Usage conditions may apply for digital images, video, and sound recordings linked within SOVA collections. While digital content may be restricted, SOVA collection descriptions and catalog records are available CC0 for re-use. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.
Archives of American Art
Oral history interview with James Brooks
Summary
- Collection ID:
- AAA.brooks65
- Creators:
-
Brooks, James, 1906-1992Seckler, Dorothy Gees, 1910-1994
- Dates:
-
1965 June 10 and June 12
- Languages:
-
English.
- Physical Description:
-
36 PagesTranscript
- Repository:
Scope and Contents
Scope and Contents
An interview of James Brooks conducted 1965 June 10-12, by Dorothy Seckler, for the Archives of American Art.
Scope and Contents
Brooks speaks of his childhood, early art training, study with Kimon Nicolaides and Boardman Robinson at the Art Students League, mural projects, and his work in advertising. He comments on the Artists Union, his Air Force service, Army art projects, teaching at Columbia and Pratt Institute, an early abstract expressionist group called "the 8th Street Club" or just "The Club"; influence of Hans Hofmann, practicing Zen, changes in his work, his use of line and his drawings. He recalls George Biddle, Philip Guston and Jackson Pollock.
Biographical / Historical
Biographical / Historical
James Brooks (1906-1992) was a painter from East Hampton, New York.
Administration
Sponsor
Funding for the digital preservation of this interview was provided by a grant from the Save America's Treasures Program of the National Park Service.
Existence and Location of Copies
Transcript available on line.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
This interview is part of the Archives of American Art Oral History Program, started in 1958 to document the history of the visual arts in the United States, primarily through interviews with artists, historians, dealers, critics and others.
Digital Content
Using the Collection
Conditions Governing Access
Transcript available on the Archives of American Art website.
More Information
General
General
Originally recorded on 3 sound tape reels. Reformatted in 2010 as 4 digital wav files. Duration is 1 hr., 59 min.
Keywords
| Keyword Terms | Keyword Types | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Painters -- New York (State) -- New York -- Interviews | Topical | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Abstract expressionism | Topical | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Sound recordings | Genre Form | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Interviews | Genre Form | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Biddle, George, 1885-1973 | Personal Name | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Guston, Philip, 1913-1980 | Personal Name | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Nicolaïdes, Kimon, 1892-1938 | Personal Name | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Pollock, Jackson, 1912-1956 | Personal Name | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Robinson, Boardman, 1876-1952 | Personal Name | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Club (New York, N.Y.) | Corporate 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
