Finding aid for the Clare Spark interviews with artists, curators, and intellectuals, 1968-1981 2010.M.91

Laura Schroffel
Special Collections
2014
1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 1100
Los Angeles 90049-1688
Business Number: (310) 440-7390
Fax Number: (310) 440-7780
reference@getty.edu


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.

Acquisition Information

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.

Preferred Citation

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

Publication Rights

Access

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.

Arrangement

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.

Processing History

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.

Digitized Material

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

 

Clare Spark interviews with artists, curators, and intellectuals,

box 1, item R1

Morality and Marijuana – The Case for Legalization, 1968 February 1

Scope and Contents note

Interviews with Jack Margolis and Luke McKissack. Recorded 1968 January 21.
box 6, item C1-C2

Billy Al Bengston, 1969 May 16, June 11

box 6, item C3

June Wayne, Maurice Tuchman, "Feb. 25, 1970 and Andrews – Wayne – Paul. Plagens, Alexander", 1969 July

box 4, item R2-R4

In the Style of De Kooning: The Bitch-Goddess and the Slipping Glimpser, 1969 August 29, October 9

In the Style of De Kooning: The Bitch-Goddess and the Slipping Glimpser (digitized version available on-site only): 1969 August 29, October 9

Scope and Contents note

A study of De Kooning and his impact on Los Angeles during the recent retrospective, with Willem De Kooning, June Wayne, Rosalind Wholden, Jane Livingston, and others.
box 6, item C4

Pasadena Museum, 1969 November 21

box 1, item R5-R6

The Scene: Art and Artists, 1970 February 4, 25, May 12

Scope and Contents note

Chouinard faculty protest and June Wayne speech at University of Iowa puts down corrupt art scene followed by Oliver Andrews, Peter Plagens, Peter Alexander.
box 1, item R7

The Sour Apple Tree: Art Now!, 1970 March 3, 5

Scope and Contents note

Interview with Robert Corrigan.
box 6, item C5

Max Kozloff, John Coplans, 1970 September 28

box 1, item R8

The Sour Apple Tree, 1970, 1972

Scope and Contents note

Interview with Franklin Murphy. 10/12/72, 9/21/70.
box 2, item R9

The Sour Apple Tree: Art Super Star, Super Show, 1971

Scope and Contents note

Swing along with Henry. Interview with Henry Geldzahler. 1/4/71, 1/10/71, 4/15/71, 8/16/71. Recorded 1970 October 16.
box 4, item R10-R11

Picasso, 1971 January 18

Scope and Contents note

Pablo's Party.
box 2, item R12

The Sour Apple Tree: Or, Today Only, the Rotten Pear Tree, 1971 March 20, August 1

Scope and Contents note

A talk on Daumier and political art generally.
box 4, item R13

Robert Rauschenberg interview, 1971 May 11

Robert Rauschenberg interview (digitized version available on-site only): 1971 May 11

box 4, item R14

The Sour Apple Tree, 1971 May, July

The Sour Apple Tree (digitized version available on-site only): 1971 May, July

Scope and Contents note

Robert Rauschenberg's Mud Muse, part 1 of 2. Interview with the artist on his art and technology project, May 1971. Mixed with sound piece by Petrie Mason, who was sound collaborator on the project. 5/23/71, 5/24/71, 7/1/71.
box 4, item R15-R17

Myths of Industrial Society, 1971 June 19

box 1, item R18

The Sour Apple Tree: Art and the Corporate State, 1971 September 15

Scope and Contents note

Interviews with Max Kozloff and John Coplans.
box 6, item C6

LACMA, Pablo's Party, 1971 October 25

box 1, item R19

Topanga, 1972 February 1

box 4, item R20-R21

Art in America: An Interview with Brian O'Doherty, 1972 February 19

Scope and Contents note

Recorded September 1972.
box 2, item R22

Are They Marxist Feminists or Feminist Marxists? 1972 April 12, 14

Scope and Contents note

"Or, after Consciousness Raising, What?" With Shierry Weber, Ethel Herring, Linda Eldon, Jackie Goldberg. Recorded 1972 April 8.
box 1, item R23

The Last Book Review: An Exercise in Modular Criticism, 1972 June, September 20

Scope and Contents note

Reviews of Rites of Passage by Apex T. Evans.
box 1, item R24

Navajo Blanket, 1972 July 25

Scope and Contents note

Probably With These Your Eyes You Shall Recover: The Navajo Blanket show, an interview with Mary Kahlenberg, co-organizer of the Navajo blanket exhibition at the Rice Museum.
box 2, item R25

David Ross, 1972 August 31

Scope and Contents note

Recorded 1972 July 27.
box 6, item C7

Brian O'Doherty, Stephen Weil, Hans Haacke, 1972 September 16

Brian O'Doherty, Stephen Weil, Hans Haacke, 1972 September 16 (digitized version available on-site only)

box 6, item C8

Steve Koch, 1972 September 20

box 4, item R26

Herbert Marcuse, 1972 December 26

box 2, item R27

The Sour Apple Tree: Topanga: Hideout or Alternative?, 1972, 1979

Scope and Contents note

Interviews with David Hitchcock, Jack and Barbara Rice, Richard Dehr, Bob Bates, Mike Cohen, Lyle Baum. 4/24/72, 6/10/72, 7/30/79, 11/1/79.
box 1, item R28

