Archives of American Art
Patricia Johanson papers
Johanson, Patricia, 1940-
AAA.johapatr
Archival Resource Key
1.5 Linear feet
1964-1998
Papers of sculptor Patricia Johanson include professional and personal correspondence, 1967-1998; writings on public art, articles, and reviews; a transcript of an interview of Johanson conducted by Jan Evans; a copy of a Master's thesis written on Johanson's sculpture; clippings, exhibition catalogs and announcements; and photographs of Johanson and her work. The collection measures 1.5 linear feet and dates from 1964 to 1998.
English
.
Provenance
Patricia Johanson donated her papers in 1975, 1983, 1989, 1997, and 1998.
Processing Information
The papers were processed in August 2004 by Jetta Samulski.
Preferred Citation
Patricia Johanson papers, 1964-1998. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Restrictions on Access
Use of original papers requires an appointment.
Terms of Use
The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.
Biographical Note
Patricia Johanson, born in 1940, is an environmental sculptor and architect who creates large scale public works to solve environmental problems and create habitat and public recreational space. She graduated from Bennington College in 1962 and earned an M.A. in art history at Hunter College (1964). Johanson took civil engineering classes at New York's City College School of Architecture, earning a Bachelor's degree in Architecture in 1977. Inspired by the enormous canvases of the Abstract Expressionists, Johanson created huge sculptures such as Stephen Long (1968) which went beyond the field of vision and interacted with the environment. Johanson designed sculpture for Con Edison's Indian Point Nuclear Generating Plant (1972), the Whitney Colleges at Yale University (1972), and Columbus East High School, Columbus, Indiana (1973). Her architectural projects include Fair Park Lagoon in Dallas, Texas (1981-1982), Tidal Sculpture Garden for Pelham Bay Park in New York (1984), and the San Fransisco baywalk which transformed a new sewer into a public amenity and work of art. Her Park for the Amazon Rainforest (1992), commissioned for the Earth Summit, is an environmental sculpture that provides access from ground level up through the forest canopy along the Amazon River near Obidos, Brazil. Johanson's more recent projects include a master plan and ecological playgrounds for Ulsan Dragon Park (1996), a 912-acre site in South Korea, and the Rocky Marciano Trail and Salisbury River Greenway in Brockton, Massachusetts. Her husband is art historian Eugene C. Goossen.
Scope and Content Note
Papers of sculptor Patricia Johanson include professional and personal correspondence, 1967-1998; writings on public art, articles, and reviews; a transcript of an interview of Johanson conducted by Jan Evans; a copy of a Master's thesis written on Johanson's sculpture; clippings, exhibition catalogs and announcements; and photographs of Johanson and her work. The collection measures 1.5 linear feet and dates from 1964 to 1998.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged as 5 series:
Missing Title
- Series 1: Biographical Material, 1975-1997 (Box 1; 1 folder)
- Series 2: Correspondence, 1967-1998, n.d. (Box 1; 17 folders)
- Series 3: Writings, 1968-1997, n.d. (Box 1 and OV 3; 7 folders)
- Series 4: Printed Material, 1966-1998, n.d. (Boxes 1-2 and OV 3; 12 folders)
- Series 5: Photographs, 1962-1996, n.d. (Box 2 and OV 3; 8 folders)
Sculptors -- New York (State) -- New York
Painters -- New York (State) -- New York
Sculpture, Modern -- 20th century
Women artists
Women painters
Women sculptors
Articles
Interviews
Photographs
Transcripts
Architects -- New York (State) -- New York
Women architects
Biographical Material
Series 1
Archival Resource Key
1975-1997
(Box 1; 1 folder)
Scope and Contents note
Series 1 includes three curriculum vitae, written by Johanson; 2 biographical sketches from Who's Who in America (1 is a galley proof); a sketch from Who's Who in the East (galley); and one from Who's Who of American Women (galley).
Biographical Sketches
Archival Resource Key
1975-1997
1
1
Correspondence
Series 2
Archival Resource Key
1967-1998, n.d.
