Archives of American Art
Audiovisual material relating to Pacita Abad
Abad, Pacita
Garrity, Jack
AAA.abadpaci
Archival Resource Key
89.63 Gigabytes
1984-2008
The collection of audiovisual material relating to Pacita Abad measures 89.63 GB and dates from 1984 to 2008. All materials in this collection are in born-digital format and include video and audio recordings and presentations. The Biographical Materials series includes videos of Pacita Abad's life in the Washington, D.C., region, and several recordings of memorials and services after her passing in 2004. The Professional Materials series consists of videos of two workshops and two lectures given by Pacita Abad. The Interviews and Documentaries series consists of American and Asian TV programs, films, and radio interviews with and about Pacita Abad and her art. The Exhibitions and Artwork series has videos and presentations of Pacita Abad's art, and solo and group exhibitions.
English
.
Biographical / Historical
Pacita Abad (1946-2004) was an Ivatan and Filipina painter based in New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. Abad emigrated to the United States from the Philippines in 1970, and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1994.
Abad traveled in over 80 countries and different cultures had a profound influence on her artistic style. She developed a technique of trapunto painting, which entailed stitching and stuffing painted canvases to give them a three-dimensional, sculptural effect, and incorporating materials such as traditional cloth, mirrors, beads, shells, plastic buttons, and other objects into the surface of paintings. Abad crafted more than 5,000 artworks over a 30-year career. Her work has been featured in over 60 solo and group exhibitions at museums and galleries worldwide, and her art is held in private collections and cultural institutions in more than 70 countries.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged as four series.
- Series 1: Biographical Material, 1994-2005 (19.39 GB; ER01-ER08)
- Series 2: Professional Material, 1995-2000 (11.86 GB; ER09-ER11, ER42)
- Series 3: Interviews and Documentaries, 1990-2004 (36.68 GB; ER12-ER29)
- Series 4: Exhibitions and Artwork, 1984-2008 (21.70 GB; ER30-ER41)
Scope and Contents
The collection of audiovisual material relating to Pacita Abad measures 89.63 GB and dates from 1984 to 2008. All materials in this collection are in born-digital format and include video and audio recordings and presentations. Several of the videos were transferred from VHS tapes. Some recordings in this collection are only partially transferred, and technical quality of both audio and video components varies. The Biographical Materials series includes videos of Pacita Abad's life in the Washington, D.C., region, and several recordings of memorials and services after her passing in 2004. The Professional Materials series consists of videos of two workshops and two lectures given by Pacita Abad. The Interviews and Documentaries series consists of American and Asian TV programs, films, and radio interviews with and about Pacita Abad and her art. The Exhibitions and Artwork series has videos and presentations of Pacita Abad's art, and solo and group exhibitions.
Conditions Governing 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.
Conditions Governing Access
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C., Research Center.
This collection is open for research. Researchers interested in accessing born-digital records or audiovisual recordings in this collection must use access copies. Contact References
Services for more information.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated 2009 by Jack Garrity, Abad's husband and director of Pacita Abad Art Estate.
Preferred Citation
Audiovisual material relating to Pacita Abad, 1984-2008. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian
Institution.
Processing Information
The collection was processed and a finding aid prepared by Kirsi Ritosalmi-Kisner in 2021.
Sound recordings
Video recordings
Women artists
Asian American artists
Filipino American artists
Painters -- Washington (D.C.)
Biographical Materials
Series 1
Archival Resource Key
19.39 Gigabytes
ER01-ER08
1994-2005
Scope and Contents
The Biographical Materials series consists of videos of Pacita Abad's life in the Washington, D.C. region, and of memorials and services in the Philippines and Singapore after her passing in 2004. Materials in the series are arranged chronologically.
This series includes a 1994 recording of Abad's U.S. citizenship naturalization ceremony. One recording illustrates the construction and blessing of Fundacion Pacita, Abad's studio and home in Batanes, Philippines, where she is buried. In January 2005, the National Museum of the Philippines hosted a parangal [eulogy] in her memory.
