Archives of American Art
Roberto Sifuentes papers
Sifuentes, Roberto, 1967-
AAA.sifurobe
Archival Resource Key
4.3 Linear feet
0.054 Gigabytes
circa 1988-2006
bulk 1993-2000
The papers of performance artist and educator Roberto Sifuentes measure 4.3 linear feet and date from circa 1988 to 2006. The collection documents Sifuentes' work as a professional artist and educator through biographical material and interviews; correspondence including emails; project files including project descriptions, documentation of individual productions, audio and video recordings, and components of works for multimedia projects; conference files documenting symposia and conference participation; articles, versions of performance scripts, and other writings; printed material including press clippings, promotional press packets, and source material; as well as photographic material documenting performances and social events.
English
.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Roberto Sifuentes papers were donated by Roberto Sifuentes to the Archives of American Art in 2018.
Preferred Citation
Roberto Sifuentes papers, circa 1988-2006, bulk 1993-2000. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
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.
Conditions Governing Access
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center. Use of archival audiovisual recordings and born-digital records with no duplicate copy requires advance notice.
Processing Information
The collection was processed and a finding aid prepared by Ryan Evans in 2018.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in 7 series:
- Series 1: Biographical Material, circa 1990-2000 (0.2 linear feet; Box 1, 0.003 Gigabytes; ER01)
- Series 2: Correspondence, circa 1990-2000 (0.2 linear feet; Box 1, 0.004 Gigabytes; ER02-ER05)
- Series 3: Project Files, circa 1986-2000 (1.9 linear feet; Boxes 1-3, 0.051 Gigabytes; ER06-ER15, ER18-ER19)
- Series 4: Conference Files, circa 1995-2006 (0.2 linear feet; Box 3)
- Series 5: Writings, circa 1993-2000 (0.8 linear feet; Boxes 3-4, 0.002 Gigabytes, ER16-ER17)
- Series 6: Printed Material, circa 1993-2000 (0.9 linear feet; Boxes 4-5)
- Series 7: Photographic Material, circa 1990s (0.1 linear feet; Box 4)
Biographical / Historical
Roberto Sifuentes, (born Los Angeles, 1967) is a Chicano performance artist and arts instructor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He completed his BA from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut in 1989 and in 1993 founded La Pocha Nostra Performance Group with his career-long collaborator, Guillermo Gómez-Peña. La Pocha Nostra in its manifesto describes itself as a "trans-disciplinary arts organization...created out of our necessity to survive as Chicano artists in a racist Art World." Around 1992 Roberto began contributing as a collaborator and performer for performance works created by Gómez-Peña in collaboration with Coco Fusco, Couple in the Cage and New World (B)order. Sifuentes has continued his partnership with Gómez-Peña in creating new performance works and publications, as well touring widely to perform their works and deliver outreach programs including lectures and workshops.
Consistent with his work with La Pocha Nostra, Sifuentes has taken an activist sensibility and approach in incorporating stereotypical ritualistic and religious cultural imagery in his installations and performances, while engaging with emerging technologies. This juxtaposition between the futuristic and the traditional stereotype was reflected in his widely applied artistic persona Cybervato. Key works incorporating this persona include Borderscape 2000, Temple of Confessions, and Mexterminator. He has performed his works and contributed to symposia and conferences throughout the world at venues including National Review of Live Art, Glasgow; Center for Performance Research, Wales; Hemispheric Institute, New York University; Centro Cultural Recoleta, Buenos Aires; Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington DC; De Young Museum, San Francisco; and El Museo del Barrio in New York City.
Scope and Contents
The papers of performance artist and educator Roberto Sifuentes measure 4.3 linear feet and date from circa 1988 to 2006. The collection documents Sifuentes' work as a professional artist and educator through biographical material and interviews; correspondence including emails; project files including project descriptions, documentation of individual productions, audio and video recordings, and components of works for multimedia projects; conference files documenting symposia and conference participation; articles, versions of performance scripts, and other writings; printed material including press clippings, promotional press packets, and source material; as well as photographic material documenting performances and social events.
