Schneemann, Carolee, 1939-

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Carolee Schneemann actively engaged in performance art, experimental film-making, the Fluxus movement and feminist theory in the 1960s-1970s. The artist is best known for the provocative use of her nude body to explore personal expression, sexual taboos and feminism in both multi-media performances and solo improvisational work. Born in 1939, Schneemann studied painting at the University of Illinois and Bennington College in the late-1950s. Her performance work evolved out of a desire to express more than she could within the confines of her paintings, and retains some of the gestural qualities of abstract expressionism and the cluttered look of assemblage. In addition to choreographing her own scripts, Schneemann participated in some of the most influential events of the 1960s, including: Philip Corner's "An Environment for Sound and Motion" at the Living Theater (1962), Claes Oldenburg's "Store Days" (1962), Robert Rauschenberg's theater experiments, Robert Morris' "Site" (1964), and in Fluxus concerts.

Schneemann has made many films, some of an experimental nature and others which document her performances. "Fuses" (1964-67), her most notorious film, presents a woman's perspective of intimacy and eroticism. The film was edited for two years, during which time Schneemann burned, scratched, painted, glued, and layered its images to create a fluid sense of sexuality. In the 1970s, Schneemann conducted research on earth goddesses and ancient mythology in search of female power structures. She realized that a certain component of her work had always explored these themes, such as the use of snakes in "Eye Body" (1963). Schneemann's studies permeate her writings, and she has taught classes on feminist art and theory. Since the mid-1970s, Schneemann has performed infrequently, preferring instead to concentrate on painting, exhibiting, lecturing and teaching.

