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Kim Abeles

CAE1213

Summary Note

Kim Abeles is a community-based and feminist artist who seeks to make visible local environmental issues. The archive contains materials related to her lifelong process including book dummies, exhibition ephemera, objects, journals, sketches, manuscripts, catalogs, correspondence, videos, and press.

Biographical Note

Kim Abeles is a trans-disciplinary and media artist who explores and maps the urban environment to chronicle broad social issues. The Smog Collector series brought her work to national and international attention in the art world, and mainstream sources such as Newsweek, National Public Radio, CBS Evening News, and The Wall Street Journal. A mid-career survey curated by Karen Moss and sponsored by the Fellows of Contemporary Art for the Santa Monica Museum, Kim Abeles: Encyclopedia Persona A-Z, toured the United States and South America, and was awarded the Best Regional Museum Show category for 1993-94 by the International Association of Art Critics. She represented the U.S. in both the Fotografie Biennale Rotterdam and the Cultural Centre of Berchem in Antwerp. Her work is in numerous private and public collections including the Museum of Contemporary Art; United States Information Agency; Los Angeles County Museum of Art; Yucun Art Museum, Suzhou, China; Sandwell Community History and Archives, U.K. Her work is also archived in the library collections of the Museum of Modern Art and the Cooper-Hewitt Publication Design Collection of the Smithsonian. Abeles has been awarded grants from the Andy Warhol Foundation and Peter Norton Foundation, and fellowships from J. Paul Getty Trust Fund for the Visual Arts, Pollack-Krasner Foundation, and the California Arts Council.

Scope and Content

The archive includes early journals and diaries, book projects, and documentation of several significant art projects, including The Smog Project and the related Mountain Wedge, by an important community-based and feminist artist who seeks to make visible local environmental issues. Although the archive contains materials related to her lifelong practice, the primary focus is on the two aforementioned works, which used smog as an artistic medium. The Smog Project plates and watches were created by putting them face up on her downtown LA studio rooftop and allowing particulate matter to settle through templates placed atop them, thereby creating metaphorical drawings. Mountain Wedge documented over time the view from her rooftop through the streets to the mountains, which were visible at the end of her street and in between buildings only on days when smog was either not present or very light. Abeles’ work is characterized by the use of common materials in the arte povera tradition, involvement of community participants, and a high degree of educational outreach, all of which is documented in the archive.

Arrangement

The archive Kim Abeles is organized into four series: Artist Information, Projects/Exhibitions, Exhibition Ephemera, and General Press & Outreach Activities. Folders are further organized by date.
  • Series 1: Artist Information
  • Series 2: Projects/Exhibitions
  • Series 3: Exhibition Ephemera
  • Series 4: General Press & Outreach Activities

Inclusive Dates

Original Date 1940-2025

Quantity / Extent

4 cubic feet

Language

English, Chinese (Mandarin), Dutch, French, German, HindiUrdu, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Slovenian, Spanish, Thai, Vietnamese

Related Archive Collections

  • CAE_ARTIST: CA+E Artist Archive
  • CAE0902: Land Arts of the American West
  • CAE0910: Patricia Watts: EcoArtSpace
  • CAE1041: Center for Land Use Interpretation: Wendover Residencies
  • CAE1042: Lita Albuquerque: Stellar Axis
  • CAE1103: Joan Myers: Wondrous Cold, An Antarctic Journey
  • CAE1205: Kim Stringfellow: Greeting from the Salton Sea
  • CAE1208: Ciel Bergman: Sea Full of Clouds What Can I Do?
  • CAE1209: Helen Mayer Harrison and Newton Harrison: The Lagoon Cycle
  • CAE1210: Helen Lessick: House for Summer
  • CAE1211: Buster Simpson: Public Projects
  • CAE1212: 871 Fine Arts: Land Arts Epehemera
  • CAE1403: Russell Crotty: Around the Vast Blue [Lake Tahoe]
  • CAE1410: Heidi Neilson: SP Weather Station
  • CAE1414: Jessica Rath: Projects
  • CAE1501: Boundless Horizons: A Land Art Exhibition
  • CAE1602: Cape Farewell
  • CAE1912: Bill Gilbert: Artist Archive
  • CAE2002: Judy Chicago: Dry Ice, Smoke, and Fireworks
  • CAE2102: High Desert Test Sites
  • CAE2206: Lucy R. Lippard: Western America Research Materials
  • CAE2209: Walter McNamara: Artist and Curator
  • CAE2211: Barbara Lekish: Artist Research Files
  • CAE2222: Joan Myers: Salt Dreams

Related Publications

Abeles, Kim. Kim Abeles: Smog Collectors, 1987 – 2020. Fullerton, California: California State University, 2021.

