MS01.01.01 - Box 02 - Folder 01 - General Correspondence, 1976 January - July

I am enclosing a brief description of my idea. It will need further expansion and the budget will have to be finalized. Perphaps we can talk about this.

Please call me collect after you have had time to reflect a bit. Perphaps at that time, together we can think of ways of maximizing the potential of this project which I hope will make a modest contribution to our major shared concern - fostering minority arts in America.

Please forgive my intrusion of your privacy.

Sincerely,

Jim Kennedy

Office Phone: 460-6337 (205) Home Phone: 456-5720 (205)

PROPOSAL STATEMENT

ETHNIC AMERICAN SLIDE PROJECT

The study of Ethnic American art history is hampered at most levels

of education for two possible reasons; the lack of adequate visual aids,

and procedures for utilizing existing bibliographical materials. During

the past six years, The Samuel H. Kress Foundation has provided over

$125,000.00 for the development of The Ethnic American Art Slide Library

at the University of South Alabama to ameliorate the relative scarcity

of slides in this area of american art history.

Even though over 90,000 slide duplicates have been distributed to

colleges, universities, museums and individuals, many institutions wishing

to upgrade or expand their programs and course offerings in american art

history have not been able to share this slide collection. Unfortunately,

many of our smaller ethnic minority institutions, museums, libraries and

other related organizations are presently in such a financially depressed

state that they have not been able to give priority to this area.

PURPOSE

We request consideration of a plan which will provide 200 sets of 150,

35mm color slides of Ethnic American art works, including Afro-American,

Mexican-American and Native American, along with bibliographic materials

which would permit effective use of these slides. The slide sets and

bibliographic materials would be provided at no cost to those institutions

which have, or plan to initiate coursework in American art history. Proposed

activities would also include the availability of project directors for

consultant services. Further guidelines will be determined upon expansion

of the proposal.

shop called the Engraver's Press Gallery. It costs $5 a month for Printmakers to use all materials and presses. All one has to do is to work on a studio plate which they give you they get the 1st four prints of an edition of 20 and you keep the rest - that's it. At the end of the month, they show your [crossed out word] print in a members show in a gallery they have out front which is very nice. Speaking of prints, I went to a book auction last week and bought the most beautiful engraving of Frederich Douglass you ever want to see. It has a sepia underlay and has Douglass's signature engraved on it also It's so bad you're gonna make me an offer when you see it. I was afraid that the Douglass Museum would bit on it but they weren't there. Anyway - other than that I've just been buying books and reading them to the point of obession. Rudolf Arnheim's "Art and Visual Perception" is too mean and has become my Bible. Of course I've kept up the existentialist and Afro American history readings too & have some things I will share with you when I come through the "Ville." Write and let me know when you're going to be back.

TERRY DINTENFASS, INC. - 50 WEST FIFTY-SEVENTH STREET - NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10019 - 212-581-2268

6 July 1976

Mr. David Driskell Department of Art Fisk University Nashville, Tennessee 37203

Dear David:

It has been some time since we've heard from you regarding the two missing Walter Williams woodcuts, BUTTERFLIES and SUMMER NIGHT. Do you have any further information as to their whereabouts? If you cannot find them, I'm sure the University is insured. At any rate, we look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.

We've moved to a new gallery which is spectacular - please come and visit us and have a great summer.

With best wishes,

Sincerely,

Luise Ross [signature] Luise Ross Associate

July 10, 1976

Dear David, Now that the Bicentenial is over, I've begun getting organized towards the coming year! David, Thank you for your second reply, I'm happy to hear you are interested in the project I spoke of.

I feel I need to explain what I've had in mind for sometime. First of all, I've looked through the NEA catalog of grants. I believe this project would possibily come under Project grants, but that seems to be for institutions?

Anyway. My feeling is that is the study of naive-folk artists that I've taken on over the past year, I've found what about half of the known