Finding aid for the Wolfgang Stoerchle papers, 1952-2007, bulk 1968-1998 2009.M.16
Emmabeth Nanol
Special Collections
2010
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: Wolfgang Stoerchle papers
Creator: Paik, Nam June, 1932-2006
Creator: Wegman, William
Creator: Williams, Emmett
Creator: Winer, Helene, 1946-
Creator: Kaprow, Allan
Creator: Lentz, Daniel, 1942-
Creator: Stoerchle, Wolfgang
Identifier/Call Number: 2009.M.16
Physical Description: 5.17 Linear Feet(12 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1952-2007
Abstract: The archive of conceptual, video, and performance artist Wolfgang Stoerchle documents his brief career through video and sound
recordings, correspondence, notes, clippings, and photographic materials.
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 .
Language of Material: Description is in English.
Preferred Citation
Wolfgang Stoerchle papers, 1952-2007, The Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles, Accession no. 2009.M.16
http://hdl.handle.net/10020/cifa2009m16
Access
Open for use by qualified researchers.
Scope and Content of Collection
The archive contains documentation of work produced by Stoerchle during his short career, as well as a small amount of personal
material. A significant component of the archive is a set of half-inch open-reel tapes documenting Stoerchle's experiments
with video. In addition to his well-known works, the videos also include documentation of some of Stoerchle's lesser-known
works, such as a live performance with Viva, some of his more provocative performances, and a television "dinner" performance
produced with Allan Kaprow, Emmett Williams, and Helene Winer. Also included are audiotapes of Stoerchle's sound works and
a slide and sound installation. The archive contains a small number of works by other artists, including early video reels
by Nam June Paik and William Wegman, and sound works made by Daniel Lentz in honor of Stoerchle.
Also included in the papers is a small selection of photographs of works Stoerchle produced as an undergraduate student at
the University of Oklahoma, extensive photographic documentation of sculptures and performances he produced at UCSB, CalArts,
and elsewhere in Los Angeles, and images of drawings and sculpture he produced in Santa Fe and Mexico. Stoerchle's childhood
is represented by a few family photographs and images of drawings and sculptures he made in his youth.
Among the limited correspondence are letters received by Stoerchle, personal lettersbetween Stoerchle and his wife, Carol
Lingham, and letters to Lingham following Stoerchle's death, including some lengthy remembrances by friends. The archive also
contains an extensive set of press clippings about Stoerchle during his lifetime. Much of the archive was assembled by Lingham
after Stoerchle's death.
Processing History
Vladimira Stefura processed and created a box list of the archive in June 2009. Later in 2009 and 2010 Emmabeth Nanol further
processed the archive, devised the arrangement, and expanded the box list into a preliminary finding aid under the supervision
of Andra Darlington.
Acquisition Information
The archive was acquired from Carol Lingham in 2009.
Biographical/Historical Note
Wolfgang Stoerchle was an important figure in the development of performance and video art in Southern California in the 1970s.
Born in Germany, Stoerchle emigrated to Toronto, Canada with his family in 1959. In 1962 he and his brother Peter rode horseback
through the United States for ten months to Los Angeles, where Stoerchle lived from 1963 to 1964.
After attending the University of Oklahoma from 1964 to 1968, Stoerchle enrolled in the MFA program at the University of California,
Santa Barbara. While there he began experimenting with performance and sound art. He performed throughout California with
Miles Varner and Daniel Lentz in a group called California Time Machine. In 1970 Allan Kaprow recruited Stoerchle to teach
in the Post-Studio Art program at the California Institute of the Arts. Encouraged by Nam June Paik, who was also teaching
at CalArts during this time, Stoerchle began experimenting with video. Collectively, his video works show a complete dissection
of the medium, isolating nearly every formal property of video and turning it towards often poignant efforts to capture and
contain the body.
Stoerchle was included in a number of important exhibitions in the early 1970s, including 24 Young Artists at LACMA in 1971,
the Pier 18 exhibition at MoMA, and a two-person exhibition with William Wegman at Sidney Janis gallery. He moved to New York
in 1973 and shifted his concentration from the abstract and conceptual work that had garnered so much attention, to blunt
depictions of sexuality and nudity. Stoerchle left New York by the middle of 1973.
