Getty Research Institute African American Art History Initiative Oral Histories, 2018-2022

Series I. African American Art History Initiative oral histories, 2018-2022

Scope and Content Note

The records comprise oral histories conducted with postwar African American artists under the auspices of the Getty Research Institute's African American Art History Initiative. Records date from 2018 to 2022 and will accrue over the duration of the Initiative. Records include digital video interviews of individual artists conducted by the Oral History Center at UC Berkeley and group interviews facilitated by the Getty Research Institute. Digital and physical transcripts and images for select interviews are also included.

Arrangement

Interviews are arranged in two categories: the individual oral histories conducted by the Oral History Center at the University of California, Berkeley, and the group interviews solely conducted by the Getty Research Institute. Indivdual interviews are arranged alphabetically by surname of interviewee.

Access Information

Access to digital files is available online through the links provided in the inventory.

Group oral histories:

Oral History on Paintings, March 25, 2019

(2020.IA.27) African American Art History Initiative oral history on paintings and oral history on photographs [sponsored by the Getty Research Institute.]

view online item

Scope and Content Note

This conversation among painters Dana Chandler, Nelson Stevens, Randy Williams, and William T. Williams explores the artists' approaches to color and the object; community engagement and collaboration through murals including the "Wall of Respect" in Chicago, Smokehouse murals in New York City, and the mural program in Springfield, Massachusetts; and the supporting role of artists and art spaces over the course of their careers, including The Studio Museum in Harlem, Just Above Midtown, Bob Blackburn's printmaking workshop, and the African American Master Artists in Residence Program at Northeastern University.

As part of Artists' Archives Day at the Getty Center, the interview took place on March 25, 2019, in conjunction with the opening of "Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power 1963–1983," which was on view at the Broad museum in Los Angeles from March 23 to September 1, 2019.

The discussion was moderated by Dr. Kellie E. Jones (Columbia University), senior consultant for the Getty Research Institute's African American Art History Initiative.

Oral History on Photography, March 25, 2019

(2020.IA.27) African American Art History Initiative oral history on paintings and oral history on photographs [sponsored by the Getty Research Institute.]

view online item

Scope and Content Note

This conversation among photographers Herb Randall, Ming Smith, Dawoud Bey, Adger Cowans, and Herb Robinson explores their training and influences including jazz, family albums, and the book "Sweet Flypaper of Life"; Kamoinge principles and emblematic photographs; and the expansive impact of artist communities on their work.

As part of Artists' Archives Day at the Getty Center, the interview took place on March 25, 2019, in conjunction with the opening of "Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power 1963–1983," which was on view at the Broad museum in Los Angeles from March 23 to September 1, 2019.

The discussion was moderated by Dr. Bridget R. Cooks, University of California, Irvine.

Individual oral histories:

box 2021.IA.08-01

Bradley, Peter: Peter Bradley: A Life in Print, 2019

(2021.IA.08) GRI African American Art History Initiative oral history interview transcripts [sponsored by the Getty Research Institute.]

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General

Recording forthcoming.

Preferred Citation

Peter Bradley, "Peter Bradley: A Life in Print" conducted by Andrianna Campbell and Shanna Farrell in 2019, Oral History Center, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, under the auspices of the J. Paul Getty Trust, 2020.

Box 2022.IA.50-01

Davis, Alonzo. Alonzo Davis: Artist, 2022

General

Recording forthcoming.

Preferred Citation

Alonzo Davis, "Alonzo Davis: Artist" conducted by Bridget Cooks and Amanda Tewes in 2021, Oral History Center, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, 2022, under the auspices of the J. Paul Getty Trust, 2022.

Box 2022.IA.50-01

Davis, Dale Brockman. Dale Brockman Davis: Artist, Educator, and Gallerist, 2021

General

Recording forthcoming.

Preferred Citation

Dale Brockman Davis, "Dale Brockman Davis: Artist, Educator, and Gallerist" conducted by Bridget Cooks and Amanda Tewes in 2021, Oral History Center, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, 2021, under the auspices of the J. Paul Getty Trust, 2021.

box 2021.IA.08-01

Driskell, David C.: David C. Driskell: Life Among the Pines, 2019

(2021.IA.08) GRI African American Art History Initiative oral history interview transcripts [sponsored by the Getty Research Institute.]

view online item

General

Recording forthcoming.

Preferred Citation

It is recommended that this oral history be cited as follows: David Driskell, "David C. Driskell: Life Among the Pines" conducted by Bridget Cooks and Amanda Tewes in 2019, Oral History Center, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, under the auspices of the J. Paul Getty Trust, 2020.

Mel Edwards

General

Recording and transcript forthcoming.

box 2021.IA.08-01

Gaines, Charles: Charles Gaines: the Criticality and Aesthetics of the System, 2019

(2021.IA.08) GRI African American Art History Initiative oral history interview transcripts [sponsored by the Getty Research Institute.]

view online item

General

Recording forthcoming.

Preferred Citation

It is recommended that this oral history be cited as follows: Charles Gaines, "Charles Gaines: the Criticality and Aesthetics of the Systems" conducted by Bridget Cooks and Amanda Tewes in 2019, Oral History Center, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, under the auspices of the J. Paul Getty Trust, 2020.

Box 2022.IA.50-01

Jenkins, Ulysses: Uylsses Jenkins: A Doggerel, 2022

General

Recording forthcoming.

Preferred Citation

Ulysses Jenkins, "Ulysses Jenkins: A Doggerel" conducted by Bridget Cooks and Amanda Tewes in 2020, Oral History Center, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, 2022, under the auspices of the J. Paul Getty Trust, 2022.

box 2021.IA.08-01

Mayhew, Richard: Richard Mayhew: Painting Mindscapes and Searching for Sensitivity, 2019

(2021.IA.08) GRI African American Art History Initiative oral history interview transcripts [sponsored by the Getty Research Institute.]

view online item

General

Recording forthcoming.

Preferred Citation

It is recommended that this oral history be cited as follows: Richard Mayhew, "Richard Mayhew: Painting Mindscapes and Searching for Sensitivity" conducted by Bridget Cooks and Amanda Tewes in 2019, Oral History Center, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, under the auspices of the J. Paul Getty Trust, 2020.

Box 2022.IA.50-01

Nengudi, Senga: Senga Nengudi: Black Avant Garde Visual and Performance Artist, 2020

General

Recording forthcoming.

Preferred Citation

Senga Nengudi, "Senga Nengudi: Black Avant Garde Visual and Performance Artist" conducted by Bridget Cooks and Amanda Tewes in 2020, Oral History Center, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, 2022, under the auspices of the J. Paul Getty Trust, 2022.

box 2021.IA.08-01

Pindell, Howardena: Howardena Pindell: Artist, Teacher, and Social Observer, 2018

(2021.IA.08) GRI African American Art History Initiative oral history interview transcripts [sponsored by the Getty Research Institute.]

view online item

General

Recording forthcoming.

Preferred Citation

It is recommended that this oral history be cited as follows: Howardena Pindell, "Howardena Pindell: Artist, Teacher, and Social Observer" conducted by Andrianna Campbell and Amanda Tewes in 2018, Oral History Center, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, under the auspices of the J. Paul Getty Trust, 2019.

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