Finding Aid for the Simon Toparovsky papers, 1995-
Processed by Elizabeth Sheehan, August 2006, and Kelley Wolfe Bachli, 2008; machine-readable finding aid created by Caroline
Cubé.
UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections
Manuscripts Division
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
Email: spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
URL: http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/special/scweb/
© 2006
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Simon Toparovsky papers
Date (inclusive): 1995-
Collection number: 1734
Creator:
Toparovsky, Simon.
Extent:
1 box (.5 linear ft.)
3 oversize boxes.
Abstract: Simon Toparovsky is a designer and sculptor whose work has been exhibited internationally. The collection consists of printed
material, exhibition brochures and catalogs, artwork, and clippings in English and Italian.
Language: Finding aid is written in
English,
Italian.
Repository:
University of California, Los Angeles. Library. Department of Special Collections.
Los Angeles, California 90095-1575
Physical location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library, Department
of Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Administrative Information
Restrictions on Access
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the UCLA Library, Department
of Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
Property rights to the physical object belong to the UCLA Library,
Department of Special Collections. Literary rights, including copyright,
are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of
the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the
copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC
Regents do not hold the copyright.
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
Gift of Simon Toparovsky, 2006 and 2007.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Simon Toparovsky papers (Collection 1734). Department of Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research
Library, UCLA.
UCLA Catalog Record ID
Biography
Simon Toparovsky studied at Temple University, University of California, Berkeley, and California College of Arts and Crafts
in Oakland. He began his professional career as an apprentice to hand bookbinders in the United States and England, where
he studied the restoration and conservation of rare books. In 1976 he was chosen as the head of the apprenticeship program
at the Center for Book Arts in New York. While there he taught and created original work, some of which has been acquired
by the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum and the Smithsonian Institution. In the 1980s, Toparovsky transitioned from working
with visual books to creating narrative sculptures. He creates both private and public art, including, in 2002, the design
for the main altar crucifix for the Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels in Los Angeles. His other works have been exhibited and
purchased by such organizations as the Museum of Modern Art (New York) and the Getty Center (Los Angeles). Toparovsky lives
and works in Los Angeles, California and Milan, Italy.
Scope and Content
This collection documents exhibitions of sculptor Simon Toparovsky. The catalogs, brochures, artwork, and clippings in it
are derived from several of his solo and collaborative efforts from 1995 to ca. 2007. Languages of the material are English
and Italian.
Organization and Arrangement
Arranged by exhibition title:
- Ex occidente lux
- Flight of Icarus
- La costituzione Americana
- Tutte le storie.
- Qui Del Dicible
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
COLLECTION CONTAINS DIGITAL MATERIALS: Special equipment or further processing may be required for viewing. To access digital
materials you must notify the reference desk in advance of your visit.
Processing History
Simon Toparovsky donated material from several of his exhibitions in 2006 and the material was rehoused and described. In
2007, Mr. Toparovsky donated additional materials relating to the exhibition Qui Del Dicibile. Processed by Elizabeth Sheehan
in the Center for Primary Research and Training (CFPRT), 2006. Additions to the collection were processed by Kelley Wolfe
Bachli in 2008.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Subjects
Toparovsky, Simon--Archives.
Sculptors--Archival resources.
Ex occidente lux
2003
Scope and Content Note
Series consists of printed material from first Italian solo exhibition.
Box 1, Folder 1
Brochure for exhibition in Italy
2003
Scope and Content Note
Studio f.22 Modern Art Gallery, Brescia, Italy. Essay by art critic, Eugenio Schatz, Milano.
Flight of icarus
1995
Scope and Content Note
Series contains printed material from Los Angeles exhibition at the Lizardi/Harp Gallery.
Box 1, Folder 2
Catalog of solo exhibition
1995 October
Scope and Content Note
Lizardi/Harp Gallery, Los Angeles. Essay by Robert Barrett.
La costituzione Americana
2002-2003
Scope and Content Note
Series contains printed material, clippings, and artwork from Milan exhibition.
Box 1, Folder 3
Catalog for a work in four hands, sculpture and painting installation with Ariel Soulé
2003
Scope and Content Note
Chiesa di San Paolo Converso, Milano, Italy. Essays and poetry.
Box 1, Folder 4
Installation brochure--San Paolo Converso
2003 March
Box 2, Folder 1
Concept proposal for exhibition
2003
Scope and Content Note
Proposal signed by the curator, Giani Donatelli, and the project architects, Andrea Giovanni Croce and Matteo Migliorini.
Box 2, Folder 2
L'art la facciamo in liberty = We make our art freely
2003 April 30
Scope and Content Note
Review of exhibit from Il Giorno.
Box 3, Folder 1
Artist's rendering of exhibition salon 1
2002 November
Scope and Content Note
Using watercolor, chalk, and collage material.
Box 3, Folder 2
Artist's rendering of exhibition salon 2
2002 November
Scope and Content Note
Using watercolor, chalk, and collage material.
Tutte le stories
ca. 2006
Scope and Content Note
Series contains printed material for exhibition scheduled for 2007 in Naples, Italy.
Box 2, Folder 3
Exhibition brochure
ca. 2006
Scope and Content Note
Chiesa dell'Incoronata, Napoli, 2007 (with A. Soulé).
Qui Del Dicible
2007
Scope and Content Note
Series contains print and audiovisual material for the exhibition of works by Simon Toparovsky and Ariel Soule in the church
of L'Incoronata in Naples, Italy.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
SERIES CONTAINS DIGITAL MATERIALS: Special equipment or further processing may be required for viewing. To access digital
materials you must notify the reference desk in advance of your visit.
Box 1, Folder 5
Qui Del Dicible exhibition catalog and booklet
2007
Box 1, Folder 6
Qui Del Dicible: film about the exhibition
2007
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
1 DVD.
Box 1, Folder 7
Qui Del Dicible: film about the artists and artworks in the exhibition created by Nicolangelo Gelormini
2007
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
1 DVD.
Box 4, Folder 1
Quijote Don prints by Ariel Soule, artist, Gianni Donatelli, author, Gianni Caldara, coordinator, and Grafiche Moretti, printer
undated
Physical Description: 10 prints, plus two sheets with colaphon and explanitory text, rolled in a 13 inch tall tin can with Don Quixote graphics