Naturalization Ceremony, Washington, D.C. (1994 September 17), Digital Video Recording
Archival Resource Key
3.24 Gigabytes
One computer file
2006
ER01
Life in Washington, D.C. area (circa 1994), Digital Video Recording
Archival Resource Key
3.72 Gigabytes
One computer file
2003
ER02
Construction and Blessing of Fundacion Pacita, Batanes, Philippines (2004), Digital Video Recording
Archival Resource Key
4.08 Gigabytes
One computer file
2004
ER03
Funeral in Batanes, Philippines (2004), Digital Video Recording
Archival Resource Key
2.67 Gigabytes
One computer file
2004
ER04
Requiem in Memory of Pacita Abad, Jakarta, Idonesia (2004 December), Digital Video Recording
Archival Resource Key
1.24 Gigabytes
One computer file
2004
ER05
Memorial for Pacita, Manila, Philippines (2004), Digital Presentation
Archival Resource Key
0.011 Gigabytes
One computer file
2004
ER06
Memorial for Pacita: A Celebration of Pacita's Life (2004), Digital Video Recording
Archival Resource Key
4.37 Gigabytes
11 computer files
2004
ER07
Parangal for Pacita, Manila, Philippines (2005), Digital Video Recording
Archival Resource Key
0.056 Gigabytes
One computer file
2005
ER08
Professional Materials
Series 2
Archival Resource Key
11.86 Gigabytes
ER09-ER11, ER42
1995-2000
Scope and Contents
The Professional Materials series consists of Pacita Abad's talk to college students in Providence, RI, artist's talk at Tyler Print Institute in Singapore, a mask workshop for children in Bowie, MD, and a painting workshop in Singapore.
Artist Talk, Providence College, Rhode Island (circa 1995), Digital Video Recording
Archival Resource Key
3.88 Gigabytes
One computer file
2006
ER09
Mask Workshop, Huntington Community Center, Bowie, MD (circa 1995), Digital Video Recording
Archival Resource Key
0.442 Gigabytes
One computer file
2008
ER10
Painting Workshop, Singapore Tyler Print Institute (circa 2004), Digital Video Recording
Archival Resource Key
3.76 Gigabytes
One computer file
2004
ER11
Artist Talk, Singapore Tyler Print Institute, Singapore (2003 August 11), Digital Video Recording
Archival Resource Key
3.78 Gigabytes
Six computer files
2006
ER42
Interviews and Documentaries
Series 3
Archival Resource Key
36.68 Gigabytes
ER12-ER29
1990-2004
Scope and Contents
The Interviews and Documentaries series consists of American and Asian TV programs, films, and radio interviews with and about Pacita Abad and her art. Series is arranged chronologically. In Slumber Party, Artists' Conversation, Abad discusses art and being an artist with several D.C.-area artists. Parthasarathy Ganesan's Spirited Faces visits Abad's home and studio in Singapore. Interview with Felice Prudente at Ateneo de Manila University was conducted shortly before Abad's passing. This series concludes with three documentaries about Abad's final work, painting the massive Alkaff Bridge in Singapore.
Three Documentaries on Pacita Abad (circa 1985-1990), Digital Video Recordings
Archival Resource Key
1.62 Gigabytes
One computer file
2006
ER12
Painting the Globe, a Video Scetch of Pacita Abad, film by Raki Jones (circa 1990), Digital Video Recording and Presentation
Archival Resource Key
0.902 Gigabytes
Two computer files
2006
ER13
Art to Art: Expressions by Asian American Women, video by Riverfilms Production, Wild at Art (circa 1990), Digital Video Recording
Archival Resource Key
1.18 Gigabytes
One computer file
2006
ER14
Paper Making at Pyramid Atlantic Art Center, TV Documentary (1990), Digital Video Recording
Archival Resource Key
0.473 Gigabytes
One computer file
2006
ER15
Slumber Party - Artists' Conversation, TV program by N.J. Heubusch, Arlington Community Television (1993), Digital Video Recording
Archival Resource Key
1.67 Gigabytes
One computer file
2006
ER16
Inside Out, Ellipse Exhibit 1993, video by Linda Lewett (circa 1993), Digital Video Recording
Archival Resource Key
3.98 Gigabytes
One computer file
2001
ER17
Wayang Painting and Dinnerware at Koi Gallery, Jakarta, Indonesia (circa 1995), Digital Video Recording
Archival Resource Key
0.134 Gigabytes
One computer file
2006
ER18
Interview with Sid Reyes (circa 1997), Digital Audio Recording
Archival Resource Key
0.617 Gigabytes
One computer file
2006