(Box 1; 17 folders)
Scope and Contents note
This series deals primarily with art-related matters. Many letters have copies of Johanson's replies included. Most of the early letters are photocopies, but many of the later ones are originals, including several original letters from Helen Frankenthaler. There are congratulatory letters for Johanson's exhibitions, discussions of her projects, requests for slides, requests for her to lecture or participate in symposiums, requests for art and architectural proposals, requests for her writing, requests to publish photos of her work, letters from graduate students asking for work, interviews, and input on thesis ideas. There are many sympathy cards concerning the death of her husband, Eugene Goossen, in 1997.
Letters and Cards to Patricia Johanson
Archival Resource Key
1967-1998, n.d.
(17 folders)
1
2-18
Writings
Series 3
Archival Resource Key
1968-1997, n.d.
(Box 1 and OV 3; 7 folders)
Scope and Contents note
This series includes two transcripts of interviews of Johanson. There are photocopied and ink drawings for her designs of works and proposals for work, including the Con Edison Indian Point Visitors Center (1972), Columbus East High School (1973), Diptheria rock sculpture (1974), and proposals for public art in San Fransisco and Rockland County, New York. There are blueprints for the Fair Park Lagoon Sculpture in Dallas, Texas. Writings include personal statements about her artwork, notebooks, collection records for the Museum of Modern Art, a slide lecture, and the convocation address given at the Massachusetts College of Art in May, 1995. Published writings include a 1992 monograph by Johanson and several magazine and newsletter articles. Writings by others include student papers written about Johanson including a master's thesis.
Designs of Works
Archival Resource Key
1972-1982
1
19
Proposals for Public Art
Archival Resource Key
1990, n.d.
1
20
Writings and Notebooks by Patricia Johanson
Archival Resource Key
1968-1996
1
21
Interview Transcripts
Archival Resource Key
1987, n.d.
1
22
Writings by Others - Student Papers
Archival Resource Key
1979
1
23
Writings by Others - Student Papers and Thesis
Archival Resource Key
1991-1997
1
24
Project Plans and Blueprints
Archival Resource Key
1972-1982
3
Printed Material
Series 4
Archival Resource Key
1966-1998, n.d.
(Boxes 1-2 and OV 3; 12 folders)
Scope and Contents note
This series includes exhibition catalogs and announcements and three exhibition posters. There are magazine and newspaper clippings about Johanson and her work. There is one folder of articles published in magazines, pamphlets and other publications.
Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs
Archival Resource Key
1964-1996, n.d.
(7 folders)
1
25-31
Publications with Articles about Johanson
Archival Resource Key
1987-1997, n.d.
2
1
Clippings
Archival Resource Key
1966-1997, n.d.
(3 folders)
2
2-4
Exhibition Posters
Archival Resource Key
1966-1982,
3
Photographs
Series 5
Archival Resource Key
1962-1996, n.d.
(Box 2 and OV 3; 8 folders)
Scope and Contents note
Photographs, both color and black and white, include snapshots, 8 x 10 glossy prints, and one oversized photograph. Subjects include Johanson from childhood until 1996, her husband Eugene C. Goossen, and her finished artwork as well as works in progress. There are several photos of artist Mark Rothko, and one photo of Johanson with Georgia O'Keeffe. There are photos of Johanson's architectural designs from 1972-1982. Also found are 58 color photocopies made in 1995 of the works of artist Doug Ohlson, whose work was included along with Johanson's in the 1964 exhibit "8 Young Artists," an exhibit organized and curated by Goossen.
Photographs of Patricia Johanson
Archival Resource Key
1962-1996, n.d.
(3 folders)
2
5-7
Photographs of Johanson's Artwork
Archival Resource Key
1964-1977
2
8
Photographs of Johanson's Architectural Designs
Archival Resource Key
1972-1982
2
9
Color Photocopies of the Works of Doug Ohlson
Archival Resource Key
1995
(2 folders)
2
10-11
Oversized Photograph of Patricia Johanson with Painting Minor Keith
Archival Resource Key
1967
3