Bob & Bob and The Dark Bob papers, 1974-2021

Collection Information

Size: 11 Linear feet

Summary: The Bob & Bob and The Dark Bob papers measure 11.0 linear feet and date between 1974 and 2021. The papers document the careers of California performing artists known as The Light Bob and The Dark Bob through correspondence with art galleries, radio broadcast stations, and record companies; audio recordings, film and video recordings, resumes, and contract agreements pertaining to shows they produced for sound and video recording studios and related professional material; clippings, catalogs, announcements, and other printed material; and photographs, slides, negatives, and transparencies of artwork and performances.

Biographical/Historical Note

The Dark Bob and The Light Bob founded the art team Bob & Bob in the early 1970s in Los Angeles, California. They were part of early performance art in Los Angeles that used ironic humor and media stereotypes to critique the art world and surrounding society.

Provenance

The Bob & Bob papers were donated 2019 by Francis Shishim and Paul Velick and additional papers regarding The Dark Bob were donated in 2021 by Francis Shishim.

Language Note

English .

Funding Note

The processing of this collection received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care and Preservation Fund, administered by the National Collections Program and the Smithsonian Collections Advisory Committee.