Scope and arrangement
The Stuart A. Sherman artist files date from 1959 to 2000 (bulk dates 1970s-1990s) and contain articles and essays, production files, and publications that document his work across various artistic mediums.
The bulk of the collection consists of production files for many of Sherman's performances. The notes, writings, and instructions convey his development process, while the contact-sheets, photographs, and slides document his work. The printed material such as flyers, programs, and brochures detail the many places where he performed such as The Kitchen in New York City and the Festival d'Automne à Paris. Production files are mainly labeled by the title of the work, but sometimes by the event or location.
Performances covered include the Spectacle series, The Classical Trilogy: Hamlet, Oedipus, Faust (1981); and The Play of Tea, or Pinkies Up! (1989). The photographs from Hamlet in The Classical Trilogy showcase Sherman's set designs, and there are also his prop materials used during the production. The images of The Third Spectacle (1970s) in front of the The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum records one of Sherman's street shows and its spectators; while the photographs from the 1980s production of Portrait of Rainer Werner Fassbinder display his collaborative stage work. The Stations of the Cross, or, the Passion of Stuart (2000) materials document one of his last pieces.
Most of the audiovisual materials relate to Sherman's live performances such as the Second Trilogy: Chekhov, Strindberg, Brecht (1985); and Knock, Knock, Knock, Knock and Others (1989). Many of his original short film and video projects are represented through notes, script drafts, and programs, such as Scotty and Stuart (1977), Baseball/TV (1979), Fish Story (1983), and Black-Eyed Susan (Portrait of an Actress) (1989).
The collection holds publications, many of which are exhibition catalogs including the 1983 Whitney Biennial, while others examine the reception of his work. There are also copies of his Riverdale Country School yearbooks from 1959 through 1963. Some of the international publications are in different languages.
Additionally, there are loose articles and essays written by or about Sherman that offer a critical perspective of his work; biographies, bibliographies, and resumes that provide dates and contextual information, and a few personal photographs of his family.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged by subject or format.