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Creator
Fisher, Margaret, 1948-
Call number
(S) *MGZMD 533
Physical description
20.85 linear feet (43 boxes, 7 oversize folders, 9 tubes, 4 volumes); 83.03 gigabytes (2,556 computer files)
Language
English
Preferred Citation
Margaret Fisher papers, (S) *MGZMD 533. Jerome Robbins Dance Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
Repository
Jerome Robbins Dance Division
Access to materials
Request an in-person research appointment.Restrictions apply

Margaret Fisher (1948- ) is an American media artist, choreographer and the creator of Cellular Movement, a gestural technique that embraces postmodern dance aesthetics in performance. Fisher has performed nationally and internationally with Cat's Paw Palace and MA FISH CO. Her husband, Robert Hughes, a choreographer, worked extensively on productions in MA FISH CO. The Margaret Fisher papers document the career of Margaret Fisher including a year spent in Japan studying Japanese gestural and performance techniques. The collection holds correspondence, journals, individual works, photographs, designs, printed matter, and audio and moving image materials.

Biographical/historical information

Margaret Fisher (1948- ) is an American media artist, choreographer and the creator of Cellular Movement, a gestural technique that embraces postmodern dance aesthetics in performance. Her focus is on themes of androgyny and emigration.

In 1970, she began creating experimental performances in open-air theatres in the San Francisco's bay area. Several years later, Fisher and Gregory Bentley co-founded Cat's Paw Palace (1973-1984), an alternative free-form theatre. In 1983, Fisher and her husband Robert Hughes, a composer and Jerry Carniglia, an artist and designer, created MA FISH CO a mixed-media theatre that incorporates elements of sculpture, design, video and film.

Fisher is a recipient of multiple grants and awards. In 1983, she received a six-month fellowship from the Japan-United States Friendship Commission to further her development as an artist. Fisher successfully petitioned the Commission to extend the fellowship for another six months. In 1984, Fisher wrote in her final report that she studied the performing arts of Japan, the history, the literature, sculpture, painting, and sign language for the deaf. While in Japan, Fisher presented a lecture-demonstration at the International House and a performance at the Tokyo American Center. Other activities included collecting books and study materials to promote future exchange and also travelling on three study-trips to Kyoto and Nara. She remarked that there were opportunities to tour and work with American artists that she turned down. Regardless, Fisher later developed a three-day program of her work sponsored by Image Forum Festival of Japan. (The report is located in box 13, folder 4).

The MA FISH CO continues as a multi-disciplinary performance space for experimental dance, films and videos, art, performance arts, art and technology, and other artistic expressions.

Fisher currently resides in Emeryville, California.

Scope and arrangement

The Margaret Fisher papers, dating from 1970s to 2019, documents her career as a performance and media artist with MA FISH CO and Cat's Paw Palace. The collection holds articles, contracts, correspondence, drawings, financial, notes, photographs, posters, programs, scripts, electronic records, and audio and media materials. The bulk of the collection documents MA FISH CO and Cat's Paw Palace. Fisher extensively kept records as evidentiary material of her work as described in the following groups.

The Correspondence files are mostly incoming letters to Fisher from fellow artists or collaborators. These exchanges may include comments on Fisher's latest work, collaborations on projects, the correspondent's creative work, and general information. Notable correspondents include Beth Anderson, a singer and collaborator with Fisher; Becky Cohen, photographer; Jack Eyerly an Oregon artist; Janet Jaffe, performer, and Kazuko Nakane, sculptor.

The Production files are original works that represent many of the performances choreographed and directed by Margaret Fisher at MA FISH CO and Cat's Paw Palace. As the title of the productions suggest, these performances reflect both contemporary and historical events through the use of many elements, including the costumes of the artist, music, exhibitions, sets, props and movements. The files are mostly preparatory materials for the creation of the production that may include the budget, research notes, press releases, research notes, lighting design, notebooks and sketches. Some preliminary sketches for the productions are located in the Designs for Productions files. Researchers are recommended to examine the Photograph files for visual information.

The Alphabetical files hold an assortment of materials most notably Fisher's fellowship in Japan including the final report, notebook and Japanese sign language notes. Other documents in the Alphabetical files include awards and nominations that Fisher garnered for her creative work; contracts; grants; and her book Palm Leaf Patterns, a book written on clothing design for performers.

The Writings hold Fisher's journals that span over thirty years. These journals offer invaluable information about her research and preparations for productions (including the title of the production), artists or other people involved with the productions; everyday events, drawings and tours. Other material includes articles written as a critic, and some notes about productions.

The Photograph files offer visual evidence of Fisher's work and extensively document Fisher's projects in open-air theatres and in interior spaces, and her collaboration with other artists. Notable works include Breast, Bridge (performed on the Golden Gate Bridge), and The Bride Stripped Bare By Her Bachelors, Even.

The Printed Matter is mostly reviews of Fisher's work and a wide array of posters produced for Cat's Paw Palace and MA FISH CO.

The Audio and Moving Image Material (AMI) holds film, sound recordings and video that document the performances of Fisher, MA FISH CO and Cat's Paw Palace.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into the following groups: Correspondence; Productions; Alphabetical Files; Writings; Photographs; Printed Matter; Designs for Productions; Audio and Moving Image Material.

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

The collection was donated by Margaret Fisher in 2019.

Processing information

Processed by Valerie Wingfield in 2020.

Using the collection

Location

Jerome Robbins Dance Division
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center
40 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023-7498
Third Floor

Access restrictions

Inquiries regarding audio and moving image materials in the collection may be directed to the Jerome Robbins Dance Division (dance@nypl.org). Audio and moving image materials will be subject to preservation assessment and migration prior to access.