Irving Petlin papers, 1952-2014, bulk 1970-1990

Exhibition files include materials documenting two exhibitions that demonstrate Petlin's lifelong work as an artist and activist. Files related to 1984's collaborative exhibition, "Artists' Call Against U.S. Intervention in Central America," include notes; draft artists' statements; correspondence; clippings; a mock up donation receipt and final donation receipts; Marcus Ratliff's business card; contact lists; and a 1974 affidavit from Thomas M. Fortuin related to the United States of America vs. Jean avier Van Imschoot aka Jean Toche, who was arrested for threatening to kidnap the Metropoitan Museum of Art's trustees until Tony Shrafazi was released from jail for defacing Picasso's "Guernica." Also included are a hand written list of artists; a 1975 press release from the Jean Toche Defense Committee; exhibition announcements; a 1983 financial report; press releases about the exhibition; draft letters; and Petlin's original, annotated exhibition file folders. Collaborators include Doug Ashford, Coosje van Bruggen, Leon Golub, Kate Linker, Lucy R. Lippard, and others.

Files related to the 1988 exhibition, "It's Possible: 24 Israeli and Palestinian Artists Unite for Peace," include the exhibition catalog; correspondence; notes; annotated lists of artists; contact lists; Yesh Gvul There is a Limit stickers; exhibition announcements; protest and event flyers; clippings regarding Palestine and Israel; Larry Ledermean's business card; press releases; an exhibition floor plan; a progress report; an out of pocket expense list and financial report; Shulamith Koenig's artist bio; 1984 open letters to the Israeli government and members of the Israeli government from Leon Golub and Nancy Spero and Leonard and Debora Wolf; and Petlin's original, annotated exhibition file folders. Collaborators include Dore Ashton, Kamal Boullata, Yona Fisher, Nitz Gadish, Shulamith Koenig, Suleiman Mansour, Matti Megged, Jerry Ordover, Grace Paley, and Sam Weiner.