C Project records, 1983-2012 (bulk 1995-1999), bulk bulk 1995-1999

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Summary

Title:
C Project records
Dates:
1983-2012 (bulk 1995-1999), bulk bulk 1995-1999
Creators:
C Project, Artschwager, Richard, 1923-2013, Baldessari, John, 1931-2020, Bell, Larry, 1939-, Bleckner, Ross, Bourgeois, Louise, 1911-2010, Close, Chuck, 1940-2021, Held, Al, 1928-2005, Lichtenstein, Roy, 1923-1997, Marisol, 1930-2016, McCoy, Ann, Miralda, Antoni, 1942-, Morley, Malcolm, 1931-2018, Orr, Eric, 1939-1998, Rivers, Larry, 1925-2002, Rockburne, Dorothea, Ruscha, Edward, Ryman, Robert, 1930-2019, Schreiber, Matthew, 1967-, Smith, Richard, 1931-2016, and Turrell, James
Abstract:
The records of C Project document the work of artists who created holograms as part of the initiative between 1995 and 1999. Participants included Richard Artschwager, John Baldessari, Larry Bell, Ross Bleckner, Louise Bourgeois, Chuck Close, Marisol Escobar, Al Held, Roy Lichtenstein, Tatsuo Miyajima, Ann McCoy, Antoni Miralda, Malcolm Morley, Eric Orr, Larry Rivers, Dorothea Rockburne, Ed Ruscha, Robert Ryman, Richard Smith, and James Turrell. Included in the records are correspondence, studies, and models related to the holograms, as well as films and videos documenting their creation.
Extent:
76.35 Linear Feet (63 boxes, 20 flat file folders)
Language:
Collection material is in English.
Preferred citation:

C Project records, 1983-2012 (bulk 1995-1999), Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles, Accession no. 2018.M.38.

http://hdl.handle.net/10020/archives2018m38

Background

Scope and content:

The records document the holograms developed by artists who participated in C Project between 1995 and 1999. These artists include Richard Artschwager, John Baldessari, Larry Bell, Ross Bleckner, Louise Bourgeois, Chuck Close, Marisol Escobar, Al Held, Roy Lichtenstein, Tatsuo Miyajima, Ann McCoy, Antoni Miralda, Malcolm Morley, Eric Orr, Larry Rivers, Dorothea Rockburne, Ed Ruscha, Robert Ryman, Richard Smith, and James Turrell.

In addition to the contracts and certificates signed by the artists, the conception of the holograms is documented through two primary types of files: those of Lee Laffin (Series II.B), who served as Creative Liaison, and those of Matthew Schreiber, who initially worked as a holographer with Larry Lieberman and later became C Project's Art Director (Series III). Laffin joined the initiative to facilitate communication between the C Project laboratory staff and the artists. His correspondence includes discussions on scheduling visits to Miami and suggestions for developing the envisioned artworks. Schreiber's files, which are more technical in nature, contain sketches and diagrams of the proposed works, and research files consisting of articles and slides on the artists' careers. Additionally, the files that document the laboratory's operations focus on the technical aspects of creating the holograms, including the production of plates H1, H2, H3, H4, as well as the challenges encountered during the process.

A significant portion of the archive comprises studies and models for the holograms, including diagrams, drawings on glass plates, mockups, photographs, and transparencies. Additionally, the archive contains films and videos that document the creation process of the holograms.

The archive also includes brief correspondence with artists who were approached to participate in the initiative but were either unable or opted not to, such as Frank Gehry, Rebecca Horn, Robert Irwin, Claes Oldenburg, Nam June Paik, Sigmar Polke, James Rosenquist, Julian Schnabel, and Frank Stella.

While the bulk of the files date from 1995 to 1999 during C Project's active years, there are also files dating from after 1999, such as a list of holograms featured in the 2012 exhibition Pictures from the Moon: Artists' Holograms, 1969–2008 at the New Museum.

Biographical / historical:

C Project was established in Miami Beach in November 1994 to explore the artistic potential of holography. The name "C Project" derives from c, the symbol for the speed of light, referencing the light fields that create the three-dimensional images known as holograms. Among the artists who participated in the initiative were Richard Artschwager, John Baldessari, Larry Bell, Ross Bleckner, Louise Bourgeois, Chuck Close, Marisol Escobar, Al Held, Roy Lichtenstein, Tatsuo Miyajima, Ann McCoy, Antoni Miralda, Malcolm Morley, Eric Orr, Larry Rivers, Dorothea Rockburne, Ed Ruscha, Robert Ryman, Richard Smith, and James Turrell.

