Collection Development Presentation

THE CLYFFORD STILL LIBRARY

Jennifer DibbernLI813•Cohort 10•2009

Collection Development Project

Still, C. (1957). 1957-D No. 1. oil on canvas, 13 x 159 in, Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, New York. Retrieved from http://www.abstract-art.com/abstraction/l2_Grnfthrs_fldr/g0000_gr_inf_images/g0040a_still_1957d.jpg

Audience IntroductionThe

Denver Art Museum Library

The Denver Art Museum Library is located in a corner of the art museums administration building on the first floor.

It is a quant library that houses a specialized collection primarily organized for use by museum staff, volunteers, interns and researchers. Still, C. (1957). Untitled. oil on canvas, 113 1/4 in. x 148 in, The Clyfford Still Estate, Denver, Colorado.

Retrieved from http://www.sfmoma.org/artwork/310.

The Clyfford Still Museum

In the fall of 2010, the Denver Art Museum will be opening The Clyfford Still Museum.

With the opening of a museum that will be focused on one

artist, it seems fitting to create a small library specific

to that museum.

The Clyfford Still Library, Envisioned

The library collection could be developed based off of the

Denver Art Museum’s current library

collection, however it would be focused

specifically on materials related to Clyfford Still.

Namuth, H. (1951). Clyfford Still. Photograph. Hans Namuth Estate. Retrieved from http://www.clyffordstillmuseum.org/clyfford.html..

The Mission Mission of the Denver Art Museum

Library:

In speaking with the librarian, Susan Ferrer-Vinent, there is nothing written in stone.

It is basically: “The Denver Art Museum Library is a specialized research resource for museum staff, volunteers, and visiting scholars” (EOS International, 2009).

Age of Clientele Although children

may be attracted by Still’s use of bright colors, the subjects implied by abstract expressionism in art historical context, could be too theoretical for anyone under the age of 17. Still, C. (1964). 1964. oil on canvas, 28 x 40 in,

Retrieved from http://raggedclothcafe.com/2007/03/28/clyfford-still-by-sandy-donabed/

Age, cont… Also, since the collection is following

the same guidelines as the original DAM library, it will be focused on an audience of professionals. Primary focus on:

Museum Professionals Staff Volunteers Interns

Researchers Curious Adult Patrons

Main Subject Areas

Clyfford Still His life—Biography

His works – Technique, Materials, etc.

His Art Genre—Abstract Expressionism, How his works fit into the big picture – Art History

The Museum – History of…

Primary Formats Books and Art Catalogues

These are the two formats from which museum staff glean information.

Occasionally they use internet sources.

The Main use of information sought by professionals is for reference, research, exhibition design, etc.Still, C. (1936). PH 77. oil on canvas 45 x 53 1/2 in, Estate of Clyfford Still, Denver,

Colorado. Retrieved from http://www.clyffordstillmuseum.org/collection.html

Information SourcesWith consideration of an audience made up of professionals and following their patterns of reference use, the following sources were collected for recommendation to begin the Clyfford Still Museum Library collection.

Still, C. (1953). Untitled. oil on canvas, 36 x 40 in. Retrieved from http://osabordatangerina.wordpress.com/2009/11/01/joy/

Clyfford Still (Kellaway, 1976)

The Basics (Russell, 2007)

Current? 1976, current for a catalogue.

Intended Audience:

Museum professionals, curious patrons, researchers. Voice is professional.

Format: Museum Catalogue

Brief Description:

Statement by the artist about his own work, covers a collection of objects donated to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, provides a very descriptive biography, pictures of how the collection was displayed in the museum in 1976.

Still, C. (1952). 1952-no.2. oil on canvas, 299.0 h x 268.5 w cm, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, ACT. Retrieved from http://artsearch.nga.gov.au/Detail.cfm?IRN=101773

Clyfford Still, cont…Evaluation (Russell, 2007)

Useful? Yes, very useful. Specifically since the artist has passed away.

Ease of Use: Very easy to use. Well organized and nicely formed content page.

Strengths/Weaknesses:

Strength: has quotes from an artist who has passed and a very extensive biography. Also, correspondences between artist and collector.Weakness: it is from 1975, pictures of the exhibit are outdated.

Recommend For Purchase? Why?

Yes, definitely. A positive recommendation for purchase is based on unique perspective offered by the artist himself. Also, Denver and San Francisco house the two main collections of Still’s work… good to have a catalogue of the San Francisco collection as reference.ISBN: N/A– LC#75-35088US$28.00

Color As Field: American Painting, 1950-1975 (Wilkin, 2007)

The Basics (Russell, 2007)

Current? 2007, yes

Intended Audience:

Museum Professionals, Researchers, Curious Adult Patrons

Format: Museum Catalogue

Brief Description:

Describes the Color Field painting movement within the context of Abstract Expressionism, sets Clyfford Still in the Color Field context, provides biographies of the Color Field painters and their relations to one another.

Still, C. (1960). 1960-F. oil on canvas, 112 by 145 ½ in.Retrieved from http://www.remediosvaro.biz/Auction_Results/Contemporary/sothebys_may_12_2004.html

Color As Field, cont…Evaluation (Russell, 2007)

Useful? Yes. Because it provides a context in which to place Still’s work.

Ease of Use: Easy to use, mostly pictured with history. Well organized.

Strengths/Weaknesses:

Strengths: Provides explanation of the “Color Field” movement and places Clyfford Still in that context. Lists art historical inspirations for the artists.Weaknesses: None that can be found related to the intentions of the catalogue.