Barnes, Lucinda. Between Artists: Twelve Contemporary American Artists Interview Twelve Contemporary American Artists. Los Angeles: A.R.T. Press, 1996.

Contemporary Jewish Museum. Do Not Destroy: Trees, Art, and Jewish Thought. San Francisco CA: Contemporary Jewish Museum, 2012.

Cultureel Centrum Berchem. Paradise Lost. Antwerp, Netherlands: Cultureel Centrum Berchem, 1993.

Johnstone, Mark. Contemporary art in Southern California. Sydney, Australia: Craftsman House, G+B Arts International, 1999.

Lineberry, Heather Sealy. Sites around the city: Art and Environment. Tempe, Ariz.: Arizona State University Art Museum, 2000.

Lippard, Lucy R. Weather Report: Art and Climate Change. Boulder, Colorado: Boulder Museum of Contemporary Arts, 2007.

Moore, Sylvia, ed. Yesterday and Tomorrow: California Women Artists. New York, N.Y.: Midmarch Arts Press, 1989.

Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. See Hear: Museums and Imagination. Los Angeles: Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 2006.

Container Listing by Series:

CAE1213/1 Series 1: Artist Information, 1971-2017

Series 1 includes personal ephemera of Kim Abeles, artist information such as awards, interviews, correspondence, and personal journals.

Additional Materials

  • ARCH-OBJ 8 Objects

    • 1-6#5 Journal (5) Spring-Summer 1979
    • 1-6#6 Journal (6) 1981 - 1982
    • 1-6#7 Journal (7) 1982 - 1983
    • 1-6#10 Journal (8) 1983 - 1984
    • 1-6#15 Journal (9) March 1986
    • 1-6#18 Journal (12) August 1995
    • 1-6#19 Journal (13) August 1995 – April 1997
    • 1-6#20 Journal (14) May 1997 – December 1998
    • 1-6#21 Journal (15) 1999 – 2000
    • 1-6#22 Journal (16) June 2001 – September 2001
    • 1-6#23 Journal (17) 2002 - 2003
    • 1-6#24 Journal (18) December 2004 – 2005

  • ARCH-OBJ 9 Objects

    • 1-6#1 Journal (1) Spring 1972 – Fall Semester 1972
    • 1-6#2 Journal (2) Fall 1972
    • 1-6#3 Journal (3) 1974
    • 1-6#4 Journal (4) Spring-Summer 1976 – Summer 1977
    • 1-6#16 Journal (10) 1985 - 1986
    • 1-6#17 Journal (11) 1987
    • 1-6#25 Journal (19) 2006 – 2007
    • 1-6#26 Journal (20) November 2008 – March 2009

  • Archive S-Box 9

    • 1-9#3b Experiment for Myself as Other (PVC Pipe), Matted photographs, 1979

  • Archive S-Box 69

    • 1-3#1 CCF Fellowship for Visual Artists: 2010 Recipients, Pamphlet, 2010
    • 1-10#2 'Pretty Grungy' Silo Now A Home Couple Glad To Have, Photocopied clipping, 1974
    • 1-10#3 Old Silo Makes Simple Home, Photocopied clipping, 1975

CAE1213/2 Series 2: Projects/Exhibitions, Original Date 1940-2019

Series 2 includes project related ephemera. Materials include contracts, correspondence, photographs, artist books and binders, and travel ephemera related to specific projects.

Additional Materials

  • ARCH-OBJ 1 Tray 1 Small Objects

    • 2-32#19 Argentinian Coat of Arms, Lapel pin, not dated
    • 2-37#3 Eva Perón Quote with Penny, 1997

  • ARCH-OBJ 4 Large Objects

    • 2-30#16a Environmental Activity Book, Storyboards, 1996
    • 2-39#1 Broadcast, Artist Book, 1997
    • 2-59#9 Mass Commute, T-shirt, 2012
    • 2-59#10 Mass Commute, Baby Onesie, 2012
    • 2-59#11 The Invisible Connectedness of Things, Puzzle, 2012

  • ARCH-OBJ 6 Large Objects

    • 2-21#33 Steak Dinner in Twelve Days of Smog, Ceramic, 2012
    • 2-21#34 Steak Dinner in Twelve Days of Smog (unfinished), Ceramic and paper, 2012

  • ARCH-OBJ 7 Large Objects

    • 2-12#1 Observatory/Territory (Artist Book, Edition of 1), Book, 1985

  • ARCH-OBJ 9 Objects

    • 2-11#2a The Book of Parts: The Story of the Dead Sea Scrolls, Binder, 1988
    • 2-14#7a Kim Abeles, 1989: Mountain Wedge | Pilgrimage to the Wedge, Binder, 1989
    • 2-15#64 Kim Abeles, 1989: Horizon Drawings, Binder, 1989
    • 2-63#1 Kim Abeles, 1979 – 1985, Installations, Binder, 1985
    • 2-63#2 Biographical Portraits, 1982 – 1987, Kim Abeles, Binder, 1988
    • 2-63#3 Large-Scale Sculpture Series, 1982 – 1983, Kim Abeles (1986), Binder, 1986

