exhibition Twenty South American Artists.
Arrangement
Arranged in original groupings according to function and record type.
Administration files,
1964-1965, undated
box 2, folder 3
Danza Actuel,
1964, undated
Press clippings,
1964-1965, undated
box 2, folder 7-8
Uruguay,
1964-1965, undated
box 2, folder 9-10
Other countries,
1964-1965, undated
Correspondence,
1964-1966, undated
box 3, folder 4
Catlin, Staton,
1965-1966, undated
box 3, folder 7-8
Official correspondence,
1964-1966, undated
Photographic documentation,
1964-1965, undated
Loose photographs,
1964-1965, undated
box 4, folder 1
Participants and officials,
1964-1965, undated
box 4, folder 5
Ecuador and Peru,
undated
box 4, folder 6
Venezuela, Uruguay, Bolivia, and Brazil,
1964, undated
Photograph binders,
undated
Twenty South American Artists,
1963-1967, undated
box 5, folder 3
Administration files,
1963-1964, undated
Correspondence,
1964-1967, undated
box 6, folder 1
Alloway, Lawrence,
1965-1966, undated
box 6, folder 2-3
Babbit, Hal,
1965-1967, undated
box 6, folder 4-5
Inter-American Foundation for the Arts,
1964-1966, undated
box 6, folder 6-7
Johnson, Jack,
1965-1966, undated
box 6, folder 8
Mills, Paul,
1964-1966, undated
box 6, folder 9-10
Pan-American Union,
1964-1966, undated
box 6, folder 11
Squirru, Rafael,
1964-1966, undated
box 5, folder 4-5
Photograph binder,
undated
III Bienal Americana de Arte, Series IV.
1961-1969, 1977
1961-1969
Physical Description:
12.15 Linear Feet
Scope and Contents note
The largest series in the collection includes administrative papers and correspondence with cultural institutions, members
of the selection committees for each country, and others instrumental in planning the Bienal. Juror, special guest, and artist
files include correspondence and mostly black-and-white photographs. Loose black-and-white photographs and a disassembled
photo album with mostly black-and-white photographs document the artworks, exhibitions, and events. Serials include several
issues of IKA's house organ,
Gacetika.
William Weintraub's color slides were included in a letter from Weintraub to Christian and Magda Sorenson dated October 21,
1966.
Arrangement
Arranged in original groupings according to record type. Original groupings retained for correspondence.
Administration files,
1961-1967, undated
box 7, folder 1-4
Papers,
1965-1966, undated
Universidad Nacional de Córdoba,
1965-1966, undated
box 7, folder 5-5A
Papers,
1965-1966, undated
flatfile 4**, flatfile 5**, flatfile 6**
Architectural prints,
1965-1966, undated
roll 1**
Architectural print,
1965
box 7, folder 6
English translation of catalog,
1966, undated
box 7, folder 7
Primera Bienal Internacional de Artes Aplicadas del Uruguay,
1965, undated
Press clippings,
1966, undated
Correspondence,
1962-1967, undated
Arranged by correspondent,
1965-1967, undated
box 9, folder 1
Arroyo, Miguel,
1966-1967
box 9, folder 2
Art in America,
1966-1967
box 9, folder 2A
Center for Interamerican Relations,
1966
box 9, folder 3-5
Diament Sujo, Clara,
1965-1967, undated
box 9, folder 6
Museum of Modern Art,
1967, undated
box 9, folder 7
Neumann, Hans,
1965-1966, undated
box 9, folder 8
Palacios, Inocente,
1965-1966, undated
box 9, folder 9
Rockefeller, Rodman C.,
1966
box 9, folder 10
Rubin, Ida E.,
1966, undated
box 9, folder 11
Tamarind Lithography Workshop,
1965-1967, undated
box 10, folder 1
Visión,
1966-1967, undated
Weintraub, William,
1965-1967, undated
box 10, folder 2-6
Correspondence,
1965-1967, undated
Arranged by country,
1964-1967, undated
box 10, folder 7
Argentina,
1965-1966, undated
box 10, folder 8
Bolivia,
1964-1966, undated
box 10, folder 9-10
Brazil,
1965-1966, undated
box 11, folder 1-3
Chile,
1965-1967, undated
box 11, folder 8
Uruguay,
1965-1966, undated
box 11, folder 9-12
Arranged by museums and cultural institutions,
1962-1967, undated
Jurors and special guests,
1964-1967, undated
Barr, Alfred,
1964-1967, undated
box 12, folder 1
Papers,
1964-1967, undated
box 24*, folder 1
Oversize photograph,
undated
box 12, folder 2
Bode, Arnold,
1965-1966, undated
box 12, folder 3
Hunter, Sam,
1965-1966, undated
box 12, folder 4-6
Soto, Jesús,
1965-1967, undated
box 12, folder 7
Villanueva, Carlos Raúl,
1966, undated
box 12, folder 8
Prospective Jurors and Special Guests,
1964-1966, undated
Artists,
1964-1967, undated
Venezuelan artists,
1964-1966, undated
box 13, folder 1
Abreu, Mario,
1966, undated
box 13, folder 2
Cruxent, J. M.,
1964-1966, undated
box 13, folder 2
Papers,
1964-1966, undated
box 25, folder 4
Color photograph,
undated
box 13, folder 3
Cruz Diez, Carlos,
1966, undated
box 13, folder 4
Hung, Francisco,
1966, undated
box 13, folder 5
Leufert, Gerd,
1966, undated
box 13, folder 6
Rodriguez, Alirio,
1966, undated
box 13, folder 7-8
Other artists,
1966-1967, undated
Photographs,
1964-1966, undated
Loose photographs,
1964-1966, undated
box 14, folder 1-2
Paintings,
1964-1966, undated
box 14, folder 3-5
Exhibition and events,
1966, undated
Special exhibitions,
1965-1967, undated
box 16, folder 1
Salon de Humor,
1966, undated
Train exhibition,
1965, undated
box 16, folder 3
Travelling exhibition of selected works,
1966-1967, undated
box 16, folder 4
Xul Solar Homenaje,
1966, undated
Ephemera,
1964-1967, undated
box 16, folder 6-7
Cards and stationery,
1964-1966, undated
Experimental music, Series V.
