Archives of American Art

A Finding Aid to the Sylvia Lark papers, 1971-1994, in the Archives of American Art

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.larksylv
Creators:
Lark, Sylvia, 1947-1990
Dates:
1971 - 1994
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
1.4 Linear feet
Repository:
The Sylvia Lark papers measure 1.4 linear feet and date from 1971- 1994, documenting Lark's career as an abstract artist and college professor, particularly her tenure at the University of California, Berkeley. Included are biographical materials; correspondence with museums, galleries, universities, colleagues and other artists; writings by and about Lark's work; professional files such as gallery represented sale records, grant applications and inventory lists; exhibition files; teaching files; printed and photographic material.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
The Sylvia Lark papers measure 1.4 linear feet and date from 1971-1994, documenting Lark's career as an abstract artist and college professor, particularly her tenure at the University of California, Berkeley. Included are biographic material, such as resumes, an interview transcript and an award certificate from the College Art Association of America; correspondence between Lark and galleries, city art departments, Native American organizations and other artists, and colleagues regarding various exhibitions and teaching employment opportunities. Also found are writings by and about Lark's work, exhibition files which document select solo and group exhibitions that Lark participated in, as well as tribute exhibition. Professional files include materials documenting Lark's involvement serving as a juror for various exhibitions, her membership and participation in professional organizations and financial records related to the selling and loaning of her artwork. Teaching files include student evaluations, course schedules, U.C. Berkley employment documents, correspondence and reports regarding Lark's tenure case, U.C. Berkley personel informational paperwork, Faculty grant and fellowship documents and sabbatical leave applications and awards. Printed material primarily consists of newspaper and magazine clippings reviewing Lark's exhibitions along with exhibition announcements, flyers and catalogs. Photographs are of Lark's artwork as well as her Fulbright travels in Korea and Japan.

Arrangement

Arrangement
The collection is arranged as eight series.
  • Series 1: Biographical Material, 1977-1991 (3 Folders: Box 1)
  • Series 2: Correspondence, 1976-1991 (0.3 Linear feet: Box 1)
  • Series 3: Writings, 1975-1987 (0.1 Linear feet: Box 1)
  • Series 4: Exhibition Files, 1978-1994 (0.2 Linear feet: Box 1)
  • Series 5: Professional Files, 1976-1994 (0.1 Linear feet: Box 1)
  • Series 6: Teaching Files, 1977-1990 (0.4 Linear feet: Box 1)
  • Series 7: Printed Material, 1973-1992 (0.3 Linear feet: Box 2)
  • Series 8: Photographic Material, 1971-1987 (0.1 Linear feet: Box 2)

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Sylvia Lark (1947-1990) was a Seneca abstract expressionist painter, printmaker and educator from Buffalo, New York. Lark received her M.F.A from University of Wisconsin, Madision in 1972 before moving to California where she began teaching printmaking at California State University, Sacramento. In 1977 she received a Fulbright grant to travel and study in Korea and Japan. She also began teaching at the University of California, Berkeley that same year where she remained a professor for the rest of her life. She was awarded the Distinguished Teaching Award for teaching art by the College Art Association posthumously in 1991.
In addition to her professorial career, Lark was a widely exhibited artist who collaborated on a number of Native American exhibitions, and served as a member of a different women in the arts organizations. Her work can be found in numerous collections including that of the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Oakland Museum, and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago.

Administration

Author
Sabine Lipten
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.
Existence and Location of Originals
Collection contains mostly photocopies.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated 1998 by Christine Carter.
Processing Information
The collection was processed, and a finding aid prepared by Sabine Lipten in 2023.

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. Researchers interested in accessing born-digital records or audiovisual recordings in this collection must use access copies. Contact Reference Services for more information.
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
Sylvia Lark Papers, 1971-1994. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Educators -- California Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Painters -- California Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Printmakers -- California Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Women artists Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Women painters Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Women educators Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Women printmakers Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Painting, Abstract Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Native American artists Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
University of California, Berkeley. Department of Art Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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