A Finding Aid to the Dan Flavin Records 1964 - 2012 (Bulk 1998 - 2000), in the Chinati Foundation Archives Created by Hannah Yetwin, Archives Research Fellow April 6, 2020 Last Updated: March 12, 2021 The Chinati Foundation 1 Cavalry Row / P.O. Box 1135 Marfa, TX 79843 www.chinati.org Collection Overview Repository: The Chinati Foundation Archives, Marfa, Texas Creator: Staff of the Chinati Foundation Title: Dan Flavin Records Dates: 1964 - 2012 (Bulk 1998-2000) Extent: 2.5 linear feet; 6 boxes Author: Finding Aid created by Hannah Yetwin Abstract: The Dan Flavin records measure 2.5 linear feet and date from to 1964 – 2012. The records include evidence of project planning and building, transcriptions of talks given by and about Flavin’s work, architecture field reports, funding efforts, and various types of press about Flavin, his work, and the Chinati project. Administrative Information Acquisition information: These records are the property of the Chinati Foundation, created by staff and relevant consultants between 1964 and 2012. Separated materials: Storage media formats are currently housed in original order with their corresponding physical materials - to be pulled for future digitization. Related materials: the Publications Records; print photographs Processing information: These records are a mixture of materials that were housed in Apartment 14 prior to it becoming the archive. Original order is not accounted for; intellectual arrangement has been applied according to naturally existing topics within the series. Preferred citation notes: [Title of item], (date), Box [number], Folder [number], the Dan Flavin Records, the Chinati Foundation Archives. Restrictions on access: Access to the original archival materials requires an appointment. Some materials are restricted for privacy and legal protections. Historical Note Dan Flavin (April 1, 1933 – November 29, 1996) was born in Jamaica, New York. He studied for priesthood at the Immaculate Conception Preparatory Seminary in Brooklyn between 1947 and 1952 before leaving to join his fraternal twin brother, David Flavin, and enlist in the US Air Force. During military service from 1954-55, Flavin was trained as an air weather meteorological technician and studied art through the adult extension program of the University of Maryland in Korea. Upon his return to New York in 1956, Flavin studied art history, painting and drawing at the New School for 1 Social Research and Columbia University, respectively. From 1959, Flavin was employed as a mailroom clerk at the Guggenheim Museum and later as a guard and elevator operator at the Museum of Modern Art, where he met Sol LeWitt, Lucy Lippard and Robert Ryman. He married his first wife Sonjia Severdija, an art student at New York University and assistant office manager at the Museum of Modern Art. Flavin married his second wife, artist Tracy Harris, in a ceremony at the Guggenheim Museum, in 1992. He died in Riverhead, New York, of complications from diabetes. A memorial for him was held at the Dia Center for the Arts on January 23, 1997. His estate is represented by David Zwirner. Dan Flavin was one of the three artists whose work Donald Judd always planned to include at Chinati and the project was provisioned for in Judd’s May 1979 contracts with Dia. In June 1979 Flavin signed his own contract with Dia and renovation began on the barracks earmarked for his project starting in 1981. Renovation was paused due to logistical and financial issues with the renovation and it was further delayed while Chinati legally separated from Dia and began independent operation in 1986. Work began again on the project in 1996 when Flavin finalized the plans for the piece and Chinati collaborated with the architectural firm Ford, Powell & Carson to realize the design. The work was inaugurated in October 2000, realizing Donald Judd’s original plan for Chinati: to display in Marfa extensive complexes of works by the three artists Judd, Flavin and Chamberlain on a permanent basis. Neither Donald Judd nor Dan Flavin saw the work realized. Scope and Contents The Flavin Records were created by staff of the Chinati Foundation as well as external consultants, engineers, legal advisors, writers and charitable foundations etc. between 1964 and 2012, with the bulk of the materials created between 1998 and 2000. The materials include strategies and plans for the completion of the Flavin works, press about Flavin’s exhibitions, correspondence, financial information, and writings about and by Flavin. Arrangement This collection is arranged as 9 series: Series 1: Financial, 1979 - 2000 (I.9 Flavin | Box I.001, I.9 Flavin | Box I.002) Series 2: Development, 1997 - 2000 (I.9 Flavin | Box I.002) Series 3: Press, 1997 - 2004 (I.9 Flavin | Box I.003) Series 