ER19
Interview with Steven Shalowitz, Gold 90.5 FM, Singapore (circa 1997), Digital Audio Recording
Archival Resource Key
1.83 Gigabytes
Two computer files
2006
ER20
Spirited Faces, TV documentary by Parthasarathy Ganesan (circa 2002), Digital Video Recording
Archival Resource Key
1.42 Gigabytes
One computer file
circa 2002
ER21
Art Nation: Universal Blues, host Beatrice Chia, TV 12 Singapore (2002), Digital Video Recording
Archival Resource Key
3.54 Gigabytes
One computer file
2002
ER22
Intervew with Elizabeth Sullivan (circa 2004), Digital Audio Recording
Archival Resource Key
0.756 Gigabytes
Three computer files
circa 2004
ER23
Flamenco with Rose Borromeo, Infusion TV program (circa 2004), Digital Video Recording
Archival Resource Key
4.95 Gigabytes
Two computer files
2004
ER24
Art Nation: Wild Art, TV Program (circa 2004), Digital Video Recording
Archival Resource Key
0.232 Gigabytes
One computer file
circa 2004
ER25
The Passions of Pacita Abad, Interview with Felice Prudente at Rizal Library of Women's Writings, Ateneo de Manila University (2004 September 3), Digital Video Recordings
Archival Resource Key
5.81 Gigabytes
Three computer files
2004
ER26
Groovy: The Colors of Pacita Abad, film by Milo Sogueco (2005), Digital Video Recording
Archival Resource Key
3.52 Gigabytes
One computer file
2005
ER27
Pacita's Painted Bridge, film by Milo Sogueco (2005), Digital Video Recordings
Archival Resource Key
2.49 Gigabytes
One computer file
2005
ER28
Singapore's Art Bridge, film by Milo Sogueco (2007), Digital Video Recording, 2007
Woman of Color, film by Milo Sogueco (2007), Digital Video Recording
Archival Resource Key
1.53 Gigabytes
One computer file
2007
ER29
Exhibitions and Artwork
Series 4
Archival Resource Key
21.7 Gigabytes
ER30-ER41
1984-2008
Scope and Contents
The Exhibitions and Artwork series has videos and presentations of Pacita Abad's art, and solo and group exhibitions. The series is arranged chronologically. Abad had regular exhibitions in Asia and in the US. Researchers should also see Series 3, Interviews and Documentaries, for additional footage of Abad's artwork.
A Philippine Painter Looks at the World, Museum of Philippine Art, Manila, Philippines (1984 22 February-15 April), Digital Audio Recording
Archival Resource Key
0.32 Gigabytes
One computer file
2008
ER30
Assaulting the Deep Sea, Ayala Museum, Manila, Philippines (1986 May 26-Jun 25), Digital Video Recording
Archival Resource Key
0.964 Gigabytes
Two computer files
2006
ER31
Beyond the Borders: Art by Recent Immigrants, Bronx Museum of the Arts, New York, NY (1994), Digital Video Recording
Archival Resource Key
1.01 Gigabytes
One computer file
2006
ER32
Jamming on an Old Saya, fashion theater show, Cultural Center of the Philippines, documentary by Sari Dalena (1995), Digital Video Recording
Archival Resource Key
4.12 Gigabytes
One computer file
2006
Partial transfer only.
ER33
Exploring the Spirit, National Gallery of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia (1996 July 10-28), Digital Video Recording
Archival Resource Key
2.15 Gigabytes
One computer file
2006
ER34
The Sky Is the Limit, Finale Art Gallery, SM Megamall, Manila, Philippines, (2001 March 13-26), Digital Video Recording
Archival Resource Key
2.61 Gigabytes
One computer file
2003
ER35
Pacita Abad - CD Profile (2002), Digital Presentation
Archival Resource Key
0.018 Gigabytes
19 computer files
2002
Partial transfer only.
ER36
SingArt: A Brush with Lions, Singapore (2004), Digital Video Recordings
Archival Resource Key
3.86 Gigabytes
Four computer files
2004
ER37
Paper Pulp Work Process, Singapore Tyler Print Institute (circa 2004), Digital Video Recordings
Archival Resource Key
1.02 Gigabytes
One computer file
circa 2004
ER38
Pacita Abad's Singapore Studio (circa 2005), Digital Presentation
Archival Resource Key
0.231 Gigabytes
One computer file
circa 2005
ER39
The Shape That Is, Jendela Visual Arts Space, Singapore (circa 2005), Digital Video Recording
Archival Resource Key
0.496 Gigabytes
One computer file
2008
ER40
Through the Looking Glass, The Esplanade, Singapore (2006 March 4-April 23), Digital Video Recording
Archival Resource Key
0.286 Gigabytes
One computer file
2006
ER41