From the guide to the Carolee Schneemann papers, 1959-1994, (Getty Research Institute)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Schneemann, Carolee. [Programs, announcements, etc.] New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Inventory to the Mary H. Dana Women Artists Series Archives, 1971-[ongoing] Rutgers University Libraries, Special Collections and University Archives, Miriam Schapiro Archives on Women Artists
creatorOf Schneemann, Carolee, 1939-. Artist file. Brooklyn Museum Libraries & Archives
referencedIn Schneemann, Carolee, 1939- : [miscellaneous ephemeral material]. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
referencedIn Larry Fagin Papers., n.d., 1958-1977. Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center.
referencedIn High performance. High performance magazine records 1953-2003. Getty Research Institute
referencedIn Canyon Cinema Records, ca. 1961-2009 Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Women Art Revolution : videotape interviews by Lynn Hershman-Leeson for film, 1990-2008, 1990-2008 Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
creatorOf SCHNEEMANN, CAROLEE, 1939-. Franklin Furnace artist file : miscellaneous uncataloged material. Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)
creatorOf Schneemann, Carolee, 1939-. Artist file : miscellaneous uncataloged material. Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)
referencedIn Varela, Willie. Willie Varela papers, ca. 1960-1995. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
creatorOf Schneemann, Carolee. PAD/D pamphlet file : miscellaneous uncataloged material. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
creatorOf Schneemann, Carolee. Schneemann, Carolee : [photography bio file]. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
referencedIn Inventory to the Mary H. Dana Women Artists Series Archives, 1971-[ongoing] Rutgers University Libraries, Margery Somers Foster Center
creatorOf Schneemann, Carolee, 1939-. Carolee Schneemann papers, 1959-1994. Getty Research Institute
referencedIn Serious Business Company records, 1965-1983, bulk 1972-1983 Bancroft Library
referencedIn Judson Memorial Church Oral History Archive, 2008 Fales Library & Special Collections
referencedIn Friedan, Betty, 1921-2006. Papers, 1933-1985 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Willie Varela Papers, ca. 1960-1995 Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn High Performance magazine records, 1953-2005 Getty Research Institute
creatorOf Schneeman, Carolee, 1939-. [Performance and poetry reading, April 11, 1997 [sound recording] / Carolee Schneemann]. University of California, San Diego, UC San Diego Library; UCSD Library
referencedIn Hershman-Leeson, Lynn, 1941-. Women art revolution : videotape interviews by Lynn Hershman-Leeson for film, 1990-2008. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Wodening, Jane, 1936-. Jane Wodening and Stan Brakhage scrapbooks, 1958-1967. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Olivia Mattis Collection, 1988-1990 Archive of Recorded Sound
referencedIn Serious Business Company. Serious Business Company records, 1965-1983 (bulk 1972-1983). UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Carolee Schneemann papers, 1959-1994 Getty Research Institute
referencedIn Patty Mucha Papers, Bulk, 1969-1979, 1954-2011 Fales Library & Special Collections
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Oral history interview with Lucy Lippard Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview with Alison Knowles Archives of American Art
creatorOf Oral history interview with Carolee Schneemann Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview with Judy Chicago Archives of American Art
Relation Name
associatedWith Andersen, Eric person
associatedWith Andersen, Eric. person
associatedWith Ay-o, 1931- person
associatedWith Ay-o, 1931- person
associatedWith Bartlett, Freude person
associatedWith Bergé, Carol. person
associatedWith Bergé, Carol person
correspondedWith Betty Friedan person
associatedWith Brakhage, Stan person
associatedWith Brakhage, Stan. person
associatedWith Burns, Gerald person
associatedWith Burns, Gerald. person
associatedWith Chicago, Judy, 1939- person
associatedWith Constantinides, Kathy, 1936- person
associatedWith Constantinides, Kathy, 1936- person
associatedWith Copp, Fletcher person
associatedWith Copp, Fletcher. person
associatedWith Corner, Philip person
associatedWith Corner, Philip. person
associatedWith Eshleman, Clayton person
associatedWith Eshleman, Clayton. person
correspondedWith Fagin, Larry. person
associatedWith Friedman, Ken, 1949- person
associatedWith Friedman, Ken, 1949- person
associatedWith Giorno, John person
associatedWith Giorno, John. person
associatedWith Hendricks, Bici person
associatedWith Hendricks, Bici. person
associatedWith Hendricks, Geoffrey person
associatedWith Hendricks, Geoffrey. person
associatedWith Hershman-Leeson, Lynn, 1941- person
associatedWith Higgins, Dick, 1938- person
associatedWith Higgins, Dick, 1938-1998. person
associatedWith High performance. corporateBody
associatedWith Johnson, Ray person
associatedWith Johnson, Ray. person
associatedWith Kane, Henry. person
associatedWith Kaprow, Allan person
associatedWith Kaprow, Allan. person
associatedWith Knowles, Alison, 1933- person
associatedWith Kultermann, Udo person
associatedWith Kultermann, Udo. person
associatedWith Lebel, Jean Jacques person
associatedWith Lebel, Jean Jacques. person
associatedWith Lerner & Turner person
associatedWith Lerner & Turner. person
associatedWith Lippard, Lucy R. person
associatedWith Malloy, Judy person
associatedWith Malloy, Judy, 1942- person
associatedWith Mary H. Dana Women Artists Series corporateBody
associatedWith Mattis, Olivia person
associatedWith McCall, Anthony D. person
associatedWith McCall, Anthony D. person
associatedWith McPherson, Bruce R. (Bruce Rice) person
associatedWith McPherson, Bruce R. (Bruce Rice), 1951- person
associatedWith Moore, Peter, 1932-1993 person
associatedWith Moore, Peter, 1932-1993. person
associatedWith Moorman, Charlotte person
associatedWith Moorman, Charlotte. person
associatedWith Oldenburg, Claes, 1929- person
associatedWith Oldenburg, Claes, 1929- person
associatedWith Richards, Judith Olch person
associatedWith Rogala, Miroslaw person
associatedWith Rogala, Miroslaw. person
associatedWith Rothenberg, Jerome, 1931- person
associatedWith Rothenberg, Jerome, 1931- person
associatedWith Sayre, Henry M., 1948- person
associatedWith Sayre, Henry M., 1948- person
associatedWith Serious Business Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Sondheim, Alan person
associatedWith Sondheim, Alan. person
associatedWith Tillman, Lynne person
associatedWith Tillman, Lynne. person
associatedWith Varela, Willie. person
associatedWith Varela, Willie. person
associatedWith Varèse, Edgard, 1883-1965. person
associatedWith Varèse, Edgard, 1883-1965 person
associatedWith Vostell, Wolf, 1932- person
associatedWith Vostell, Wolf, 1932-1998. person
associatedWith Wikarska, Carol person
associatedWith Wikarska, Carol. person
associatedWith Wodening, Jane, 1936- person
Place Name Admin Code Country
United States
New York (State)
Subject
Art, Modern
body art
Censorship in art
Censorship in art
Dreams in art
Experimental films
Experimental films
Feminism and art
Fluxus (Group of artists)
Happening (Art)
Painters
Performance art
Performance art
Performance artists
Photographers
Sex in art
Occupation
Photographers
Activity

Person

Birth 1939

Birth 1939-10-12

Americans

English

Information

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SNAC ID: 83386629