Guide to the Lowell Darling Papers PFA.MSS.009

Jessica Bolton
BAMPFA Film Library
2019


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?”