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Archives of American Art
A Finding Aid to the A.I.R. Gallery Records, 1972-1979, in the Archives of American Art
Summary
- Collection ID:
- AAA.artiin
- Creators:
-
A.I.R. Gallery (New York, N.Y.)
- Dates:
-
1972-1979
- Languages:
-
English.
- Physical Description:
-
0.4 Linear feet
- Repository:
The A.I.R. Gallery records measure 0.4 linear feet and date from 1972 to 1979. The collection sheds light on the early years of the cooperative through gallery by-laws, artist biographies and resumes, the gallery's original building lease, notes from administrative meetings, an A.I.R. Gallery poster, writings on the gallery, exhibition records, and printed material.
Scope and Contents
Scope and Contents
The A.I.R. Gallery records measure 0.4 linear feet and date from 1972 to 1979. The collection sheds light on the early years of the cooperative through gallery by-laws, artist biographies and resumes, the gallery's original building lease, notes from administrative meetings, an A.I.R. Gallery poster, writings on the gallery, exhibition records, and printed material.
Arrangement
Arrangement
Due to the small size of this collection, the records are arranged as one series.
Biographical / Historical
Biographical / Historical
A.I.R. Gallery (Artists in Residence Gallery, Inc.) was established in 1972 in New York City, as the first not-for-profit, artist-directed and maintained gallery for women artists in the United States.
The concept for the gallery was first developed by Barbara Zucker and Susan Williams who, along with co-founders Dotty Attie, Maude Boltz, Mary Grigoriadis, and Nancy Spero, sought out 14 more female artists in New York to become members of the cooperative. The initial group included Rachel bas-Cohain, Judith Bernstein, Blythe Bohnen, Agnes Denes, Daria Dorosh, Loretta Dunkelman, Harmony Hammond, Laurace James, Nancy Kitchell, Louise Kramer, Anne Healy, Rosemary Mayer, Patsy Norvell, and Howardena Pindell. At the original meeting to form the gallery on March 17, 1972, artist Howardena Pindell suggested the name 'EYRE Gallery' for Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre. The artists decided on 'A.I.R. Gallery', with A.I.R. shortened from "Artists in Residence".
The group incorporated A.I.R. Gallery as a not-for-profit organization. In addition to exhibitions installed and curated by its members, A.I.R. Gallery also held lectures and workshops, and developed a videotape program to highlight the work of its artists. In 1976, Nancy Shapiro coordinated the gallery's first international exhibition, Combative Acts, Profiles, and Voices, curated by French critic Aline Dallie and comprised entirely of French female artists.
Administration
Author
Christopher DeMairo
Sponsor
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.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection was donated in 1979 and 1980 by representatives of A.I.R. Gallery.
Processing Information
The collection was processed and finding aid prepared by Christopher DeMairo in 2021. At the time of processing the collection title was updated from Artists in Residence Gallery, Inc. records to A.I.R. Gallery records.
Using the Collection
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research. Access to original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center.
Conditions Governing Use
The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.
Preferred Citation
A.I.R. Gallery records, 1972-1979. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Keywords
| Keyword Terms | Keyword Types | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Women artists | Topical | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Artist-run galleries -- New York (State) -- New York | Function | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Zucker, Barbara M., 1940- | Personal Name | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Attie, Dotty, 1938- | Personal Name | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Spero, Nancy, 1926-2009 | Personal Name | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Hammond, Harmony | Personal Name | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Denes, Agnes | Personal Name | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
Archives of American Art
750 9th Street, NW
Victor Building, Suite 2200
Washington, D.C. 20001
Business Number: Phone: 202-633-7950
https://www.aaa.si.edu/services/questions
