Guide to the Lowell Darling Papers PFA.MSS.009
Jessica Bolton
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
BAMPFA Film Library
Title: Lowell Darling Papers
source:
Darling, Lowell
Identifier/Call Number: PFA.MSS.009
Physical Description:
1 cartons
Physical Description:
1 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1960-2012
Physical Location: UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive Film Library and Study Center
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Biographical / Historical
Lowell Darling (b.1942) is an American conceptual and performance artist. Originally from Jacksonville, Illinois, Darling
studied art at the Southern Illinois University. He moved to the west coast of the US and became a stalwart of the Californian
conceptual art scene. Darling is best known for this Urban Acupuncture projects, as well as his tongue-in-cheek campaigns
for public office in the 1978 and 2010 California Gubernatorial Election. The 1978 campaign emblematized the nation’s acute
loss of faith in political leadership. Darling embraced the conceptual art movement that was emerging in the US in the 1970s
and developed his own cheeky ephemeral style. He has continued to develop his unique brand of playful satire across a range
of medium, including film making, exhibitions and performance art.
Scope and Contents
The Lowell Darling papers document an aspect of the artist’s career in California. The collection consists primarily of ephemera,
correspondence, research and production notes relating to Darling’s projects with fellow conceptual and video artist Ilene
Segalove (b.1950). Much of the material relates to the 1977 Exhibition Cauliflower Alley Tapes at the Long Beach Museum of
Art, and the research, interviews and photography pertaining to the Cauliflower Alley Club more broadly. This project was
developed under the duo’s partnership, Hollywood Anthropology. The project was comprised of a documentary film and an exhibition
of fighting memorabilia focusing on Hollywood’s Cauliflower Alley Club, an organization of ex-boxers and wrestlers. Club members
included both winners and losers whose careers also involved thousands of appearances as heavies in Hollywood detective and
gangster films. The letters and correspondence included in this collection provide insight into the working and personal relationship
between Lowell Darling and Illene Segalove. There are a number of photographs relating to the Cauliflower Alley Club included
within this collection. There are a small number of documents relating to Darling’s involvement in The Wilton North Report
as well as some rubber stamps used in some of his ephemeral collage works and also featured within his 2012 exhibition This
is your life.
Separated Materials
Videos and artworks donated with the paper collection were separated in the BAMPFA film and art collections.
Conditions Governing Use
Property rights reside with the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, University of California, Berkeley. Literary
rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact
the Head of the BAMPFA Film Library and Study Center.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Video art--California
Conceptual art--California--San Francisco
Darling, Lowell
Series 1: Cauliflower Alley Club
1977-1979
Scope and Contents
This series relates to the Cauliflower Alley Club.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Segalove, Ilene
Folder 1: Photographs relating to Cauliflower Alley Club
1978
Scope and Contents
Photograph of Lowell Darling and unknown by Ilene Segalove at the Cauliflower Alley Club, 1978
Folder 2: Assorted production papers
1978-1987
Scope and Contents
Annotated time code production sheet (shot breakdown for Network TV 12 Feb 1987)
Signed release forms for individuals featured in Cauliflower Alley Club production. Dated 1987
Handwritten expenses and reimbursement details relating to Cauliflower Alley Club production.
Invoice from Willie Walker for $100 – Cauliflower Alley Club
Correspondence between Ilene Segalove and Terilyn McGovern
Folder 3: Photographs by Ilene Segalove relating to The Cauliflower Alley Club
1976-1978
Scope and Contents
Original folder titled 'Cauliflower (68) photos by Ilene Segalovsi'
Folder 4: Proof sheets by Ilene Segalove relating to The Cauliflower Alley Club
1976-1978
Box 1: Set of slides featuring Patsy Pined, set of slides featuring Cauliflower Alley Club members and black and white negatives
relating to the Cauliflower Alley Club
1973
Scope and Contents
8 x colour slides of Patsy Pined, first licenced woman boxer in California
20 x colour slides of members of the Cauliflower Alley Club
Black and white negatives - assorted photographs relating to the Cauliflower Alley Club
Folder 5: Black and white proof sheet by Ilene Segalove relating to Cauliflower Alley Club Tapes opening night
1976-1978
Scope and Contents
black and white proof sheet and negatives by Ilene Segalove – subject: Cauliflower Alley Club Tapes exhibition opening.
Folder 6: Cauliflower Alley Tapes Exhibition - Long Beach Museum of Art
1977
Scope and Contents
Exhibition programs, flyers, screening programs relating to exhibition 'Cauliflower Alley Tapes' 1977 at the Long Beach Museum.
Ephemera, clippings, notes relating to The Cauliflower Alley Club Tapes project – Exhibition Jan-March 1977.
Newspaper reviews of the exhibition and project
Annotated Designers proof catalogue for Long Beach Museum of Art
Mailgram dated 28 Jan 1977 from Mike Mazurki to Lowell Darling and Segalove sending apologies for not being able to attend
the exhibition opening.