Paul Brach on Leo Steinberg, 1973 February 12

box 4, item R29

The Sour Apple Tree, 1973 March 26

The Sour Apple Tree, 1973 March 26 (digitized version available on-site only)

Scope and Contents note

The African Show at the LACMA. With Katherine Reswick, Alan Bassing, Stanley Swinger.
box 4, item R30-R31

The Sour Apple Tree, 1973 May 6

Scope and Contents note

The Feminist Studio Workshop. Interviews with Judy Chicago, Sheila de Brettville, Arlene Raven.
box 2, item R32

The Sour Apple Tree, 1973, 1975

The Sour Apple Tree: Interview with Allan Kaprow, 5/20/1973 (digitized version available on-site only)

Scope and Contents note

Interview with Allan Kaprow. 5/20/1973, 3/9/1975.
box 2, item R33

The Sour Apple Tree: Allan Kaprow, Part 2, 1973 June 1

The Sour Apple Tree: Allan Kaprow, Part 2 (digitized version available on-site only)

box 2, item R34

The Sour Apple Tree, 1973 June 10

Scope and Contents note

Interview with Irving Blum.
box 2, item R35

The Sour Apple Tree: Star-Gazing, 1973 June 17

Scope and Contents note

Interviews with Irving Blum and Steven Koch, and an epilogue from "The Gondoliers" by Gilbert and Sullivan.
box 4, item R36

Linda Nochlin's speech, 1973 September 15

Scope and Contents note

"How Feminism in the Arts Can Implement Social and Cultural Change," delivered at Conference on Women and the Arts, "Wingspread," Racine, Wisconsin.
box 2, item R37

The Sour Apple Tree: Truffaut Aux Camellias: The Making of a Radio Program, 1973 December 8, 11

Scope and Contents note

François Truffaut, Clare Spark, Jane Gordon (translator), and Barbara Spark (audience). Recorded 1973 August 20.
box 6, item C9

Brian O'Doherty, 1973 December 9

Brian O'Doherty, 1973 December 9 (digitized version available on-site only)

box 2, item R38

Lesbian Feminist Dialogue, 1974 March 22

Scope and Contents note

Speeches by Jill Johnston and Gloria Steinem.
box 3, item R39

The Sour Apple Tree: Final Exams, 1974 May 26, June 7

Scope and Contents note

Ten New York art scandals, phones. Recorded 1974 May 26.
box 3, item R40

Venus Observed: The Image of Women in Media, 1974 May 29

Scope and Contents note

Interview with members of Women's Anti-Defamation League.
box 4, item R41

The Sour Apple Tree: Hyphenated Expletives Need Not Apply, 1974 June 9

box 3, item R42

The Sour Apple Tree: Play Ball, the Aesthetics of Failure, 1974 June 16

box 1, item R43

The Sour Apple Tree: Brian O'Doherty on Public Art and Classic Containers, 1974 June 30, July 19

Scope and Contents note

Recorded 1974 May.
box 5, item R44

The Sour Apple Tree: Hoopes on American Narrative Painting, 1974 July 6

Scope and Contents note

Donerlson F. Hoopes, senior curator of American Art at Los Angeles County Museum of Art, describes his show.
box 3, item R45

The Sour Apple Tree: Karats and Styx, 1974 September 11, 24

Scope and Contents note

Victor Wolfenstein and Joseph Byrd.
box 1, item R46

The Sour Apple Tree: Museum, 1974 October 20

box 3, item R47

German Expressionist Exhibit, 1977 March 22, April 8

Scope and Contents note

Joan Vogel.
box 3, item R48

The Sour Apple Tree: Hard Core, 1979 February 18, 20

box 6, item C10

"Unprovoked Attack" – Art Damage, Chuck Steak, KPFK 1-24-81," "Unprovoked Attack" excerpts, 1981 January 24

box 6, item C11

Black Party, National, 1981 February 14

box 5, item R49

Lowell Ponte Commentary, 1981 February 20

box 7, item C28

Roger Angell (2), John Hightower (1), undated

box 7, item C23

6 14, 5 Art-Rite 13, undated

box 6, item C15

Art-Rite Dec., Carl Baldwin, undated

box 7, item C31

Donald Barthelme, Roger Angell, undated

box 6, item C16

John Canaday, undated

Scope and Contents note

Monaural.
box 8, item C44

3 Carmichael, undated

box 6, item C14

De Kooning opening, Livingstone & Snyder, undated

De Kooning opening, Livingstone & Snyder (digitized version available on-site only): undated

box 6, item C19

Richard Foreman, Douglas Davis, undated

box 7, item C36

Stephan Garrett (Getty Museum), undated

box 5, item R51

Feedback I: Introduction to TV as a Medium, undated

Scope and Contents note

Voices include Ed Murrow, Eric Barkowes ?, C. Wright Mills, Rudolf Arnheim, Thomas Irving, DeSartie, J. Wm. Fulbright, Norbert Weiner.
box 5, item R52