A hologram, which creates a three-dimensional illusion of an object, relies on light as its fundamental element. The term hologram is derived from the Greek words "holos" (whole, entire) and "gram" (something written) and was coined by Hungarian-British physicist Dennis Gabor (1900-1979) in a 1949 article. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, a hologram is "A pattern produced when light (or other radiation) reflected, diffracted, or transmitted by an object placed in a coherent beam is allowed to interfere with a diffracted background or reference beam related in phase to the first (or identical with it)." A hologram also refers to the photographic plate or film containing such a pattern. The development of lasers in the 1960s significantly advanced holography, enabling the creation of three-dimensional images. Holography found applications in various fields, from medicine to security, including its use as an authentication tool in banknote printing and determining package sizes on conveyor belts. The medium's potential as an art form was soon recognized and explored.

C Project was innovative in that it offered artists who had never previously worked with holography an opportunity to experiment with the medium. The project was made possible by the acquisition of a large quantity of holographic film from Ilford, a manufacturer of photographic materials that no longer found commercial value in the film. Larry Lieberman, a holographer from Holographic Images, Inc. in Miami, was part of C Project at its onset and set up a laboratory in Miami Beach, equipping it with laser technologies necessary for developing holograms. He was supported by other holographers, including Matthew Schreiber and Dean Randazzo, both trained as artists at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Schreiber, who became the Art Director for C Project, completed a specialization in holography in 1994 at the Royal College of Art in London.

The goal of C Project was to prepare limited editions of holograms available for sale to collectors and museums. Each participating artist collaborated with C Project staff to create one master hologram and three variations, which together formed the master set from which limited editions could be produced.

Artists were invited to Miami Beach for a two-day on-site visit to familiarize themselves with the holographic process and meet the collaborators at C Project. After this initial visit, they developed models or working drawings, communicating with Larry Lieberman and Matthew Schreiber throughout the process. This was followed by a visit of six to ten working days in Miami Beach, during which the artists worked in the laboratory to create their holograms.

After 1999, C Project was forced to cease operations due to financial difficulties. However, the initiative succeeded in producing preparatory holographic plates such as Larry Bell's On the Elipse (1996) and Dorothea Rockburne's Cosmic Moment (1997). From 2014 to 2017, editions of holograms were made from the preparatory plates developed by three artists, Louise Bourgeois (2014); Ed Ruscha (2016) and Chuck Close (2017). In 2018, the Getty Museum acquired the preparatory holographic plates from all artists who participated in C Project as well as the editions of holograms issued in 2014-2017.

List of C Project holograms:

Arschwager, Richard. Untitled (Eugenia) (1998)

Baldessari, John. It's Alive

Bell, Larry. On the Elipse (1996)

Bleckner, Ross. Untitled

Bourgeois, Louise. Untitled (1998)

Close, Chuck. Self-portrait

Escobar, Marisol. Untitled

Held, Al. Cat's Cradle (1996)

Lichtenstein, Roy. Interior

McCoy, Ann. Aion (1995)

Miyajima, Tatsuo. Untitled

Morley, Malcom. Tankerton Bay

Orr, Eric. Slow Light (1995)

Rivers, Larry. Webster

Rockburne, Dorothea. Cosmic Moment

Ruscha, Ed. The End (1998)

Ryman, Robert. Spectogram I; Spectogram II

Smith, Richard. Romano Mirror (1996)

Turrell, James. Untitled.

For a presentation on C Project, see the 1995 video by Larry Lieberman, available on YouTube. The video includes views of the laboratory in Miami Beach and features footage of works conceived by Larry Bell, Marisol Escobar, Ann McCoy, Tatsuo Miyajima, Eric Orr, Larry Rivers, and Dorothea Rockburne.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Guy and Nora Barron. Acquired in 2018.
Processing information:

The archive was processed in 2023 and 2024 by Karen Meyer-Roux, with Beth Guynn participating in the assessment of the archive in Fall 2023.

Arrangement:

Arranged in five series: Series I. General, 1994-2012, undated; Series II. Correspondence, 1993-2012, undated; Series III. Technical notes, 1993-2011, undated; Series IV. Studies and models for the holograms, 1995-1997, undated; Series V. Audiovisual materials, 1983-circa 2005, undated.

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.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Karen Meyer-Roux
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2026-04-08 08:36:07 -0700 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for use by qualified researchers, with the following exceptions: restrictions apply to items that are fragile. Born-digital content will be made available on site only through the digital preservation repository. Born-digital and audiovisual content is unavailable until reformatted. Contact the repository for information regarding access.

Terms of access:

Contact Library Reproductions and Permissions.

Preferred citation:

C Project records, 1983-2012 (bulk 1995-1999), Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles, Accession no. 2018.M.38.

http://hdl.handle.net/10020/archives2018m38

Location of this collection:
1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 1100
Los Angeles, CA 90049-1688, US
Contact:
(310) 440-7390
Website