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Block (Irving) Collection
SC.IBC
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Contributing Institution:
Special Collections & Archives
Title: Irving Block Collection
Creator:
Block, Irving (1910-1986)
Identifier/Call Number: SC.IBC
Physical Description:
4.66 linear feet
Date (inclusive): 1945-1985
Abstract: Block was a visual effects artist,
matte artist, painter, illustrator and educator who worked as an artist in the film industry
and later taught at California State University, Northridge. The collection consists of
visual artwork and personal papers including film production records, three 16mm films, and
California State University, Northridge Santa Susana Press records.
Language of Material:
English
Irving Alexander Block (1910-1986) was born in New York City on December 2, 1910. Block was
a visual effects artist, matte artist, painter, illustrator and educator. He attended New
York University for his bachelor's degree and also studied at the National Academy of
Design. During the 1930s he joined the Works Projects Administration's Federal Art Project.
In the 1940s he moved to California and worked at 20th Century Fox as a matte shot artist.
Block co-wrote the original story for the film
Forbidden Planet
. In 1963 he began teaching art at California State University, Northridge. Block
continued teaching at CSUN until 1980, and died in 1986.
The Irving Block Collection consists of artwork and personal papers that document Block's
careers as an artist and an educator. The collection is arranged into two series: Artwork
(ca. 1955-1980) and Personal Papers (ca. 1945-1985).
Series I.
Artwork includes original copies of Irving Block's
artworks. The materials include a bronze Ray Bradbury Celebration medallion and the clay
mold used to create it, as well as visual works created using pastels, mixed media, pencil,
and watercolor, mostly depicting figures, nudes, landscapes, cityscapes, and portraits.
Series II.
Personal Papers documents Irving Block's work in the
film industry, his illustration work for California State University, Northridge Santa
Susana Press, and other personal records having to do with his artwork and colleagues. The
film production records in this series document Block's work in the film industry as a
special effects and visual effects artist, producer, and director. These records include
correspondence, hand drawn story boards, notes, matte painting artwork, photographs and
slides, press clippings, and scripts. Film titles covered in the materials include
Alice in Wonderland,
Atomic Submarine,
Caretakers,
Daniel in the Lion's Den,
David and Goliath,
The Exiles,
The First Murder,
Flight to Mars,
Forbidden Planet,
From Caveman to Spaceman,
Goya,
Judgement of Solomon,
Kronos,
Ripley's Believe it or Not,
Stranger in my Skull,
The First Murder,
The Tower of Babel, and
Venus and
Adonis.
Much of the film production records pertain to the publication
Fantascene. Irving Block corresponded with the creators of this
publication for articles highlighting his work and career. Materials include photographs,
correspondence with Dennis Skotak and Robert Skotak, copies of the magazine, and slides.
Other film industry publications in this series include
Future and
Cinefantastique.
This series also contains a small amount of papers pertaining to the California State
University, Northridge Santa Susana Press and Block's artwork associated with some of its
publications including
George Silverman's Explanation by
Charles Dickens. The publication is illustrated by Irving Block, and edited with an
introduction and notes by Harry Stone. There is also a folder containing artwork created by
Aurelio de la Vega, including a triptych and a music illustration. There are three 16mm
films:
Goya,
Masters In Art (Life of Rembrant,) and
The World of Rubens. Finally, there is an Irving Block artwork inventory from the
Hirshhorn Museum as well as posters from the Block Retrospective California State Universty,
Northridge Fine Art Gallery (1981).
Series I. Artwork, ca. 1955-1980
Series II. Personal Papers, ca. 1945-1985
This collection is open for research use.
Copyright for unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of
this collection has not been transferred to California State University, Northridge.
Copyright status for other materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials
protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires
the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be
commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any
use rests exclusively with the user.
For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style
manual, or see the
Citing Archival Materials
guide.
Carri Frola, 2022
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Audiovisual materials
Documents
Ephemera
Paper records
Photographs