During the last three years of his life Stoerchle moved back and forth between Mexico City, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and
Santa Fe, where he lived with his second wife, Carol Lingham, whom he married in 1974. Stoerchle continued producing art during
this time, primarily fiery abstract pencil drawings and ephemeral sculptures resembling rudimentary shrines and mounds. In
the fall of 1975, he presented his final performance in John Baldessari's studio. On March 14, 1976, Stoerchle died following
injuries suffered in a car accident.
Arrangement
Organized in four series: Series I. Personal files, 1952-2007; Series II. Documentation of artworks, 1968-1975, undated; Series
III. Materials about Stoerchle, 1965-2006, undated; Series IV. Audiovisual materials, 1970-2006, undated.
Publication Rights
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Performance art -- 20th century
Performance art -- California -- Los Angeles
Video art -- 20th century
Video art -- California -- Los Angeles
Videotapes
Sound recordings -- 20th century
Photographic prints -- 20th century
Photographs, Original
Correspondence -- 20th century
Stoerchle, Wolfgang
Personal files, Series I.
1952-2007
Physical Description: 0.6 Linear Feet(2 boxes)
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
Scope and Contents note
This series contains correspondence, notes, marriage and death certificates, photocopies of childhood photographs, items relating
to Stoerchle's car accident, and letters received by his widow, Carol Lingham, after his death. The materials were originally
assembled by Lingham in a black binder, which was dismantled for conservation purposes.
box 1, folder 2
Legal documents,
1959-1976
Trek through America on horseback,
1962-1964
Scope and Contents
Included are fake newspaper articles and several clippings from small-town newspapers related to Stoerchle's horseback trip
across the United States.
Portraits of Stoerchle,
circa 1970
box 1, folder 4
Black and white photographs
box 1, folder 5
Stoerchle's notes,
1971-1975
Scope and Contents
Folder also contains Stoerchle's address book from 1971.
box 1, folder 6
Correspondence,
1975-1996
Scope and Contents
Includes letters to Carol Lingham years after Stoerchle's death.
box 1, folder 7
Materials relating to Stoerchle's car accident,
1976
box 1, folder 8
Lingham's notes,
1996-2007
Documentation of artworks, Series II.
1968-1975, undated
Physical Description: 2.71 Linear Feet(5 boxes)
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
Scope and Contents note
This series primarily contains photographic documentation of Stoerchle's artworks, from an early exhibition of paintings and
sculpture to his final performance.
Paintings and sculpture,
1968
Scope and Contents
Exhibition at University of California, Santa Barbara Graduate Gallery.
box 6
Slides, negatives and transparencies
Scope and Contents
In sleeves 1-3.
box 6
Slides, negatives and transparencies
Scope and Contents
In sleeve 4.
Gastronomics System,
1970
box 6
Slides, negatives and transparencies
Scope and Contents
In sleeves 5-6.
Plaster Pieces,
1970-1971
box 6
Slides, negatives and transparencies
Scope and Contents
In sleeves 7-25.
Plaster Drop events,
1970-1971
box 6
Slides, negatives and transparencies
Scope and Contents
In sleeves 26-29.
Ashley-Buckley-Stoerchle Sound III,
1970
box 8, item D2
Sound disc
Scope and Contents
1 sound disc : 45 rpm. (2 copies)
Budd-Lentz-Stoerchle,
1970
box 6
Slides
Scope and Contents
In sleeves 30-31.
Exchange of Clothes event,
1970
Scope and Contents
At Storke Plaza, University of California, Santa Barbara.
box 6
Slides, negatives and transparencies
Scope and Contents
In sleeves 32-35.
Arm Wrestling,
1970
Scope and Contents
With Robert Morris at Butler Gallery, Santa Barbara.
box 2, folder 9
Newspaper clippings and photographs
box 6
Slides and transparencies
Scope and Contents
In sleeves 36-40.