  • ARCH-OBJ 10 Objects

    • 2-8#1 Fact-Fiction Boxes 1983-1986, 1988
    • 2-23#10 Smog Watch (1), Flatware, 1992
    • 2-23#11 Smog Watch (2), Flatware, 1992
    • 2-23#12 Smog Watch (3), Gas Mask, 1992
    • 2-23#13 Smog Watch (4), Skull, 1992
    • 2-23#14 Smog Watch (5), United States, 1992
    • 2-30#17 Crayons, not dated

  • ARCH-OBJ 54 Tray 2 Medium Objects

    • 2-54#10 Jessica Tully, Sandpaper Badge, 2001

  • ARCH-OBJ 125 Objects

    • 2-7#1a The Manuscripts of Denton J. Snider/”AS THOUGH THE READER WERE THE WRITER’S GHOST” – Bachelard, (Original Manuscript), 1982
    • 2-18#25 The Image of St. Bernadette, Artist Book, 1987

  • Archive F2 Oversized Items

    • 2-15#3 A Mile a Minute (Los Angeles to Del Mar As Seen From A Moving Train), Drawing, 1986
    • 2-36#5 Los Angeles City Map, 1993
    • 2-60#18 Shared Skies (Antelope Valley), 115/150, Print, 2015
    • 2-63#4 Project Chart, 2008

