Dispatches from the Archives
Arnold Fujita, 20th Century Design: U.S.A., 1959; poster
Barbara Stauffacher, The Colorists: 1950-1965, 1965; poster
Rufino Tamayo, Recent Paintings by Tamayo, 1954; mailer
Tapio Wirkkala, Design in Scandinavia, 1957; poster
Unknown, Dome: Air, Water, Light, Sound, 1972; poster
Jason Munn / The Small Stakes, SFMOMA College Night with Noise Pop, 2006; poster
Unknown, Two Buildings: San Francisco 1959, 1959; mailer
Martin Venezky's Appetite Engineers, Non-Western Westerns, 2008; poster
November 07, 2009 - July 06, 2010
How does a museum best known for showing the work of others choose to publicly present itself? This presentation in the Koret Visitor Education Center showcases museum-produced ephemera, design pieces, and publications, while revealing the museum's long history of innovative programming and exhibitions. The materials are culled from SFMOMA's Library and Archives, which have recently processed and catalogued thousands of items spanning the museum's 75-year history. From exhibition posters and magazines to belt buckles and chocolate bars, the exhibition illustrates the story of an institution that cherishes the spirit of innovation.
The exhibition will be complemented by two related projects featuring visitors' perspectives, the Oral History Project and Phone Booth. Since 2005, SFMOMA has been collaborating with the Regional Oral History Office at the Bancroft Library to create a record of its own history through video and audio interviews with individuals whose contributions have shaped the institution. Historical interview clips from the museum's Oral History Project will be shown alongside recently collected commentary from SFMOMA visitors and community members. The Phone Booth captures visitors' voices through an interactive phone installation; visitors are invited to pick up the phone and record responses to questions about the museum's collection.