1962-1969, 1977
1962-1969
Physical Description:
5.87 Linear Feet
Scope and Contents note
This series includes detailed administrative records, correspondence with composers and others, papers regarding various related
events, ephemera, musical scores, and audio recordings. Also included are correspondence with and a score by John Cage and
audio recordings of works by the following composers: Earle Brown, Alcides Lanza, Nelly Moretto, and Jorge de la Vega in addition
to two compilations.
Arrangement
Arranged in original groupings according to function and record type.
Administration files,
1965-1967, undated
box 17, folder 1
Catalog and recording sales and distribution,
1966-1967, undated
box 17, folder 2
Centro de Musica Experimental,
1966
box 17, folder 3
Concert documentation,
undated
box 17, folder 4-6
Copyright permissions,
1966, undated
box 17, folder 7-8
Curricula vitae and notes on works,
1966, undated
box 17, folder 9
Detail of works and papers received and catalog material,
undated
box 17, folder 11
English translation of composer biographies,
undated
box 17, folder 12
General plan,
1966, undated
box 17, folder 13
Internal correspondence,
1966, undated
box 18, folder 1
List of addresses,
undated
box 24*, folder 2
Map of Córdoba with poster locations,
undated
box 18, folder 3-6
Miscellaneous,
1966-1967, undated
box 18, folder 7-8
Other music events,
1965-1966, undated
box 18, folder 9
Papers and notes for notebooks,
1965-1966, undated
box 18, folder 10
Press clippings,
1966, undated
box 18, folder 11
Press diffusion and special items,
1966, undated
box 18, folder 12
Shipping documentation,
1966, undated
Correspondence,
1965-1969, 1977, undated
1965-1969
box 19, folder 1
Caracas,
1965-1966, 1977, undated
1965-1966
Composers,
1966-1969, undated
box 19, folder 2
Arrandia, Jorge Navarro,
1966
box 19, folder 3
Asuar, José Vicente,
1966
box 19, folder 5
Brown, Earle,
1966, undated
box 19, folder 7
Cage, John,
1966, undated
box 19, folder 8
Canton, Edgardo,
1966-1969
box 19, folder 14
Gandini, Gerardo,
1966, undated
box 19, folder 16
Kagel, Mauricio,
1966-1967
box 19, folder 17
Krenek, Ernest,
1966-1967
box 19, folder 21
Martirano, Salvatore,
1966
box 19, folder 24
Rondano, Miguel Angel,
1966
box 19, folder 25
Roque Alsina, Carlos,
1966
box 19, folder 27
Tauriello, Antonio,
1966, undated
box 19, folder 28
Ussachevsky, Vladimir,
1966
box 19, folder 29
Valcarcel, Edgar,
1966-1967
box 19, folder 30
Vega, Aurelio de la,
1966-1967, undated
Copied correspondence,
1966, undated
box 20, folder 2
USA Originals,
1966-1968, undated
box 20, folder 3-5
Composers,
1964-1966, undated
Photographs,
1966, undated
box 20, folder 6-10
Black-and-white photographs
1966, undated
box 25, folder 5
Color photographs,
undated
box 21, folder 6
Torino 380 W en acción,
undated
Ephemera,
1965-1967, undated
box 21, folder 7
Programs, offprints, envelopes, and supplement,
1965-1967, undated
Scores,
1962-1966, undated
Bazan, Oscar,
1965, undated
box 24*, folder 3
Oversize scores,
1965, undated
box 23*, folder 10-12
Brown, Earle,
1962-1965, undated
box 21, folder 10
Castillo, Graciela,
undated
box 21, folder 14
Ferpozzi, Carlos Alberto,
undated
box 21, folder 20
Rondano, Miguel Angel,
1966
box 23*, folder 1A
Roque Alsina, Carlos,
1965
box 23*, folder 3-5
Valcárcel, Edgar,
1964-1966
box 21, folder 25
Copies of drawings for slide projections,
undated
Audio recordings,
1966, undated
Access
Audio visual materials are unavailable until reformatted.
box 26, item R2
"Available Forms I" / "From Here I",
Centro de Musica Experimental,
undated
box 26, item R7
Lanza, Alcides : "Plectros II",
undated
box 26, item R8
Moretto, Nelly : "Composition No 9-B",
undated
box 22, item D1
Primeras jornadas americanas de musica experimental,
1966
box 26, item C1
Vega, Jorge de la : "El Gusanito en Persona",
undated