Art teachers -- Illinois -- Chicago
Hispanic American artists
Latino and Latin American artists
Performance artists--Illinois--Chicago
Interviews
Photographs
Sound recordings
Video recordings
Chicano artists
Biographical Material
Series 1
Archival Resource Key
0.2 Linear feet
Box 1
0.003 Gigabytes
ER01
circa 1990-2000
Scope and Contents
Biographical material includes narrative biographies, interviews with Sifuentes as well as his artistic persona Cybervato in the form of audio recordings, and materials relating to work in the entertainment industry including film crew call sheets and a reading for a voiceover reel on audiocassette. Digital biographical material includes biographies and a rent statement.
Biography
Archival Resource Key
circa 1995
1
1
Innovative Arts Management, Biography and Project Descriptions
Archival Resource Key
circa 1999
1
2
Identification, Membership Cards
Archival Resource Key
circa 1990s
1
3
Business Card Book (including Membership Cards)
Archival Resource Key
circa 1990s
1
4
Tenancy
Archival Resource Key
circa 1990s
1
5
World Cup 1994
Archival Resource Key
1994
1
6
Silence of the Hams Call Sheets
Archival Resource Key
1993
1
7
Canada Immigration Centre
Archival Resource Key
1994
1
8
Fictitious Business Registration (blank)
Archival Resource Key
circa 1990s
1
9
Travel Documents
Archival Resource Key
circa 1996
1
10
Interview, WDET-FM (Aug. 26, 1994)
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound cassette
1994
1
11
Interview, WBAI with Matthew Finch (Jul. 1997)
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound cassettes (DAT)
1997
1
12
1-900 Immorality Reading, Voice-over Reel with Kitchen Sisters
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound cassette
circa 1995-2000
1
13
Interview by David Hunt
Archival Resource Key
circa 1995-1998
1 interview transcript
1
14
Miscellaneous Digital Biographical Material
Archival Resource Key
0.003 Gigabytes
3 computer files
1994, 1995
ER01
Correspondence
Series 2
Archival Resource Key
0.2 Linear feet
Box 1
0.004 Gigabytes
ER02-ER05
circa 1990-2000
Scope and Contents
Correspondence is arranged alphabetically, and includes contact information for correspondents including a press list, as well as faxes and emails. While some professional correspondence appears in the series, the majority is found in the Project Files.
A
Archival Resource Key
circa 1994
1
15
B
Archival Resource Key
1996, 1997
1
16
C
Archival Resource Key
1995
1
17
F
Archival Resource Key
1993, 1996
1
18
L
Archival Resource Key
1997
1
19
M
Archival Resource Key
1992-1997
1
20
P
Archival Resource Key
1996
1
21
S
Archival Resource Key
1995, 1997
1
22
V
Archival Resource Key
1995
1
23
W
Archival Resource Key
1994, 1996
1
24
Z
Archival Resource Key
1994, 1997
1
25
Family Correspondence
Archival Resource Key
1997
1
26
Unidentified/First Name Only
Archival Resource Key
circa 1995-2000
Includes 1 videocassette (vhs) containing overhead projector and puppet rehearsal performances for a show called Rex Rocket, at least partially without sound.
1
27
Press Contacts
Archival Resource Key
circa 1996
1
28
Telephone Contacts
Archival Resource Key
circa 1990s
1
29
Faxes, Outgoing
Archival Resource Key
circa 1992-1995
1
30
Faxes (Digital Files), Outgoing
Archival Resource Key
0.001 Gigabytes
14 computer files
1994, 1995
ER02
Email 1, Digital Files
Archival Resource Key
0.001 Gigabytes
172 computer files
1996
ER03
Email 2, Digital Files
Archival Resource Key
0.001 Gigabytes
329 computer files
1996-1997
ER04
Email, Guillermo Gómez-Peña (Digtial Files)
Archival Resource Key
0.001 Gigabytes
13 computer files
1995
ER05
Project Files
Series 3
Archival Resource Key
1.9 Linear feet
Boxes 1-3
0.051 Gigabytes
ER06-ER15; ER18-ER19
circa 1986-2000
Scope and Contents
Project files include project descriptions, documentation of individual productions at various institutions including audio and video recordings, and components of works in the form of audio and video recordings, as well as elements of digital multimedia projects. Scripts and articles related to each of these projects can also be found in the Writings Series.