Video works,
1970-1972
Scope and Contents
See also boxes 8-10 for related audiovisual materials.
box 6
Slides, negatives and transparencies
Scope and Contents
In sleeves 41-47.
Light Piece,
1972-1973
Scope and Contents
At California Institute of the Arts.
box 6
Slide and negatives
Scope and Contents
In sleeves 48-49.
Attempt Public Erection,
1972
box 6
Negatives
Scope and Contents
In sleeve 50.
Pomona College performance,
1972
box 6
Transparency
Scope and Contents
In sleeve 51.
box 6
Slide
Scope and Contents
In sleeve 52.
Wolf on table - jumping off,
1972
box 6
Negatives
Scope and Contents
In sleeve 53.
Last performance,
1975
Scope and Contents
At John Baldessari studio.
box 6
Slides and transparencies
Scope and Contents
In sleeves 54-56.
box 6
Slides and negatives
Scope and Contents
In sleeves 57-59.
Miscellaneous,
1970, undated
box 6
Negatives
Scope and Contents
In sleeves 60-61.
Stoerchle's original sketches,
1975, undated
Materials about Stoerchle, Series III.
1965-2006, undated
Physical Description: 0.44 Linear Feet(1 box)
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
Scope and Contents note
This series contains newspaper articles and clippings relating to Stoerchle's exhibitions, as well as other artists' works
about Stoerchle, including a retrospective exhibition in 1996.
box 3, folder 1
Newspaper clippings,
1965-1972, undated
Scope and Contents
Folder includes newspaper reviews of Stoerchle's performances: Video Works at the Janis Gallery (1970-1971) and Art as Illusion
at Pomona College Gallery (1972).
box 3, folder 3
Daniel Lentz,
1983
Processing Information
See also box 8-10 for related audiovisual materials.
box 3, folder 5
Elizabeth Gilchrist,
1979-1998
box 3, folder 6
Centre national d'art contemporain de Grenoble,
1996-1997
Audiovisual Materials, Series IV.
1970-2006, undated
Physical Description: 2.02 Linear Feet(4 boxes)
Arrangement
Arranged according to medium.
Scope and Contents note
The bulk of this series contains audio and video materials relating to Stoerchle's works, including the video artworks themselves,
recordings of performances, and video from a retrospective exhibition organized after his death. Also included are audio recordings
of Daniel Lentz's "Requiem of Wolfgang Stoerchle."
Titles of video works are inconsistent in Stoerchle's use. Many tapes are compilations of works arranged by Stoerchle as publicity
samples, resulting in the renaming and duplication of some works. V11, V14, V16, V18, V19, and V22 are duplicates of other
digitized tapes and are therefore unavailable for reformatting. V8 is duplicative of a digitized video from Kaprow (980063)
and therefore was not digitized. V13 is damaged and unavailable for reformatting. V15 is blank.
Sound recordings,
1976-2006, undated
box 7, item D1
Daniel Lentz, "On the Leopard Altar,"
2006
Scope and Contents
1 compact disc, 4 3/4 in.
box 8, item C1
Daniel Lentz, "Requiem: In Memoriam Wolfgang Stoerchle,"
1976
Daniel Lentz, Requiem: In Memoriam Wolfgang Stoerchle (digitized version available on-site only)
Scope and Contents
1 sound cassette, 3 7/8 x 2 1/2 in.
"Stereo soundtrack for slide piece,"
undated
"Stereo soundtrack for slide piece" (digitized version available on-site only)
box 8, item R1
Audio recording
Scope and Contents
1 sound tape reel, 7 in.
box 6
Slide
Scope and Contents
In sleeve 62.
box 8, item R2
"Soundtrack for live performance,"
undated
"Soundtrack for live performance" (digitized version available on-site only)
Scope and Contents
1 sound tape reel, 5 in.
box 11, item D2
Ashley, Buckley, Stoerchle, Mills College,
Sound III,
undated
Scope and Contents note
1 sound disc : 45 rpm (2 copies). Contents: side 1. Match I (2:20); side 2. Match II (2:38).
