Elyn Zimmerman papers, 1967-2023

Correspondence dates from 1978-2011 and is comprised predominately of received letters and, to a lesser extent, drafts and copies of outgoing letters. The letters, postcards, memoranda, and printed emails found here are both personal and professional and pertain to work, projects, exhibitions, and life events. Notable and frequent correspondents include Zimmerman's late husband, curator Kirk Varnedoe, arts advocate Agnes Gund, and artists Ruth Dicker, Richard Diebenkorn, Kady Hoffman, and Masami Teraoka. Less frequent notable letters were received from Richard Avedon, Ed Colker, Joel Fischer, Shirley Jaffe, Jon Kessler, Lucio Pozzi, Cherie Raciti, Nan Rosenthal, Robert Storr, James Turrell, and DeWain Valentine.

Interviews include digital videos of Zimmerman discussing her work for commission projects between circa 1991 and 2005. Projects of note include "An Artist at Work," "Archeos," and "Sanctuary."

The writings, agendas, and address books date from 1970-2003. Writings include drafts of journal articles, a book mock-up, 4 journals, notes on filmmaking, philosophy, art, personal matters, and projects, and statements pertaining to Zimmerman's art practice. Also filed here is one essay regarding Zimmerman by Yoji Sasaki. Agendas record daily plans and activities from 1978-2001 and address books record contacts from 1977-1995.

Project and commission files comprise the bulk of the collection, and comprehensively document dozens of Zimmerman's site-specific sculptural projects and proposals for public and private sites across the United States and internationally. Many of the projects, both temporary and permanent, were designed for the outdoors and incorporate granite, water features, and landscape architecture. The documents capture the many phases of each project including proposals, planning, site visits, contracting, construction, fabrication, transportation, installation, completion, restoration, and preservation. Material includes correspondence, contracts, photographs, slides, models, blueprints, and original sketches and drawings. The files include a small number of born digital records, including digital images of projects, construction sites, and floorplans, as well as PowerPoint presentations.

Major projects documented here include Marabar at the National Geographic Society in Washington, DC, Terrain at O'Hare International Center, Keystone Island at the Dade County courthouse in Miami, Lithos I at the Manufacturers Life Insurance Tower in Los Angeles, First Market Plaza in San Francisco, Sanctuary at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, the Birmingham Museum of Art Sculpture Garden, Free Fall at the Cancer Institute in New Brunswick, Wa Marafiki Mkusanyiko at the US Embassy in Tanzania, the Watercourse at Bentall in Vancouver, and Capsouto Park in New York City. Also included are building plans for the reinstallment of Marabar which was moved from National Geographic's headquarters to American University in Washington, D.C. and renamed Sudama.

In addition to these site-specific works, project files, sketches, and stencils pertaining to a series of encaustic drawings titled "Ceremonial Objects" are also filed here. Included here as well are a few files related to residencies, fellowships, and a panel presented at the College Art Association conference.

Files are arranged chronologically by project date. Most files contain additional oversized material arranged at the end of the series.

Exhibition files date from 1969-2015 and document Zimmerman's site-specific installations and exhibitions in a gallery and museum context. Files include correspondence, photographs, slides, statements, press releases, shipping information, and price lists. Many files from the 1970s include large scale drawings of the proposed installations. Several files pertaining to Zimmerman's exhibitions at Gagosian gallery include models and blueprints for large-scale stone works.

Teaching files date from 1970-1994 and document the many courses Zimmerman taught at colleges in California and on the east coast. Items include syllabi, assignments, lecture notes, reading lists, articles, and a sound recording of Duchamp's "The Creative Act." As a recent graduate in the 1970s, Zimmerman taught a wide variety of art courses throughout California, including painting, drawing, and design. Later in her career in the 1990s, Zimmerman taught predominantly in architecture and landscape architecture.

Printed material dates from 1970-2018 and primarily includes items cataloging Zimmerman's career. The extensive exhibition announcements and catalogs provide robust documentation of Zimmerman's exhibitions over the last four decades. Press clippings and reviews document her projects and commissions, as well as exhibitions. A few memorials for artist friends are also found here, as well as a report from a roundtable discussion that Zimmerman participated in. Subject files were saved and collected by Zimmerman and are arranged at the end of the series.

Photographic material documents Zimmerman's early photography, sculptures, and installations of projects, commissioned works, and exhibitions between 1967 and 2018. Materials include color and black and white slides, negatives, contact sheets, prints, and digital photographs. Candid photographs of Zimmerman and project team members depict installation work and events related to the projects.