MS01.03.03 - Box 04 - Folder 04 - Contemporary Visual Expressions - Meeting Minutes and Notes, 1985-1986, Part 1

[HANDWRITTEN]

[underlined] Anacostia Neighborhood Museum[/underlined]

5/21/86 - [underlined] New Anacostia Museum[/underlined]

Meeting: Sam Gilliam, Simson, Martha, John and Driskell.

[double underscored] Sam: [/double underscored] Benefit Anacostia Museum and the artists How to qualify Anacostia Museum through ourselves (artists). Idea -- proposal that Gilliam & Jackson-Jarvis compose works for the outside. Simeon, Morrison and Williams inside. (Beginning a monument to artistic genius here at the Anacostia Museum.

[double underscored] John: [/double underscored] Recounts the history of the show concept, Sam being the principal invited. It was his (Sam's) generosity to invite two others. (Trail leading up to the community gave way to have works outside instead)

Martha & Sam - outside --Bill Wms, Morrison, Simeon -- [double underscored] inside [/double underscored]

Needed: Calendar: April 87 --

Advise John as to how to move on the proposal at hand --

Simeon -- classical scholar -- Dante Specialist Flora - founder of the Roman Univ.

[HANDWRITTEN]

As curator: I would receive a mandate to curate--

April 87-/} 1. Write a document which puts the work in its proper context in the Washington Community --

2. The shape & form of the idea is yours --

3. I will put into professional format and historical your mandate mandate-- Time frame -- precise dates --

[HANDWRITTEN]

July 18, 1986

Meeting with Audrey Archer and Louise Hutchinson, acting director of the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum on Friday, July 18th.

Points of interest:

--As contractor, you can decide who you want to work with on the project, either Audrey or Louise. Because the contract does not indicate a project director you have a choice between the two ladies and while Audrey contends that she is more of the trouble shooter and the person who looks at the budget, it is my observation that she wants to also be part of the entire process.

--As contractor/curator both the artists and project director(s) should receive an official acknowledgement/ announcement from you of who participants will be and your role as curator.

--The Smithsonian's press production time for a catalogue depends upon the size of the catalogue. While the catalogue is not required for the opening, it will be needed soon thereafter. For a small

[HANDWRITTEN; CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3]

catalogue (about 24 to 64 pages) the press requires 3-4 months. Our discussion about trying to have everything completed by late December would be ideal.

*The appointment/meeting with Audrey and Louise, et al. is set for [pink highlighting] 10:00am on August 18th. [/pink highlighting] Though there is some urgency regarding the meeting and spending their funds, between the first conversation I had with Louise on Monday morning July 21st and the second conversation on the same day about 30 minutes apart, she decided that they should not be too demanding and unyielding (least they should loose you?). Both she and Audrey are just very happy that the meeting has been set thus appeasing professional, 'political' and psychological needs.

*I called the artists, --Jackson --Jarvis, Gilliam, Morrison -- told them you are now officially the curator of the exhibition, secured their continued interest and told them they would receive a letter from you.

As with the other artists, I also called Gouverneur on July 18th. He was apparently not in and I spoke with his wife. She said that he had withdrawn from the exhibition. After hanging up she called back

[HANDWRITTEN; CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4]

3

to say that while the other artists may have received an official notice asking them to participate, her husband had received nothing and that had he received something in writing he would have made an official statement regarding his participation. I told her that the contract had only recently been signed and that none of the artists had received an invitation in writing asking them to participate and that I was calling to ascertain continued interest. She said that Gouverneur had withdrawn during a conversation with John Kinard. I asked if that was an official withdrawal and if it continued to stand and she said yes. She seemed concerned that I was clear on Gouverneur's withdrawal