Famous Empty Sky is a collage maker, photographer and mixed media artist, born in 1946 in New York City. She studied at the New School for Social Research, New York, at New York University, Washington Square College, at San Francisco State College, San Francisco, California, and at Fort Mason Arts Center, San Francisco.
Scope and content
The collection consists of a "Correspondence Box", letters to the browser, containing twenty five letters and cards, box measuring 16 x 35 cm, and including the following items:a letter to "Browser," 1 page, a card 5 x 7 in., a colour Xerox photocopy of the artist and Santa, a card, 4.5 x 6.5 in, zodiac design by artist for Leo, with one photoprint inside, a card, 5 x 7 in, B & W photoprint of "John Brzostoski" on front, a mounted photoprint of cat on handmade paper, 3 x 10 in., a photoprint of artist's studio mounted on handmade paper, 5.5 x 8.5 inch, a card with photoprint mounted on front of a detail of "Garden of Love," a collage by the artist, a card of a reproduction of Dorothy's ruby red slippers, a card, 5 x 7 in. depicting the interior of New York Central Station, a photoprint mounted on handmade paper, 6 x 10 in., a detail from "Universal Language," artist's collage, a card, 5 x 6.5 in., three photoprints, two of Jim Hershedahl, one of Hershedahl's installation, a photoprint mounted on card, 5 x 7 inch. of artist's studio, 1993, an empty package of Blue Poppy seeds, a photoprint mounted on card, 5 x 7 inch, depicting a blue Buddha, a mounted Xerox photocopy, 5 x 10, of the artist's son and a friend, a card 5 x 7, a colour Xerox of the artist and her son mounted on front, photoprint of Arlene Byrne mounted on back, a four page booklet 6 x 11 inches, from "People of the Taboo," a colour Xerox mounted on handmade paper, 5.5 x 11.5 inches, of a young man posing as "Adam" from the Garden of Eden, a postcard reproduction, 6 x 4, of Matisse's collage "Tristesse du Roi," a postcard, 4 x 6 inches, of detail of artist's collage, a b&w photocopy, 5 x 10.75 inches, a photoprint mounted on card, 5 x 7 inches, of sign from Fairyland in Oakland, an envelope, 7.25 x 5 inches, containing two postcards, and two cards, all reproductions of artwork, sent to Famous Empty Sky by friends, a envelope 4 x 9.5 from Ed Varney sent to Famous Empty Sky, containing a card with writing, a catalogue, 5.5 x 8.5 inches, "Art of Juxtaposition," the Public Art Project at Library Square, June 20 - July 1996, 11 pages, 12 zodiac cards in plastic box, the backs of which have text that Famous Empty Sky has written to the browser of her box, as well as a plastic sleeve which contains "gifts" for "Browser" of thirty postcards by the artist, a book for comments and addresses, 5.5 x 8.25 inches, a Sharpe black marker attached to box by cord, and as well as several objects from the artist's studio in a plastic bag, including the following items: a rubber tiger, a framed Xerox transfer with a message written on the back, 5 x 7 inches approximately, a book, "Age Before Beauty," 3.25 x 4 inches, a Victorian Bookmark, 5.75 x 2 inches, a teacup, a folder containing: curriculum vitae, catalogue, poster from public library projects, and a folder containing: images, and a newspaper cover from "The Drive."
Note
The artist provided the following statement:
"Dear Browser, This box with my correspondence addressed to you is the only way that I could relate to shutting myself into a little box of my own free will.
I think of it as a cross somewhere between the synthetic memories of the androids in the movie "Bladerunner"(complete with photos) and the imaginary correspondence of Griffin and Sabine. I hope it has that slightly voyeuristic thrill of reading someone else's mail and yet it will establish some relationship between us.
Also, you are invited to take from the gift plastic sleeve a postcard and leave your name and address and any comments you want to share with me. I'm looking forward to hearing form you. Nice to meet you. See you soon. Famous Empty Sky"
