Archives of American Art

A Finding Aid to the Giovanna (Joanne) Cecchetti papers, circa 1940-1999, in the Archives of American Art

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.ceccgiov
Creators:
Cecchetti, Giovanna
Dates:
circa 1940-1999
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
2.2 Linear feet
Repository:
The papers of artist, photographer, and independent curator Giovanna (Joanne) Cecchetti date from circa 1940-1999 and measure 2.2 linear feet. They illustrate Cecchetti's career and life through correspondence, writings, personal business records, printed and photographic material, and artwork.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
The Giovanna (Joanne) Cecchetti papers measure 2.2 linear feet and date from circa 1940-1999. Correspondence is to and from notable artists and family members. Also included is correspondence regarding various exhibitions and fellowship and grant applications. Writings consist of diaries written by Cecchetti, an autobiographical account of her career and two drafted artist's books A Thousand Eyes and The Memory of Love Lost: An Erotic Journal. Personal business records include materials related to Eclectic Selections: Art in Paterson at the End of the Twentieth Century (1999) an exhibition by Cecchetti and Juan Ramon Lopez, and materials related to Absolut Statehood, a published compilation of artwork from various artists depicting how they each view their home states. Also included are grant application materials and items related to the Poco Gallery including a contract.
Printed material includes exhibition announcements and catalogs, a copy of Absolut Statehood 51: Painter's Visions of Their Home States (1993), commentary by Glenn O'Brien and photography by Antonio Alia Guccione and materials related to the exhibition Drawing from Within (1993). Photographic material consists of various personal photographs and an album. Also included are photographs of artwork. Artwork includes fabric designs, oil pastel paintings, sketchbooks and sketches, and tracings.

Arrangement

Arrangement
This collection consists of six series.
  • Series 1: Correspondence, circa 1977-1996 (.5 Linear feet: Box 1)
  • Series 2: Writings, circa 1976-1995 (.3 Linear feet: Box 1)
  • Series 3: Personal Business Records, circa 1959-1995 (.3 Linear feet: Box 1, Box 4)
  • Series 4: Printed Material, circa 1987-1994 (.3 Linear feet: Box 2)
  • Series 5: Photographic Material, circa 1953-1994 (.4 Linear feet: Boxes 2-3, Box 5)
  • Series 6: Artwork, circa 1940-1990 (.4 Linear feet: Boxes 3-5)

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Joanne Giovanna Marie Cecchetti (1953-) is an artist, photographer, and independent curator who worked primarily in New York and New Jersey. She was born in Suffron, New York to Gori Joseph and Mary Elizabeth Cecchetti. Prior to 1986 she used the first name Joanne before switching to Giovanna. In 1973 she attended New York State University where she obtained an Associate's Degree of Applied Science. Cecchetti obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts at Parsons School of Design in 1976 and completed postgraduate work at both the Rutgers Center of Innovative Print in 1997 and at William Patterson University. Cecchetti's career consisted of working as the visual merchandising director at both The Pottery Barn in New York City (1977-1983) and Macy's in New Jersey (1985-1987). She also completed work as an independent curator throughout this time and when between jobs.
Cecchetti was a member of the Paterson (New Jersey) Historic Preservation Commission (1996-), the Silk City AmeriCorps (1995-1996), City Without Walls, and the Aljira Center of Contemporary Art. She was listed as a notable artist by Marquis Who's Who and was the recipient of several awards.

Administration

Author
Allessandra Liberati
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
Papers were donated in 1996 and 1999 by Giovanna (Joanne) Cecchetti.
Processing Information
This collection was processed, and a finding aid prepared, by Allessandra Liberati in 2023.

Using the Collection

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.
Conditions Governing Access
Authorization to quote or reproduce for the purposes of publication requires written permission from Giovanna Cecchetti. Contact Reference Services for more information.
Preferred Citation
Giovanna (Joanne) Cecchetti papers, circa 1940-1999, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Artists -- New Jersey -- Paterson Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Curators -- New Jersey -- Paterson Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographers -- New Jersey -- Paterson Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Women artists Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Women photographers Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sketchbooks Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Scrapbooks Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Diaries Genre Form 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