Jet of Blood
Archival Resource Key
St. Mark's Poetry Project (with Bob Holman)
Archival Resource Key
3 Sound cassettes
circa 1988
1
33
Couple in the Cage
Archival Resource Key
Cage Specifications, Technical Requirements
Archival Resource Key
circa 1992
1
34
Donation Box
Archival Resource Key
circa 1992
1
35
Docent Text
Archival Resource Key
circa 1992
1
36
Text Panels
Archival Resource Key
circa 1992
1
37
Cage Tape
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound cassette
circa 1992
1
38
The New World (B)order
Archival Resource Key
"The Year of the White Bear" The Field Museum of Natural History, Randolph Street Gallery (Dec. 1992 - Feb. 1993)
Archival Resource Key
circa 1992-1993
1
39
UC Santa Cruz Performing Arts Center (Apr. 1993)
Archival Resource Key
circa 1992-1993
1
40
Northwest Film Center (Apr. 1993)
Archival Resource Key
1993
1
41
Internationales Sommer Theater, Hamburg (July 1993)
Archival Resource Key
circa 1993
1
42
¡Mexico: A Cultural Tapestry! Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games (Oct. 1993)
Archival Resource Key
circa 1992-1993
1
43
X'teresa Arte Alternativo, Mexico City (Oct. 1993)
Archival Resource Key
1993
1
44
University of Florida, Gainesville (Nov. 1993)
Archival Resource Key
1993
1
45
Grantmakers in the Arts Conference (Nov. 1993)
Archival Resource Key
1993
1
46
Dance Theater Workshop (Nov. 1993)
Archival Resource Key
circa 1993
1
47
Scottsdale Center for the Arts (Feb. 1994)
Archival Resource Key
circa 1993-1994
1
48
Banff Centre (Feb. 1994)
Archival Resource Key
circa 1994
1
49
Museum of Fine Arts/Exile Santa Fe (Feb. 1994)
Archival Resource Key
circa 1994
1
50
Cleveland Center for Contemporary Art (Mar. 1994)
Archival Resource Key
circa 1994
1
51
Pittsburgh Cultural Trust (June 1994)
Archival Resource Key
1994
1
52
Miscellaneous Digital Files
Archival Resource Key
0.001 Gigabytes
3 computer files
1995, 1996
ER06
Shame-man Meets El Mexi-Can't
Archival Resource Key
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (June 1993)
Archival Resource Key
circa 1993
1
53
Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum (Apr. 1994)
Archival Resource Key
circa 1994
1
54
Miscellaneous Digital Files
Archival Resource Key
0.001 Gigabytes
13 computer files
1994, 1995
ER07
Chicano-Vivant
Archival Resource Key
Miscellaneous Digital Files
Archival Resource Key
0.001 Gigabytes
11 computer files
1994, 1995
ER08
Temple of Confessions
Archival Resource Key
Description and Specifications
Archival Resource Key
circa 1994
1
55
Publication, Power House Books
Archival Resource Key
1996
1
56
Interview Questions
Archival Resource Key
1996
1
57
Website, Latin American Youth Center
Archival Resource Key
1996
1
58
Statements Incorporated and Derived From Work
Archival Resource Key
circa 1996
1
59
Confessions
Archival Resource Key
2 Sound tape reels
circa 1994-1996
1
60
Final Mix
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound tape reel
circa 1994-1996
1
61
Recordings
Archival Resource Key
2 Sound cassettes
circa 1994-1996
1
62
Scottsdale Center for the Arts (Feb. 1994)
Archival Resource Key
circa 1994
2
1
Pittsburgh Cultural Trust (June 1994)
Archival Resource Key
circa 1994
2
2-4
(Including Borderama) Detroit Institute of Arts (Oct. - Nov. 1994)
Archival Resource Key
circa 1994
2
5-6
Rhode Island College Art Center (Oct. 1995)
Archival Resource Key
circa 1995
2
7
Corcoran Gallery of Art (Oct. 1996)
Archival Resource Key
circa 1996-1997
2
8
Miscellaneous Digital Files
Archival Resource Key
0.001 Gigabytes
53 computer files
1994-1996
ER09
Borderama
Archival Resource Key
Hostos Culture and Arts Program (Oct. 1994)
Archival Resource Key