4: Writings, 1964 - 2004 (I.9 Flavin | Box I.003, I.9 Flavin | Box I.004) Series 5: Correspondence, 2001 - 2005 (I.9 Flavin | Box I.004) Series 6: Dia-Era Plans, 1975 - 2005 (I.9 Flavin | Box I.004) Series 7: Conservation, 1999 - 2012 (I.9 Flavin | Box I.004) 2 Series 8: Building Plans, 1999 - 2000 (I.9 Flavin | Box I.005) Series 9: Events, 1997 - 2000 (I.9 Flavin | Box I.006) Series Descriptions / Container List Series 1: Financial, 1979 - 2000 (I.9 Flavin | Box I.001, I.9 Flavin | Box I.002) 0.6 linear feet; Box I.001 & I.002 (partial) This series contains receipts and invoices for supplies and services, construction bids, timesheets, work summaries, and budget information for the Flavin project at Chinati. Dossier of charitable foundations and Flavin_Financial_Found 1995 - dates of funding applications from I.9.1.001 ation Dossier untitled 2008 1995-2008 Non- Flavin_Financial_Non- Residential I.9.1.002 Residential Barracks_01 Barracks 1982 Receipts and invoices Flavin_Financial_Non- One Cavalry I.9.1.003 Residential Barracks_02 Row: BB 1979 Receipts and invoices Flavin_Financial_Non- Barracks/No Photocopies of ledgers, receipts, I.9.1.004 Residential Barracks_03 n-Residential 1980 invoices Flavin Payroll (Timesheets/ Timesheets and summaries of work I.9.1.005 Flavin_Financial_Payroll Summaries) 1999 done on the Flavin barracks Flavin_Financial_Project Flavin Project Trial balance, budget, and I.9.1.006 Costs Costs 2010 QuickReport sheets Flavin_Financial_Project I.9.1.007 Costs Flavin 2000 Bills, invoices and receipts 07 Flavin Building Financial statements: balance sheets Flavin_Financial_Statem Financial including materials, supplies, payroll, I.9.1.008 ents Statements 1987 benefits. Flavin_Financial_Accoun Cook Cost Cost estimates and planning for I.9.1.009 ting Accounting 1999-2000 Flavin project 3 Estimates and bids for various construction tasks related to the Flavin project (doors, windows, Flavin_Financial_Estimat Estimates/Bi plaster, electrical installation, pest I.9.1.010 es dds PO's 1999-2000 control) Flavin_Financial_Insuran Insurance for equipment related to I.9.1.011 ce Insurance 1999-2000 Flavin construction Flavin Flavin_Financial_Payabl Payables Receipts and cost summaries for the I.9.1.012 es Due 2001-2002 Flavin buildings Flavin Flavin_Financial_Budget Budgets & Budget, project summary, donation I.9.1.013 s Funding 1999-2000 summaries Flavin Project Flavin_Financial_Invoice 1/1 - I.9.1.014 s_01 3/31/2000 1999-2000 Receipts and Invoices Flavin Project Flavin_Financial_Invoice 10/1 - I.9.1.015 s_02 12/31/2000 1999-2000 Receipts and Invoices Flavin Project Flavin_Financial_Invoice 7/1 - I.9.1.016 s_03 9/30/2000 1999-2000 Receipts and Invoices Flavin Project Flavin_Financial_Invoice 4/1 - I.9.1.017 s_04 6/30/2000 1999-2000 Receipts and Invoices Flavin Project James Cook - Cook Flavin_Financial_Constr Construction I.9.1.018 uction Co. 1999-2000 Receipts and Invoices Flavin Project Flavin_Financial_Lights_ - Light Piece I.9.1.019 01 Only 1999-2000 Receipts and Invoices Flavin Project / Ford, Powell & I.9.1.020 Flavin_Financial_FPC Carson 1999 1999-2000 Receipts and Invoices 4 - 2000 Flavin Project / Steve Morse / Dan Flavin Ltd. I.9.1.021 Flavin_Financial_Morse Studio 1999-2000 Receipts and Invoices Dan Flavin Miscellaneou I.9.1.022 Flavin_Financial_Misc. s 1999-2000 Receipts and Invoices Memos, correspondence, drawings, Light Piece procedural notes (step-by-step Flavin_Financial_Lights_ Materials instructions for installing Flavin I.9.1.023 02 PO's 1999-2000 fixtures) Flavin_Financial_Reside Residential I.9.1.024 ntial Barracks_01 Barracks 1982 1099s, receipts, invoices Flavin_Financial_Reside Residential I.9.1.025 ntial Barracks_02 Barracks 1981 Bills, invoices, checks (photocopies) Flavin_Financial_Reside One Cavalry Purchaser's Statement and I.9.1.026 ntial Barracks_03 Road: AB 1979 Photocopied bills and receipts Series 2: Development, 1997 - 2000 (I.9 Flavin | Box I.002) 0.3 linear feet; Box I.002 This series contains materials relating to the solicitation of funding, donations, and correspondence to/from foundations for the Flavin project at Chinati. Correspondence to and from the Brown Foundation regarding funding 1998 Flavin for the Flavin project; also memos, Flavin_Development_Br Project - project outlines, and operating I.9.2.001 own Brown 1998 budgets Flavin - Correspondence to and from Flavin_Development_Sol Individual individual potential donors for I.9.2.002 icitations_01 Solicitations 1999 funding the Flavin project 5 Individual Solicitations Correspondence to and from Flavin_Development_Sol Dan Flavin individual potential donors for I.9.2.003 icitations_02 Project 1999 1999 funding the Flavin project Flavin_Development_Th Flavin Donor Thank you notes to individuals who I.9.2.004