ArchivesSpace at the University of Iowa

Scope and Contents

In July, Finlay writes to Harvey with instructions for two poem-prints, Homage to Malevich & Homage to Lax, & cover for Littack. Detailed instructions are included solely for the Malevich piece. Harvey returns drawings, comments about them & demonstr point by cutting the letter. With minor corrections, Finlay is happy with the drawings. Harvey notes that the chalky effect for the Malevich print will not work with silkscreen. In August, Finlay instructs Stellar Press to make print as a lithograph. -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.

Scope and Contents In this Archive, Finlay indicates that this booklet is a collection of 'one-word poems' about boats. The boats are illustrated, as types, in silhouette-form, and the words are to be thought of as being a kind of 'verbal silhouette' or boat-epigram. He explains the reasons for selection of the boat types into the booklet and states that "the idea will be to keep the printed text the same size - as it were - as the illustrations, so that the text can be thought of as kind of a 'verbal' silhouette." These instructions are provided to Laurie Clark for the illustrations and to Michael Harvey for the text layout. In a letter dated 15 August 1973 to Tom and Laurie Clark about the project, he discusses the writings of Simone Weil, is pleased that they liked "Straiks," brings up the Fulcrum Press controversy, mentions ideas for the illustrations of "Silhouettes" that Laurie should draw, and recommends two books to be read. In a letter dated 1 October 1973 to Tom and Laurie Clark, Finlay...

Scope and Contents Finlay begins this project in Jan-Feb 1972 with a letter to M. Harvey explaining that he wants to redo Wave/Rock for Stonypath, first constructed and then destroyed for the park at Dunfernline. He supplies a sketch for its placement. Then there ensues a correspondence from members of S.A.C. (Dunbar, Buchanan) to Finlay about funding this project and Finlay's comments. From July-Aug 1972, Finlay expresses disappointment with the Scottish Arts Council response siting for the sculpture mentioning his failed Zulu film project. In Aug 1972, Finlay contacts Harvey to make the drawing for Wave/Rock & provides detailed instructions for a concrete bridge, 16 feet in length with letters incised into tiles. Harvey responds to this directive in September. Finlay receives the drawing and notes variance with his instructions that must be corrected. This does not appear to be a major problem. In Sep, Murray writes Finlay about its fabrication. The correspondence between Finlay and Buchanan of...

Scope and Contents In Nov 1973, Finlay writes to Norman Cherry, a jewelry designer in Kelso about a project for making a brooch from a poem, "Windflower," a little mauve colored flower that trembles in the wind. This poem had been written for the Stuttgart Max Plank project. He requests that the brooch adapted from his poem should be made with material that undulates with movement of one who is wearing it and structured with letters 'pretty in themselves.' He indicates that the long "f" makes a natural stem for the brooch. Cherry replies in Dec 1973 with a suggestion for suspending the letters rather than using a single strip of metal as Finlay suggested. This solution is unsatisfactory to Finlay who provides further ideas. In Jan 1974, Cherry writes to Finlay that a new idea appears to lead to a workable solution and describes how the brooch will be made of almost paper thinness silver. In May-June, Finlay & Cherry exchange letters on progress of making the brooch in this manner and Finlay...

Scope and Contents

Finlay provides instructions to John Thorpe, a woodcarver, for making a wooden sundial at Stonypath. He also explains the poem that he has written after Claudel, the French poet, translated by Edward Lucie-Smith. The poem was supposed to be written on a fan with fan its first word, but in Finlay's version "fan" is eliminated since the dial itself is fanlike. The poem begins, viz., "Poems written upon the breath" (metaphor for breeze). Harvey's letters deal with the drawings. -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.

Scope and Contents

This depicts a photograph of a sundial sited at the museum. The drawing for this work is also held by the Sackner Archive. The motto refers to the fact that it is the "golden sun" that is the origin of the shadow which indicates the solar hour. This work is also depicted in Bulletin of the National Galleries of Scotland No.3, a pamphlet periodical held by the Sackner Archive. -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.