box 11, item D3
Daniel Lentz,
After Images,
1981
Scope and Contents
1 sound disc : 33 1/3 rpm. Contents: side 1. Slow Motion Mirror (4:20); Midnight White (3:10), Solar Cadence (4:46); side
2. Dancing on the Sun (12:11).
Video recordings,
1970-1972, undated
box 9, item V1
"Sue Turning 000-285, Walla Walla 285,"
undated
Sue Turning 000-285, Walla Walla 285 (digital version available on-site only)
Scope and Contents
1 videoreel, 1/2 in. tape.
box 9, item V2
"Close up Sketching, Shoot with Different Sound Tracks, Scraping Things off the Wall,"
undated
Close up Sketching, Shoot with Different Sound Tracks, Scraping Things off the Wall
Scope and Contents
1 videoreel, 1/2 in. tape.
box 9, item V3
"Empty The Ring Stuff #475, New drafting, New undressing,"
undated
Empty The Ring Stuff #475, New drafting, New undressing
Scope and Contents
1 videoreel, 1/2 in. tape.
box 9, item V4
"Hypnosis piece 11. Ultra, Humphrey, Peter,"
undated
Hypnosis piece 11. Ultra, Humphrey, Peter (digital version available on-site only)
Scope and Contents
1 videoreel, 1/2 in. tape.
box 9, item V5
"John's Outline (look up),"
undated
John's Outline (look up) (digital version available on-site only)
Scope and Contents
1 videoreel, 1/2 in. tape.
box 9, item V6
Untitled,
undated
Untitled (digital version available on-site only)
Scope and Contents
1 videoreel, 1/2 in. tape.
box 9, item V7
"A.T.E. No.1 Dinner Party,"
undated
A.T.E. No.1 Dinner Party (digital version available on-site only)
Scope and Contents
1 videoreel, 1/2 in. tape.
box 9, item V8
"Video works,"
1970-1972
Wolfgang Stoerchle, Video Works, 1970-1972 (digitized version available on-site only)
Scope and Contents
1 videoreel, b&w, 1/2 in. tape. Contents: 1. Running with light; 2. Dirt blowing; 3. Dirt through window; 4. Box dropping;
5. Girl by ladder; 6. Shoe piece; 7. Walking upside down; 8. Running upside down; 9. Penis; 10. Penis with Disney characters.
Digitized version is from Allan Kaprow papers, ca. 1940-1997, 980063, V69.
box 9, item V9
"Good tape (performance),"
undated
Good tape (performance) (digital version available on-site only)
Scope and Contents
1 videoreel, 1/2 in. tape.
box 9, item V10
"Color (Penis),"
undated
Color (Penis)
Scope and Contents
1 videoreel, 1/2 in. tape.
box 9, item V11
"[...] movement [...] loft (Finding [...]),"
undated
Scope and Contents
1 videoreel, 1/2 in. tape. Some text on the label is illegible.
Content on this reel is redundant to other videos already available from this collection. Therefore this reel was not reformatted.
box 9, item V12
"Ultra interview ( [...] - Writer),"
undated
Ultra interview ( [...] - Writer) (digital version available on-site only)
Scope and Contents
1 videoreel, 1/2 in. tape. Some text on the label is illegible.
box 9, item V13
"Short pieces,"
undated
Scope and Contents
1 videoreel, 1/2 in. tape. Contents: 10. Running with light; 11. Dirt blowing; 12. Sitting on TV; 13. Running upside down;
14. Penis; 15. Disney toys; 16. Drawing; 17. Black & white roll; 18. Crawling out of cloth.
This reel is damaged and unavailable for reformatting due to physical condition.
box 9, item V14
"Good tapes,"
undated
Scope and Contents
1 videoreel, 1/2 in. tape.
Content on this reel is redundant to other videos already available from this collection. Therefore this reel was not reformatted.
box 9, item V15
"Theory testing conference. Tape I. Terry Grzyb-Wysocki,"
1977 Jul 15
Scope and Contents
1 videoreel, 1/2 in. tape. Numbered on label: "1." Blank tape.
box 9, item V16
"Video Works 1970-72. Standing nude,"
1970-1972
Scope and Contents
1 videoreel, b&w, 1/2 in. tape. Numbered on label: "2."