circa 1994
2
9
Miscellaneous Digital Files
Archival Resource Key
0.001 Gigabytes
9 computer files
1994-1996
ER10
The Cruci-fiction Project
Archival Resource Key
Headlands Center for the Arts (Apr. 1994)
Archival Resource Key
circa 1994
2
10
Miscellaneous Digital Files
Archival Resource Key
0.001 Gigabytes
2 computer files
1994
ER11
Terreno Peligroso
Archival Resource Key
UCLA World Arts & Culture (Feb. 1995)
Archival Resource Key
circa 1995
2
11
Dangerous Border Game
Archival Resource Key
Project Description
Archival Resource Key
circa 1995
2
12
Wabash College (Apr. 1995)
Archival Resource Key
circa 1995
Includes 1 sound cassette
2
13
GALA Hispanic Theater (June 1995)
Archival Resource Key
1995
2
14
New Mexico State University (Sep. 1995)
Archival Resource Key
1995
2
15
Johnson County Community College Residency (Sep. 1995)
Archival Resource Key
circa 1995
2
16
Solo Mio Theatre Festival (Sep. 1995)
Archival Resource Key
circa 1995
2
17
Theater Artaud (Jan. - Feb. 1996)
Archival Resource Key
1996
2
18
Washington Performing Arts Society Residency (Mar. 1996)
Archival Resource Key
circa 1995-1996
2
19-20
California State Summer School for the Arts (July 1996)
Archival Resource Key
1996
2
21
Presentation House/ Western Front, Vancouver (Sep. 1996)
Archival Resource Key
1996-1998
2
22
Yale Repertory Theater (Feb. 1997)
Archival Resource Key
circa 1996-1997
2
23
Miscellaneous Digital Files
Archival Resource Key
0.001 Gigabytes
17 computer files
1994-1996
ER12
Tribal Slam
Archival Resource Key
Holter Museum (May 1996)
Archival Resource Key
1996
2
24
Borderscape 2000
Archival Resource Key
Project Description
Archival Resource Key
1997
2
25
Sound Cues
Archival Resource Key
8 Sound cassettes
circa 1997-1999
2
26
Trinity College, UMass Amherst, Magic Theatre
Archival Resource Key
circa 1999
2
27-28
UMass Amherst Theater (July 1997)
Archival Resource Key
circa 1997
2
29
Mexterminator
Archival Resource Key
Movies Collage (full tape loop)
Archival Resource Key
circa 1996-1998
3
1
Mexterminator II, Neutral Ground (Sep. 1997)
Archival Resource Key
1997
3
2
Mexterminator II, Atlantic Center for the Arts Residency (Nov. 1998)
Archival Resource Key
1997
3
3
Miscellaneous Digital Files
Archival Resource Key
0.001 Gigabytes
2 computer files
1997
ER19
Friendly Cannibals/Artificial Savages
Archival Resource Key
Arts Festival Atlanta (Sep. 1997)
Archival Resource Key
1997
3
4
LA Indian Queen
Archival Resource Key
Video Recordings
Archival Resource Key
3 Videocassettes (VHS)
circa 1999
3
5
Contract Planner (Various Projects)
Archival Resource Key
circa 1995-1996
3
6
Miscellaneous Contracts, Digital Files
Archival Resource Key
0.001 Gigabytes
14 computer files
1993-1995
ER18
Miscellaneous Project Documents
Archival Resource Key
circa 1993-1998
3
7
Miscellaneous Project Documents, Digital Files
Archival Resource Key
0.001 Gigabytes
79 computer files
1994-1996
ER13
Various Project Documents
Archival Resource Key
10 computer_disc_3.5
3
8
Various Multimedia Projects (Mexterminator, Cyber-Chicano, Color Cycling, Cybervato, Go Zapata Go)
Archival Resource Key
3 Electronic discs (CD)
1998
Includes born-digital records, see ER14-ER15
3
9
Instructions for Mexterminator Multimedia Project
Archival Resource Key
0.001 Gigabytes
1 computer file
1998
ER14
Various Multimedia Files for Go Zapata, Go
Archival Resource Key
0.048 Gigabytes
10 computer files
1995, 1998
ER15
Conference Files
Series 4
Archival Resource Key
0.2 Linear feet
Box 3
circa 1995-2006
Scope and Contents
Conference files reflect Sifuentes' participation in various symposia and conferences. Included are conference programs, planning documents, and some notes.