Typed Cauliflower Alley theme song on small piece of paper
Folder 7: Research and production notes relating to Cauliflower Alley Club
1976-1978
Scope and Contents
Original folder titled 'The Cauliflower Alley Club Darling/Segalove Writing 1977.
List of names, addresses and phone numbers for ‘The Cauliflower Alley Fellows’
Notes about fighters and their film and fighting careers
Written vignettes about the fighters
Detailed written account ‘Maria Bernardi Speaks!’
Mike Mazurki detailed account - Note. Rusted paperclip (needs rehousing)
Photographs and short bios on members of the Cauliflower Alley Club
Folder 8: Correspondence and notes relating to The Cauliflower Alley Club - Lowell Darling and Ilene Segalove
1976-1978
Scope and Contents
Original folder titled 'The Cauliflower Alley Club Darling/Segalove Writing 1977'.
Correspondence between Ilene Segalove and Lowell Darling
Handwritten notes and planning documents
Production correspondence relating to Mike Mazurki, Lou Nova and Maria Bernadi and Hollywoood Anthropology.
Series 2: Correspondence from and papers relating to Ilene Segalove
1975-1990
Scope and Contents
Personal and professional correspondence from Ilene Segalove to Lowell Darling.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Segalove, Ilene
Folder 1: Correspondence from Ilene Segalove
1975-1990
Scope and Contents
Personal and professional correspondence. Contains postcards, empty envelopes with annotations, letters and clippings. Some
correspondence addressed to nicknames for Lowell Darling including Dewey. Some correspondence signed by Ilene Segalove using
nicknames including,Lil, Lillian, Iloon.
Correspondence includes an Artweek (Feb 14 1976) news clipping annotated with "to Lowell, from Ilene"
Folder 2: Papers relating to Ilene Segalove
1983-1989
Scope and Contents
Eight Stories about TV by Ilene Segalove.
'The First Non-Jewish Boy' by Ilene Segalove
Article by Dr Roy Orbison about Ilene Segalove titled 'I Love Segalene' Spring 1985
Article by Roy Orbison about Ilene Segalove and Lowell Darling titled 'Lives of the Video Artists' Winter 1983,
Correspondence between Lowell Darling and Ilene Segalove re: Lowell Darling contribution to Ilene Segalove catalogue. 1989
Series 3: Lowell Darling personal correspondence, photographs, and ephemera
1976-1999
Scope and Contents
Assorted personal correspondence, photographs, clippings, and other ephemera. Unclear links to specific Lowell Darling projects.
Folder 1: Personal correspondence
1976-1994
Scope and Contents
Correspondence from various people including: Eddie [Carides / Camideo?], DZ, letter to Bobo from Doris Day (Pseudonym?)
Memo to Ilene Segalove from The Los Angeles Daily Journal, The California Newspaper Service Bureau May 20 1976 from Lynne
Marcia
Card addressed to Lowell Darling from ‘Penny’ containing miniature fabric dress. 12 Dec 1994
Valentines Day card from Barbara and Ada
Father’s day card, 'Dear Dewy…love always Barbara Schuster'
Assorted handwritten notes and correspondence. Addressees include: Liz, Rocky, Ethela, Mary Provenance, including photocopied
correspondence and notes from approximately 1976-78
Folder 2: Clippings, notes and ephemera
1970-1990
Scope and Contents
Contains clippings, cards, illustrations and a Polaroid photograph.
Folder 3: Photographs by Ilene Segalove
1977, undated
Scope and Contents
Photographs on board, Ilene Segalove, Some friends at the [Los Angeles?] zoo and Disneyland, 1977.
Assorted photographs, unlabelled and undated, featuring Lowell Darling and others.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Segalove, Ilene
Folder 4: Clippings relating to exhibition of work by artists from Ros Nor Hotel in Gardena
1976, undated
Scope and Contents
News clippings (source and date unknown) and UCLA University Times clipping, Tuesday 10 Feb 1976 relating to 'Neils Nielsen
and his friends from a home for the mentally retarded, the Ros Nor Hotel in Gardena' and his exhibition at the UCLA Union
Art Gallery.
Folder 5: Poetry
1978
Scope and Contents
Draft poems. Inferred that they are composed by Lowell Darling - unconfirmed.
Titled 'Waiting for Kid Chissell to call' and 'A Reading Mess'
Series 4: The Wilton North Report
1987-1988
Folder 1: Correspondence between Lowell Darling and Fox/Bloom and Dekom relating to The Wilton North Report
1987-1988
Scope and Contents
Subject matter includes discussion on rights relating to The Wilton North Report.
Envelope contains notes and contracts relating to the "The Wilton North Report" including proposed agreement between Lowell
Darling and Program Supplier.
Series 5: This is your life exhibition, Krowswork Gallery
2012, undated
Box 1: Rubber stamps featured in 'This is your life' exhibition
2012, undated
Scope and Contents
Three wooden rubber stamps from Lowell Darling's practice. Featured in exhibition 'This is your life' at the Krowswork Gallery
February 25-March 24, 2012.
Stamps read:
“Is this”
“What is”
“what round is it?”