Robert Kushner papers, 1967-2011

This series includes video recordings, sound recordings, and motion picture films documenting works by Robert Kushner created between circa 1967 and 1982. Most of the video footage documents live performances of Kushner's pageants and fashion shows that took place between 1972 and 1981 at The Kitchen, 98 Greene Street Loft, Holly Solomon Gallery, Paula Cooper Gallery, Minnesota College of Art and Design, and the Mandeville Gallery at the University of California, San Diego. Works entitled "Robert Kushner and Friends Eat Their Clothes" (1972-1973), "Winter and Spring Lines" (1973-1974), and "Persian Line" (1974-1976) have multiple performances with video documentation in the series.

In addition to performances, the series includes four moving image artworks: a short animated film called "Repetition of a Theme," a live action film called "Greeting" featuring Kushner with Ellen Saltonstall, and short videos entitled "New York Hat Line," directed by David Weinrib, and "Sentimental Fables (I)." A second iteration of Sentimental Fables was performed with live music before an audience in 1981 at the Museum of Modern Art.

Also found are 6 sound recordings of music used in performances including "Persian Line," "One Size Fits All," and "Layers." One reel is labeled "Traveling" and also contains recorded music. A 1973 television broadcast program called "You wear what you eat" for the series AM New York features Kushner demonstrating his wearable artworks and being interviewed. Also found is a compilation video for the Kitchen's 1974-1975 season that includes a clip from Kushner's "Persian Line."

Paper documentation related to the content of the video and film in this series is found in Series 2. Arrangement of this series is chronological within three subseries:

All of the video, film and sound recordings have been digitized for research access.