National Performance Network Annual Meeting (Nov. 1995)
Archival Resource Key
circa 1995
3
10
"Performance, Tourism, and Identity" Theater Conference, Center for Performance Research (Sep. 1996)
Archival Resource Key
1996
3
11
Performance Art, Culture, and Pedagogy Symposium (Nov. 1996)
Archival Resource Key
1996
3
12
Performance and Technology Conference, Atlanta (Apr. 1997)
Archival Resource Key
1997
3
13
"Performance Sites: Intersecting Art, Technology and the Body" Penn State (Oct. 2000)
Archival Resource Key
2000
3
14
"Intersection IV: Regenerations" Conference and Theater Festival, UMass Amherst (Apr. 2006)
Archival Resource Key
2006
3
15
Writings
Series 5
Archival Resource Key
0.8 Linear feet
Boxes 3-4
0.002 Gigabytes
ER16-ER17
circa 1993-2000
Scope and Contents
Writings include notebooks, draft articles, and various versions of performance scripts and project descriptions.
Borderscape 2000 Draft (Mar. 1997)
Archival Resource Key
1997
3
16
Borderscape 2000 Working Script
Archival Resource Key
circa 1997-1999
3
17
Borderscape 2000 Wales Draft (Apr. 1999)
Archival Resource Key
1999
3
18
Catalog texts by Guillermo Gómez-Peña
Archival Resource Key
circa 1995
3
19
Chicano-Vivant Project Description, Spanish (July 1994)
Archival Resource Key
1994
3
20
Crossing Borders Documentary Script
Archival Resource Key
circa 1994-1998
3
21
Cyberbarrio Pages Houston Performances Draft (June 1997)
Archival Resource Key
1997
3
22
Dangerous Border Game Script (Dec. 1995)
Archival Resource Key
1995
3
23
El Existentialist Mojado Script
Archival Resource Key
circa 1990s
3
24
"Freefalling Towards a Borderless Future"
Archival Resource Key
circa 1995
3
25
"Mexican Beasts and Living Santos" (Oct. 1995)
Archival Resource Key
1995
3
26
El Mexterminator I (Ethno-Cyborgs and Artificial Savages) Proposal
Archival Resource Key
circa 1997
3
27
Mexterminator II Script (Sep. 1996)
Archival Resource Key
1996
3
28
El Naftazteca Television Script, iEar Studios
Archival Resource Key
1994
3
29
New World (B)order Script
Archival Resource Key
circa 1993
3
30
New World (B)order Program Notes
Archival Resource Key
circa 1993-1995
3
31
New World (B)order Script, Dance Theater Workshop Version
Archival Resource Key
circa 1993
3
32
New World (B)order Working Draft of Script (June 1993)
Archival Resource Key
1993
3
33
New World (B)order Mexico Script (Oct. 1993)
Archival Resource Key
1993
3
34
"La Pocha Nostra Cafe Presents Nouvelle Mexican Art" Menu
Archival Resource Key
circa 1997-2000
3
35
Shame-Man Final Script (Apr. 1994)
Archival Resource Key
1994
3
36
"Techno Confessional, NYC" Questionnaire
Archival Resource Key
circa 1994-1998
3
37
"Techno Dioramas (Ethno-Cyborgs & Artificial Savages)" Lecture
Archival Resource Key
circa 1997
3
38
Temple of Confessions Catalog Draft
Archival Resource Key
circa 1994-1995
3
39
Temple of Confessions Radio Script