Recommend For Purchase? Why?

Yes. Extremely important because of the historical contexts provided and relation to Clyfford Still.ISBN: 978-1-885444-36-3US$32.85

History of Modern Art (Arnason and Prather, 1999)

The Basics (Russell, 2007)

Current? 1998, relatively, could be more up to date.

Intended Audience:

Museum Professionals, Researchers (adult students)

Format: Book, survey of Modern Art

Brief Description:

Covers the history of Modern Art from the late 1800’s up until the 1990’s. The book covers a broad period of time and a wide range of subject matter including painting, sculpture, architecture and photography. It places Clifford Still in the context of Modern Art as a whole.

Still, C. (1950). 1950-C. oil on canvas, 299.0 h x 268.5 cm. Retrieved from http://www.clyffordstill.net/art/1950C.html.

History of Modern Art, cont…

Evaluation (Russell, 2007)

Useful? Yes, places Clyfford Still in broad art historical context.

Ease of Use: Very easy to use, made primarily for undergraduate college students. Simple language and well organized.

Strengths/Weaknesses:

Strengths: Puts everything into context on a broad scale. Very easy to read.Weaknesses: May be too broad and close to off topic, Clyfford Still covered for two paragraphs out of hundreds of pages. Also, somewhat outdated for a survey book.

Recommend For Purchase? Why?

Yes, although large and outdated, it is still helpful to put Clyfford Still into the context of a broader period of time, art historically.ISBN: 0-13-227323-3US$10.99 (used)

‘Of the Earth, the Damned, and of the Recreated’: Aspects of Clyfford Still’s Earlier Work

(Anfam, 1993)

The Basics (Russell, 2007)

Current? 1993, relatively

Intended Audience:

Museum Professionals, Fine Arts Collectors, Scholars

Format: Journal in a British magazine

Brief Description:

A unique perspective on Clyfford Still’s early works, points out the lack of primary and secondary sources in literature on Clyfford Still’s work, provides an extensive background on Still early career.

Still, C. (1951). 1951-N. oil on canvas, 234.5 x 175.6 cm, National Gallery of Art. Retrieved from http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/category/bureaucracy/smithsonian/.

‘Of the Earth, the Damned, and of the Recreated’, cont…Evaluation (Russell, 2007)

Useful? Yes. Specifically because it covers Still’s early life as an artist.

Ease of Use: Easily read by professionals, voice used is scholarly.

Strengths/Weaknesses:

Strengths: A great resource on Still’s early life as an artist. Also, a well written art historical work that is not a museum catalogue. Good reference.Weaknesses: None that can be found.

Recommend For Purchase? Why?

Yes. Because it is unique among the many museum catalogues that provide the majority of information on Clyfford Still’s work.ISBN: n/aUS$35.50 (entire issue)

The Clyfford Still Museum-Webpage (Petersen, 2009)

The Basics (Russell, 2007)

Current? Yes, the museum has not been built yet.

Intended Audience:

Museum Patrons, Museum Professionals, Researchers

Format: Webpage

Brief Description:

This page covers the biography of Clyfford Still, the history of his work and the history of the museum. It also goes into great detail about how the museum was designed and the construction timeline.

The Clyfford Still Museum, cont…

Evaluation (Russell, 2007)

Useful? Yes, provides history of the Clyfford Still Museum

Ease of Use: Extremely user friendly, well designed and easy to navigate.

Strengths/Weaknesses:

Strengths: A webpage that covers Clyfford Still’s life. Provides history of the Clyfford Still Museum and connects Clyfford Still to Denver.Weaknesses: Although the webpage covers the history of Still’s work and biography, it lacks extensive information on the collection itself.

Recommend For Purchase? Why?

Yes, it would be a valuable resource to include in the library collection because it covers the history of the museum itself and sets the context of the collection existing in Denver, Colorado.ISBN: n/a US$ n/a

Conclusions

This collection of sources would be a good start to a library collection at the Clyfford Still Museum based on it’s many strengths…

Mostly pulled from the original Denver Art Museum Library Collection.

Other materials suggested because of relevance to audience’s needs.

Supporting catalogue of San Francisco’s “sister” collection.

Conclusions, cont… Strengths, cont…

All topics covered, including biography of artist, examples of work from different collections, historical relevance of work and examples of how it all is applicable to the Clyfford Still Museum.

Weaknesses… The collection is small.

There could be more supporting books specifically focused on the artist.

It would be useful to engage younger people in Clyfford Still and abstract expressionism by providing children’s books.

References Anfam, D. (1993). ‘Of the Earth, the Damned, and of the

Recreated’: Aspects of Clyfford Still’s Earlier Work. The Burlington Magazine, 135 (1081), 260-269.

Arnason, A. A. & Prather, M. F. (1998). History of modern art (4th ed.). New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc.

EOS International. (2009). Denver Art Museum Library Catalog.http://207.67.203.66/D60000Staff/OPAC/LibraryInfo/

LibraryInfo.asp?MenuID=100 Kellaway, T. (1976). Clyfford Still. Los Angeles: San Francisco

Museum of Modern Art. Petersen, R. (2009) Clyfford Still museum webpage. From http://

www.clyffordstillmuseum.org/. Russell, T. (2007). Writing a book review. Retrieved from:

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/704/1 Wilkin, K. (2007). Color as Field: American Painting, 1950-1975.

New Haven: Yale University Press.

Still, C. (1951). Untitled. oil on canvas, 299.0 h x 268.5 w cm. Retrieved from http://www.clyffordstill.net/art/1951.html