Feedback II: The Image Empire, undated

Scope and Contents note

Comments by Nicholas Johnson, Jerry della Femina, Les Brown, Bill Greely, Thomas Staffor, Evelyn Sarson, Peggy Charren, Hy Goldin, Spiro T. Agnew.
box 5, item R53

Feedback III: The Fourth Network, undated

Scope and Contents note

Comments by Hartford Gunn, Theodore Conant, Stuart Sucherman, Av Westin, Al Levin, Robert Dahl, Frederick Bohen, and Bill Greeley.
box 5, item R54

Feedback IV: A Cultural Criticism of Broadcast Journalism, undated

box 5, item R55

Feedback V: A Cultural Critique of Broadcast Entertainment, undated

Scope and Contents note

Featuring Herminio Traviesas, Thoman Swafford, Alfred Schneider, Al Ruben, Ernest Kinoy, Monya Starr, Bill Greely, Robert Shayon, Ruby Dee, Dick Cavett.
box 6, item C12

Frank Gehry, John Patier (sp?), undated

Scope and Contents note

8/3
box 7, item C37

Gorewitz [?], John Hightower, undated

box 7, item C39

Hans Haacke, undated

box 7, item C24

Hans Haacke, Bernstein, undated

box 7, item C30

Hans Haacke, Weil, undated

Hans Haacke, Weil (digitized version available on-site only): undated

box 3, item R56

Hoops or Great American Country, undated

box 3, item R50

The Last Book Review: An Exercise in Modular Criticism, undated

Scope and Contents note

Rites of Passage by Apex T. Evans. A work of homosexual hard core pornography is reviewed by two vanguard composers, a philosopher, a sculptor, an ex-waitress, and a culturist.
box 8, item C43

Sherman Lee and Ralph Burgard, High art versus popular art, 1975 July 11

Sherman Lee and Ralph Burgard, 'High art versus popular art' (digitized version available on-site only): 1975 July 11

Scope and Contents note

Introduced by John Hightower, Associated Councils of the Arts annual meeting, Cleveland.
box 1, item R57-R58

John Lennon, undated

box 7, item C40

Roy Lichtenstein, undated

Roy Lichtenstein (digitized version available on-site only)

box 7, item C38

Lucy R. Lippard, undated

box 8, item C41

Lucy R. Lippard, undated

box 6, item C13

Museum Mexican Fiesta, Kushman (?) Wayne (?), undated

box 6, item C17

Brian O'Doherty (Public Art), undated

box 7, item C33

Brian O'Doherty, part 2, Dec 10, Howardina Pindell, Dec 10, undated

Brian O'Doherty, part 2, Dec 10, Howardina Pindell, Dec 10, undated (digitized version available on-site only)

box 7, item C26

Pepsi Pavilion, Jon Hendricks and JeanToche, undated

box 6, item C18

Peter Plagens, undated

box 7, item C34

1 – Scream – Bob Wilson's grandma [?] – Subway – 2 – Museum Workers – 20-415 – Clare, 2 Museum Workers Dec 5 – Angell 3 – Clare, undated

box 5, item R59

The Sour Apple Tree: Acting Out, undated

Scope and Contents note

Interviews with Richard Foreman and Janet Coleman with David Dozer.
box 5, item R60

The Sour Apple Tree, undated

Scope and Contents note

Alan Kaprow. Music by John Cage: Concerto for Prepared Piano and Orchestra.
box 5, item R61

The Sour Apple Tree: Alan Kaprow Part II, undated

box 5, item R62

The Sour Apple Tree: John Hightower or Some Cases of Mistaken Identity, undated

Scope and Contents note

Also identified as The Sour Apple Tree: John Hightower, an Advocate for the Arts. July 7 Reel 1 of 2.
box 5, item R63

The Sour Apple Tree, undated

Scope and Contents note

John Hightower. July 7.
box 3, item R64

The Sour Apple Tree, undated

Scope and Contents note

Women's Coalition for Better Broadcasting.
box 7, item C25

Nancy Spero, Leon Golub, undated

box 7, item C35

Spero, Golub, Classic Container Corp – 12:10 A.M. – follow Brian O'Doherty, undated

box 8, item C42

Frank Stella, Max Kozloff, undated

box 7, item C27

Mary Stevenson, undated

box 7, item C22

Susan [illegible] MoMA, [illegible – maybe LACMA] 8, undated

box 7, item C29

Megan Terry, John Hightower Aug 7 (2), undated

box 7, item C32

Andy Warhol, undated

box 6, item C20

June Wayne, Ed Ruscha, Ron Davis, undated

Scope and Contents

Tape is blank and therefore unable to be digitized.
box 7, item C21

WK cl – Racism 3, Racism sexism 4, undated

box 8, item C45

Unidentified, undated

Box 9, Box 10, Box 11

Original housing and various materials, 1968-1981

Original housing and various materials (digital version available on-site only)

Scope and Contents

Includes original housing for audio reel tapes and some notes.