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Identification and Creation

Object Number
2003.80.5
People
James Lee Byars, American (Detroit, MI 1932 - 1997 Cairo, Egypt)
Title
Red-Painted Paper Scroll
Classification
Archival Material
Work Type
archival material
Date
1979-1980
Culture
American
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/76859

Physical Descriptions

Medium
Gold colored pencil on red-painted paper
Dimensions
233.5 x 31.2 cm (91 15/16 x 12 5/16 in.)
with length of each piece: 236 x 31.2 cm (92 15/16 x 12 5/16 in.)
Inscriptions and Marks
  • inscription: Gold pencil text written to read vertically from top to bottom of scroll. Two pieces of paper pasted together to make one long scroll. Letter text: Important / Mark, Sydney / Won't we must / go higher. A good / telegram from Germ- / any. Germany / has produced all / recent genius exc- / ept James Lee Byars I'm / shy. My O.E.D.'s / first definition of / genius says - Every / one is born with it / Sydney was charm / ing / he drew his / finger under his / neck Mark / for you and me / Begin to Be the / Soliloquist please / Tomorrow I see / D.H. the German / philosopher at 4 p.m. / Sydney suggg'd. / Goodman I / wonder? Lets / cover ourselves / you try everyday / a Bit and I will / ghost you some / Like this telegram / is quite good with / the O.E.D. footnote / please consider to / Be the "Solil" maybe / you can get a good / paragraph from our / Sydney (Bril.)? / Perhaps the Solil. / could Be? Lucky / People? Konrad? / Goodman? You? / Henrich? Me? Sydney?

Provenance

Recorded Ownership History
James Lee Byars; to Busch-Reisinger Museum, transfer; to Harvard University Art Museums, 2003.

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line
Harvard Art Museums/Fogg Museum, Transfer from the Busch-Reisinger Museum Archives
Copyright
© The Estate of James Lee Byars / Michael Werner Gallery
Accession Year
2003
Object Number
2003.80.5
Division
Modern and Contemporary Art
Contact
am_moderncontemporary@harvard.edu
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Exhibition History

  • James Lee Byars Letters (title TBD), Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, North Adams, 01/17/2004 - 06/30/2004

Verification Level

This record has been reviewed by the curatorial staff but may be incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Modern and Contemporary Art at am_moderncontemporary@harvard.edu