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Ricky Gomez
Scope and Contents
The papers of Diogenes Ballester measure 6.0 linear feet, and date from 1973 to 2020. The papers document his career as an artist, educator, and writer through correspondence with family and friends, and various museums and galleries; notes, drafts of articles, drafts of lecture and presentation transcripts, and other writings; inventories, price lists, ledger books, and other personal business records; resumes, artist statements, exhibition files, and other professional activity files; clippings, articles, exhibition announcements and catalogs, and other printed material; and photographs and slides of Ballester, some of his family and friends, and of some of his artwork.
Correspondence includes letters from his wife, Maria Boncher, artist Marshall Weber, cover letters, letter of recommendation, and letters with various museums and galleries. Also included is a booklet of letters and drawings from students at Project YES, an arts program for children.
Writings include drafts for articles written by Ballester, articles written by Shifra Goldman, drafts for a book on Ballester and drafts lectures and presentations given by Ballester. Also included are a number of notepads and miscellaneous notes.
Personal business records consist of inventories and price lists, invoices, two ledger books, copies of checks and receipts, and proposals and blueprints for the establishment of an artist-in-residency program in Puerto Rico.
Professional activity files consist of exhibitions that Ballester participated in at various biennials in graphic arts around the world. Some of these locations include San Juan, Puerto Rico; Krakow, Poland; and Taipei. Among the materials on biennials are a number of files pertaining to the San Juan Biennial on Printmaking from 1986 to 2010. These files contain lecture transcripts, clippings, articles by Ballester and others, draft exhibition catalogs, and notes. Also included are some exhibition files for exhibitions held at museums in the United States, proposals for exhibitions, artist statements, resumes, and binders documenting his professional career. The binders contain resumes, artist statements and narratives, some exhibition announcements and press releases, and photographs of artwork. Also included are some sketches by Ballester.
Printed material consists of articles on and written by Ballester, clippings, newsletters, exhibition announcements, exhibition catalogs, press releases, and posters.
Photographic material consists of photographs of Ballester, photographs of Ballester with friends and family, photographs of an exhibition, and photographs and slides of artwork.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated in 2022 by Diógenes Ballester.
Processing Information
The collection was processed, and a finding aid prepared by Ricky Gomez in 2022.