Archival Resource Key
circa 1994-1998
3
40
Publication Source Texts, Visuals
Archival Resource Key
circa 1990s
3
41
Unidentified Scripts
Archival Resource Key
circa 1990s
3
42-43
Unidentified Scripts
Archival Resource Key
circa 1990s
4
1-2
Notes
Archival Resource Key
circa 1990s
4
3
Notebooks
Archival Resource Key
circa 1995-1998
4
4-7
Various Essay Drafts by Guillermo Gómez-Peña
Archival Resource Key
0.001 Gigabytes
11 computer files
1995, 1996
ER16
(Roger) Bartra Essay
Archival Resource Key
0.001 Gigabytes
1 computer file
1996
ER17
Printed Material
Series 6
Archival Resource Key
0.9 Linear feet
Boxes 4-5
circa 1993-2000
Scope and Contents
Printed material includes press clippings, promotional press packets, and source material including popular culture magazines and comic books.
Invitations and Programs
Archival Resource Key
circa 1993-1998
4
8
Clippings
Archival Resource Key
circa 1995-1997
4
9
Action Pursuit Games Magazine
Archival Resource Key
1997
4
10
Biombo Negro Journal
Archival Resource Key
1994
5
1
Cardoso Flea Circus, Inscribed Poster
Archival Resource Key
circa 1995
5
2
Comic Books
Archival Resource Key
circa 1993-1997
4
11-12
Scope and Contents
Comic books include Chesty Sanchez, Lobo, Texasylum, Star Wars X-Wing, Bobby Ruckers, and titles by Lance Tooks.
Diaspora Magazine
Archival Resource Key
1994
4
13
Frontera Magazine
Archival Resource Key
1995, 1996
4
14
"The Latino Boom...Boom!!" The Broken Line Journal
Archival Resource Key
1989
4
15
Lowrider Magazine, Lowrider Arte
Archival Resource Key
1997
4
16
New World (B)order Publication Promotion
Archival Resource Key
1996
4
17
Newsprint Publications
Archival Resource Key
1993-1996
5
3-5
Press Packets
Archival Resource Key
circa 1994-1996
4
18
Proceso Magazine
Archival Resource Key
1996
4
19
Rap Pages Magazine
Archival Resource Key
1997
4
20
Rungh Magazine
Archival Resource Key
1995
4
21
Soldier of Fortune Magazine
Archival Resource Key
1997
4
22
Surreal Magazine
Archival Resource Key
1994
4
23
Miscellaneous Printed Material
Archival Resource Key
circa 1990s
4
24-26
Seminar and Workshop Music Complilations
Archival Resource Key
2 Sound cassettes
circa 1993-1998
4
27
Photographic Material
Series 7
Archival Resource Key
0.1 Linear feet
Box 4
circa 1990s
Scope and Contents
Photographic material includes mostly snapshots with some contact sheets documenting performances and social events.
Photographs of the Artist
Archival Resource Key
circa 1990s
4
28
Argentina
Archival Resource Key
circa 1993
4
29
Performance- El Mexterminator, Cybervato
Archival Resource Key
circa 1995-1998
4
30
Unidentified Album (Banff Centre and Others)
Archival Resource Key
circa 1994
4
31
Unidentified Photographs
Archival Resource Key
circa 1990s
4
32
Contact Sheets
Archival Resource Key
circa 1990s
4
33
Photocopies
Archival Resource Key
circa 1990s
4
34