General Idea
Life & Work by Sarah E. K. Smith
64. Numerous artists in the world were creating work about the AIDS pandemic. In New York groups such as AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power( known as ACT UP) were especially prominent. For an archive of ACT UP projects in New York see http:// www. actupny. org. 65. General Idea produced twenty-six issues of FILE, three of which were double issues. The group numbered the double issues in such a way that the final issue of the publication is number 29. 66. Some ambiguity exists as to the exact dates of Partz and Zontal’ s HIV diagnoses. Bronson states that Partz was diagnosed in 1989, with Zontal diagnosed in 1990( Bronson, correspondence with author, January 3, 2016). Fern Bayer suggests that Partz was diagnosed in the late summer of 1990 and Zontal in 1991( Bayer, correspondence with author, November 27, 2015). Bayer’ s dates are reflected in the Finding Aid she created for the General Idea Archive at the National Gallery of Canada Library and Archives. 67.“ A Tribute to Felix Partz,” The Arts Tonight, CBC Radio, July 6, 1994, National Gallery of Canada Library and Archives, General Idea fonds, Audio, Film, and Video Works Series. 68. During this period, General Idea’ s long-term relationship with Carmen Lamanna Gallery in Toronto came to a close. The partnership ended acrimoniously. Following the dissolution of their partnership with Lamanna, General Idea began working with S. L. Simpson Gallery. 69.“ Felix Partz, a. k. a. Ron Gabe, April 23, 1945 – June 5, 1994,” Correspondence, Correspondence Series, Business, General Idea fonds, National Gallery of Canada Library and Archives, Ottawa. 70. AA Bronson,“ AA Bronson on Art in the’ 60s,” University of Chicago, February 10, 2012: https:// www. youtube. com / watch? v = JXoWTBVVeHc. Taking on the role of caretaker had a significant impact on Bronson, informing his subsequent work as a healer and artist. 71. Annette Mangaard, General Idea: Art, AIDS and the fin de siècle( DVD, 48:00, 2007);“ Felix Partz, a. k. a. Ron Gabe, April 23, 1945 – June 5, 1994,” Correspondence, Correspondence Series, Business, General Idea fonds, National Gallery of Canada Library and Archives, Ottawa. 72. Annette Mangaard, General Idea: Art, AIDS and the fin de siècle( DVD, 48:00, 2007);“ Felix Partz, a. k. a. Ron Gabe, April 23, 1945 – June 5, 1994,” Correspondence, Correspondence Series, Business, General Idea fonds, National Gallery of Canada Library and Archives, Ottawa. 73. AA Bronson,“ AA Bronson on Art in the’ 60s,” University of Chicago, February 10, 2012: https:// www. youtube. com / watch? v = JXoWTBVVeHc. 74. Luke Nicholson,“ Being Framed by Irony: AIDS and the Art of General Idea”( MA thesis, Concordia University, 2006), 115. 75. AA Bronson, AA Bronson, http:// www. aabronson. com / aaindex. html.
Key Works: The 1971 Miss General Idea Pageant
1. The bulk of the material from this project is held in the Collection of the Carmen Lamanna Estate. The National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa also holds archival materials pertaining to this work. AA Bronson, correspondence with author, January 3, 2016. 2. Joshua Decter and AA Bronson, interview, n. d., Journal of Contemporary Art, http:// www. jcaonline. com / genidea. html. 3. Granada Gazelle to Mrs. Campbell, Group 4, 1971,“ The 1971 Miss General Idea Pageant,” Projects Series, General Idea fonds, National Gallery of Canada Library and Archives, Ottawa. 4. The artist Janis Campbell declined the offer to participate in a letter that critiqued the pageant. General Idea interpreted this letter as her contest entry.
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