Collection Guide
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Spark (Clare) Interviews with Artists, Curators, and Intellectuals
2010.M.91
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Contributing Institution:
Special Collections
Title: Clare Spark interviews with artists, curators, and intellectuals
Creator:
Truffaut, François
Creator:
Lennon, John, 1940-1980
Creator:
KPFK (Radio station : Los Angeles, Calif.)
Creator:
Barthelme, Donald, 1907-1996
Creator:
Chicago, Judy, 1939-
Creator:
Geldzahler, Henry
Creator:
Blum, Irving, , 1930-
Creator:
Spark, Clare
Creator:
Rauschenberg, Robert, 1925-2008
Creator:
Kaprow, Allan
Creator:
Haacke, Hans, 1936-
Creator:
Merleau-Ponty, Maurice, 1908-1961
Creator:
Lichtenstein, Roy, 1923-1997
Identifier/Call Number: 2010.M.91
Physical Description:
8.8 Linear Feet
(11 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1968-1981
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 .
Abstract: A collection of audio tapes from radio programs produced and hosted by Clare Spark. Spark's radio programs engaged with leading
figures in the art world, covering broad issues as well as events of particular concern to the Southern California arts community.
Language of Material: Collection material is in English.
Gift of Clare Spark. Acquired in 2010.
Scope and Content of Collection
The collection is comprised of audiocassette tapes and 1/4 inch audiotape on 7- and 10- inch reels. The tapes in the collection
are surviving copies of the finished radio broadcasts as well as unedited interviews conducted by Clare Spark. Between 1969
and 1981 Clare Spark produced radio shows (many under the title of
The Sour Apple Tree) for KPFK-FM. Her programming interests included topics in the arts as well as history, politics, and music. Spark's engaged
with intellectuals and leading figures in the art world on her radio programs, including Irving Blum, Hans Haacke, Roy Lichtenstein,
Maurice Merleau-Ponty, Donald Barthelme, Allan Kaprow, Judy Chicago, François Truffaut, John Lennon, Robert Rauschenberg,
Henry Geldzahler among others. Programs often focused on individual figures and on subjects including the Art Workers Coalition,
the founding of the Woman's Building, the closing of Ferus Gallery, the activities of museum boards, the rise of Feminism
and media studies as disciplines, and the public reception of major exhibitions.
Clare Spark interviews with artists, curators, and intellectuals, 1968-1981, The Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles, Accession
no. 2010.M.91.
http://hdl.handle.net/10020/cifa2010m91
Contact
Library Reproductions and Permissions .
Audio tapes are unavailable until reformatted. Contact the repository for information regarding access.
Biographical / Historical Note
Clare Spark was born in 1937 in New York City. She received a bachelors degree from Cornell University in 1958 and went on
to receive graduate degrees from Harvard and UCLA in education and history respectively. From 1969 through 1998 she produced
hundreds of radio programs on the politics of the art world for Los Angeles Pacifica station KPFK. One program,
The Sour Apple Tree, aired weekly during the 1970s, addressing issues on the politics of culture. In 1980 she produced and hosted
The Afternoon Air on KPFK, a daily (weekday) three-hour montage of news, public affairs features, documentaries, music, and interviews. Spark
was Program Director for the radio station between 1981 and 1982.
Materials are arranged chronologically. Undated materials are arranged alphabetically by show title or provided description.
Dates given are mostly the broadcast dates. Specific broadcast dates and recording dates are included in the notes when available.
Titles were transcribed from labels or derived from handwritten notes.
The original inventory was made by Annette Doss in 2012. Laura Schroffel encoded the finding aid, completed processing, and
enhanced the description of the collection in 2014.
Selected recordings have been digitized:
http://hdl.handle.net/10020/2010m91
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Interviews -- United States -- 20th century
Audiotapes -- 20th century
Radio talk shows
Sound recordings -- United States -- 20th century
Audiocasettes -- United States -- 20th century
Radio interviews
Radio programs
Rauschenberg, Robert, 1925-2008
Merleau-Ponty, Maurice, 1908-1961
Truffaut, François
Spark, Clare
Kaprow, Allan
Haacke, Hans, 1936-
Lichtenstein, Roy, 1923-1997
Lennon, John, 1940-1980
Barthelme, Donald, 1907-1996
Blum, Irving, , 1930-
Chicago, Judy, 1939-
Geldzahler, Henry