Clayton and Betty Bailey Papers, 1975-2020

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Summary

Creators:
Abstract:
Extent:
7 folders and 300+ art objects
Language:
Preferred citation:

Clayton and Betty Bailey Papers. Port Costa Museum and Archives Project

Background

Scope and content:

This is a collection of materials related to the life and work of Clayton and Betty Bailey. Much of the material relates to Clayton Bailey’s work as an artist and prankster, including that of his alter ego, Dr. George Gladstone. The work that Betty and Clayton did to deter development and create greenspace in Port Costa is also well represented in this collection. The art objects owned by the Port Costa Museum are also listed in this finding aid.

Biographical / historical:

Clayton Bailey was born March 9, 1939 and Betty Bailey (nee Graveen) was born November 13, 1939 both in Antigo Wisconsin. They met in middle school and eventually married and had two kids. They moved to Berkeley in 1968 and Port Costa in 1970 where they lived until their deaths in 2019 (Betty) and 2020 (Clayton). They were core members of the Funk Art scene and the Nut Art scene, absurdist, playful art movements that relished being outside the mainstream. Clayton was known locally for his prankster art, his robots, and Clayton Bailey’s World of Wonders, an unnatural history museum where his alter ego, Dr. Gladstone combined visual and performance art. Clayton taught ceramics at Cal State Hayward (now Cal State East Bay). Both Bailey’s exhibited their art widely and in 2013 they started the Bailey Art Museum in Crockett, CA. Aside from their life in art, they were active in the community of Port Costa, working to deter development, and engaged in local politics.

Acquisition information:
The bulk of this material was donated to the Port Costa Museum Archive Project by Clayton Bailey. The rest were items collected by the museum (i.e., clippings, exhibition catalogs).

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research use.

Preferred citation:

Clayton and Betty Bailey Papers. Port Costa Museum and Archives Project

Location of this collection:
P.O. Box 36
1 Plaza del Hambre
Port Costa, CA 94569, US
Contact:
(510) 455-2534
PortCostaMuseum@gmail.com
Website