  • Archive F16 Oversized Items

    • 2-15#7 Pivot Point Horizon Drawing, Los Angeles 1
    • 2-15#8 Pivot Point Horizon Drawing, Los Angeles 2
    • 2-15#9 Pivot Point Horizon Drawing, Los Angeles 3
    • 2-15#10 Pivot Point Horizon Drawing, Los Angeles 4
    • 2-15#11 Pivot Point Horizon Drawing, Los Angeles 5
    • 2-15#12 Pivot Point Horizon Drawing, Los Angeles 5A
    • 2-15#13 Pivot Point Horizon Drawing, Los Angeles 6
    • 2-15#14 Pivot Point Horizon Drawing, Los Angeles 7
    • 2-15#15 Pivot Point Horizon Drawing, Los Angeles 8
    • 2-15#16 Pivot Point Horizon Drawing, Los Angeles 9
    • 2-15#17 Pivot Point Horizon Drawing, Los Angeles 10
    • 2-15#18 Pivot Point Horizon Drawing, Los Angeles 11
    • 2-15#19 Pivot Point Horizon Drawing, Los Angeles 12 + 13
    • 2-15#20 Pivot Point Horizon Drawing, Los Angeles 14
    • 2-15#21 Pivot Point Horizon Drawing, Los Angeles 15
    • 2-15#22 Pivot Point Horizon Drawing, Los Angeles 16
    • 2-15#23 Pivot Point Horizon Drawing, Los Angeles 17
    • 2-15#24 Pivot Point Horizon Drawing, Los Angeles 18
    • 2-15#25 Pivot Point Horizon Drawing, Los Angeles 19
    • 2-15#26 Pivot Point Horizon Drawing, Los Angeles 20
    • 2-15#27 Pivot Point Horizon Drawing, Los Angeles 21
    • 2-15#28 Pivot Point Horizon Drawing, Los Angeles 22
    • 2-15#29 Pivot Point Horizon Drawing, Los Angeles 23
    • 2-15#30 Pivot Point Horizon Drawing, Los Angeles 24
    • 2-15#31 Pivot Point Horizon Drawing, Los Angeles 25
    • 2-15#32 Pivot Point Horizon Drawing, Los Angeles 26
    • 2-15#33 Pivot Point Horizon Drawing, Los Angeles 27
    • 2-15#34 Pivot Point Horizon Drawing, Los Angeles 28
    • 2-15#35 Pivot Point Horizon Drawing, Los Angeles 29
    • 2-15#36 Pivot Point Horizon Drawing, Los Angeles 30
    • 2-15#37 Pivot Point Horizon Drawing, Los Angeles 31
    • 2-15#38 Pivot Point Horizon Drawing, Los Angeles 32
    • 2-15#39 Pivot Point Horizon Drawing, Los Angeles 33
    • 2-15#40 Pivot Point Horizon Drawing, Los Angeles 34
    • 2-15#41 Pivot Point Horizon Drawing, Los Angeles 35
    • 2-15#42 Pivot Point Horizon Drawing, Los Angeles 36
    • 2-15#43 Pivot Point Horizon Drawing, Los Angeles 37
    • 2-15#44 Pivot Point Horizon Drawing, Los Angeles 38
    • 2-15#45 Pivot Point Horizon Drawing, Los Angeles 39
    • 2-15#46 Pivot Point Horizon Drawing, Los Angeles 40
    • 2-15#47 Pivot Point Horizon Drawing, Los Angeles 41
    • 2-15#48 Pivot Point Horizon Drawing, Los Angeles 42
    • 2-15#49 Pivot Point Horizon Drawing, Los Angeles 43
    • 2-15#50 Pivot Point Horizon Drawing, Los Angeles 44
    • 2-15#51 Pivot Point Horizon Drawing, Los Angeles 48
    • 2-15#52 Pivot Point Horizon Drawing, Los Angeles 49
    • 2-15#53 Pivot Point Horizon Drawing, Los Angeles 51
    • 2-15#54 Pivot Point Horizon Drawing, Los Angeles 52
    • 2-15#55 Pivot Point Horizon Drawing, Los Angeles 53
    • 2-15#56 Pivot Point Horizon Drawing, Los Angeles 54
    • 2-15#57 Pivot Point Horizon Drawing, Los Angeles 55
    • 2-15#58 Pivot Point Horizon Drawing, Los Angeles 56
    • 2-15#59 Pivot Point Horizon Drawing, Los Angeles 57
    • 2-15#60 Pivot Point Horizon Drawing, Los Angeles 58
    • 2-18#9 Maze Pattern from St. Bernadette's Clothing, Drawing, not dated
    • 2-25#1 HIV/AIDS Tarot, Fanfold cards, 1992
    • 2-43#6 Leaf Leap (All the World’s Leaves), Poster, 2000
    • 2-58#2 T.H.E. Health Cards, Fanfold cards, 2012
    • 2-60#3 Shared Skies (13 Global Skies), XVIII/XXV, Print, 2012
    • 2-60#4 Shared Skies (13 Global Skies) II, V/V, Print, 2013
    • 2-60#6 Shared Skies (13 Global Skies) III, 6/24, Print, 2013
    • 2-60#7 Shared Skies (13 Global Skies) IV, 10/26, Print, 2013
    • 2-60#8 Shared Skies (13 Global Skies) V, 11/25, Print, 2013
    • 2-60#9 Shared Skies (13 Global Skies) VI, 10/25, Print, 2013
    • 2-60#12 Shared Skies (13 Global Skies) VII, 20/25, Print, 2014
    • 2-60#13 Shared Skies (13 Global Skies) VIII, 17/24, Print, 2014
    • 2-60#14 Shared Skies (13 Global Skies) IX, 12/24, Print, 2014
    • 2-60#15 Shared Skies (13 Global Skies) NCAR, 11/30, Print, 2014
    • 2-60#16 Shared Skies (13 Global Skies) En Route, 22/25, Print, 2014
    • 2-60#17 Shared Skies (13 Global Skies) Sunrise/Sunset, 23/25, Print, 2014

  • Archive S-Box 9

    • 2-13#1a Book Layout for Calamity Jane and the Questions of Truth, Layout, 1986
    • 2-13#5 Art Papers, Volume 14, Number 3, May & June 1990, Magazine clippings, 1990
    • 2-18#23 Drawing for “The Image of St. Bernadette,” Drawing, not dated
    • 2-20#14 Art Papers, Volume 15, Number 6, November/December 1991, Magazine clippings, 1991

  • Archive S-Box 69

    • 2-28#13 AMAM news, Newsletter, 1994
    • 2-36#13 Investigations, Catalog, 1996
    • 2-38#1 C.O.L.A.: 1996-1997 Individual Artist Grants, Catalog, 1996

CAE1213/3 Series 3: Exhibition Announcements, 1984-2015

Series 3 contains exhibition announcement materials for group and solo exhibitions.

Additional Materials

  • Archive F2 Oversized Items

    • 3-6#2a A Place in the Sun, Brochure, 1998

  • Archive F16 Oversized Items

    • 3-7#2 Sites Around the City: Art and Environment, Brochure, 2000
    • 3-9#5 The International Art Dialogue in Chinese Gardens, Poster, 2009
    • 3-10#2 Portsmouth Museums Quarterly Newsletter, 2011

CAE1213/4 Series 4: General Press & Outreach Activities, 1972-2012

Series 4 includes general press and outreach materials related to Abeles’ exhibitions and artistic practice.

Additional Materials

  • Archive S-Box 69

    • 4-9#4 Dialogue in Chinese Gardens, Suzhou Daily, Newspaper, October 15, 2009
    • 4-10#13 Kim Abeles: Artist Lecture, Poster, 2009