Date Range: 1991 – 2003Survey Conducted: Wed, 2008-10-01
Creator: Godzilla Asian American Art Network
History: Godzilla: Asian American Art Network is a New York-based art collective co-founded in 1990 by Ken Chu and Margo Machida that promotes networking and mutual support among Asian and Pacific Islander American artists and professionals. In its effort to promote cross-generational and cross-disciplinal dialogue in Asian American visual art, Godzilla has sponsored public programs such as lectures, symposia and exhibitions, including “And We Speak, From Basement to Godzilla” and “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles…Not!”. Supplementing these events were the publications of the Godzilla newsletter and “Godzillette” bulletin. Until its disbanding in 2001, the collective actively promoted arts advocacy and worked with community groups to stop anti-Asian violence.
Other members of Godzilla include Todd Ayoung, Bing Lee, Cynthia Lee, Lynne Yamamoto and Eugenie Tsai, who was appointed senior curator at the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York in 1998.
Summary: The collection consists of documents pertaining to the administrative and artistic aspects of Godzilla, and to a lesser extent, related arts organizations. Present are correspondence and files kept by Lynne Yamamoto and co-founder Ken Chu, as are organizational documents such as contact sheets and steering committee minutes, and financial documents dating from 1991 to 2003. Additionally included are dossiers from nine of Godzilla exhibitions. These consist of photographs, brochures, and logistical documents. Copies of Godzilla newsletters, “Godzillette” bulletins, and Godzilla event fliers as well as documents and publications published by or pertaining to organizations related to Godzilla are also in the collection. These consist of exhibition brochures, collaboratory proposals, and Asian American Arts Alliance publications and financial documents. Contained also are newspaper clippings and other articles of interest collected by Godzilla.
Total Size: 1.5 linear feet
APA-related Size: 1.5 linear feet
Languages of materials: English
Arrangement: chronological
Location: Fales Library & Special Collections
Bibliographic Control: finding aid
Finding Aid Link: http://dlib.nyu.edu/findingaids/html/fales/godzilla/
Conditions Governing Access: Contact repository for detailed information on conditions governing access. Open for research without restrictions; Appointments necessary to consult archive and manuscript material.