Content on this reel is redundant to other videos already available from this collection. Therefore this reel was not reformatted.
box 9, item V17
"Pomona Performance Piece,"
undated
Pomona Performance Piece (digital version available on-site only)
Scope and Contents
1 videoreel, 1/2 in. tape. Numbered on label: "3."
box 9, item V18
Compilation,
undated
Scope and Contents
1 videoreel, 1/2 in. tape. Contents: Running with light; Dirt blowing; Dirt through window; Box dropping; Girl sitting by
ladder. Numbered on label: "6."
Content on this reel is redundant to other videos already available from this collection. Therefore this reel was not reformatted.
box 9, item V19
Compilation,
undated
Scope and Contents
1 videoreel, 1/2 in. tape. Contents: 1. Shoe piece; 2. Walking upside down; 3. Running upside down; 4. Penis; 5. Penis with
Disney characters. Numbered on label: "7."
Content on this reel is redundant to other videos already available from this collection. Therefore this reel was not reformatted.
box 9, item V20
"Video part for performance in Boston,"
undated
Video part for performance in Boston (digital version available on-site only)
Scope and Contents
1 videoreel, 1/2 in. tape. Numbered on label: "8."
box 9, item V21
Compilation,
undated
Compilation
Scope and Contents
1 videoreel, 1/2 in. tape. Contents: 1. Drawing tape; 2. Ball bouncing; 3. Small passport pictures; 4. Talking with letter.
Numbered on label: "9."
box 9, item V22
Compilation,
undated
Scope and Contents
1 videoreel, 1/2 in. tape. Contents: 1. Undressing; 2. Cloth; 3. Draping; 4. MFA show; 5. Armwrestling (Morris). Numbered
on label: "10."
Content on this reel is redundant to other videos already available from this collection. Therefore this reel was not reformatted.
box 9, item V23
Compilation,
undated
Compilation (digital version available on-site only)
Scope and Contents
1 videoreel, 1/2 in. tape. 1. Waiting; 2. Sitting in chair (27 st.); 3. Christian & Ultra. Numbered on label: "12."
box 10, item V24
"Food Stuff,"
1972
Food Stuff
Scope and Contents
1 videoreel, 1/2 in. tape. Contents: 1. sandwich; 2. apple; 3. lunch; 4. dinner; 5. eating a carrot (with face in the dark);
6. apple with flashlight vertical roll. Numbered on label: "13."
box 10, item V25
"All Good Tape,"
undated
All Good Tape
Scope and Contents
1 videoreel, 1/2 in. tape. Numbered on label: "14."
box 10, item V26
"use for audio & visual com?,"
undated
use for audio & visual com? (digital version available on-site only)
Scope and Contents
1 videoreel, 1/2 in. tape. Numbered on label: "15."
box 10, item V27
"Wolf is Dead: performances and videotapes of Wolfgang Stoerchle,"
1982
Scope and Contents
1 videoreel, 1 in. tape. "Saturday, December 11, [1982], 8:00 pm, Santa Barbara Contemporary Arts Forum. Transfers made by
Lentz/ Dunlap/ Erenburg 'Wolf is Dead." Title of exhibit. Also title of Requiem by Lentz"--label.
box 10, item V28
"William Wegman, John Baldessari,"
undated
Scope and Contents
1 videoreel, 1/2 in. tape.
box 10, item V29
"Hot Dogs for Gaugin,"
undated
Hot Dogs for Gauguin (digital version available on-site only)
Scope and Contents
1 videoreel, 1/2 in. tape. Short film by Martin Brest.
box 10, item V30
"Bill Viola, Stuart Birnbaum, Lowell Darling, Nam June Paik,"
undated
Scope and Contents
1 videoreel, 1/2 in. tape. Contents: 1. Bill Viola,
Return; 2. Bill Viola,
Information; 3. Stuart Birnbaum
Depression; 4. Lowell Darling
L.A. Acupuncture; 5. Nam June Paik
Global Groove.