The Bang Art Festival, also known as the Spring Arts Festival, occurred four times at the Richmond Professional Institute (RPI) between 1964 and 1967. The festival was created by RPI faculty in the Communication Arts & Design department. James Bumgardner and Jonathan Bowie were co-directors, along with Richard Carlyon, Jewett Campbell, and Willard Pilchard. Fine Arts department faculty member Bernard Martin, and students William Livingston and Carol Sutton also participated. The goals of the festival were to bring contemporary art, music, theater, dance, and more to Richmond, as well as showcase artists from around the country.
Available here are documents from the collections, including correspondence, schedules, and more.
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Letter from Twyla Tharp to Richard Carlyon, 1967 March 25
Twyla Tharp
A handwritten letter from Twyla Tharp to Richard Carlyon. Tharp writes in preparation for her company's performance at the 1967 Arts Festival, asking about travel plans and more.
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Letter from Richard Carlyon to Robert Ashley, 1967 March 30
Richard Carlyon
Typewritten letter from Richard Carlyon to Robert Ashley, dated March 30, 1967. Carlyon confirms Ashley's participation in the Fourth Annual Spring Arts Festival, shares honorarium information, and gives travel information.
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Letter from Richard Carlyon to Robert Ashley, 1967 March 30
Richard Carlyon
Typewritten letter from Richard Carlyon to Robert Ashley dated March 30, 1967, typed on Richmond Professional Institute letterhead. Carlyon confirms Ashley's participation in the Fourth Annual Spring Arts Festival, shares honorarium information and gives travel information.
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Letter from Anthony E. Dowd to Dr. Herbert Burgert, 1967 April 27
Anthony E. Dowd
Typewritten letter from Anthony E. Dowd, AAE, Airport Manager to Dr. Herbert Burgert, Dean of the School of Art, dated April 27, 1967 and typed on Richmond Municipal Airport letterhead. Down writes about a group of Richmond Professional Institute students who went to the airport in a motor convoy on April 25, 1927. Despite the group being "bizarre and outlandish in appearance" and giving Dowd "ulcers on top of ulcers," Dowd says "this group was without a doubt, one of the nicest, if not the nicest group we have ever had at the Airport." Students were likely at the airport to greet attendees and participants of the Spring Arts Festival.
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Letter to Richard Carlyon from Twyla Tharp, 1967 April 30
Twyla Tharp
A photocopy of an unsigned handwritten letter to Richard Carlyon, likely from Twyla Tharp, though the signature is illegible. Tharp thanks Carlyon for accomodations in Richmond and a poster from their performance at the Arts Festival, invites Carlyon to New York City, and seeks a lost purse. Transcription: "Sun Apr 30, Dear Dick, We want to thank you once again for your kindness and generosity to us during our stay in Richmond. I also want to thank you for our poster: to be frank, I had not a chance to look at it until our NYC return. What else: We look forward to seeing you anytime you might be in NYC. Please do call -- we might have a new piece to show you…at least something will be in rehearsal. One last thing: on the off and very unlikely chance that someone might turn in a yellow beaded purse containing $25.00, it belongs to Theresa from who is disappeared somewhere between the [illegible] theater & party. Our love and thanks to John [remainder of sentence is cut off]…who helped with the performance. Send along the photo contacts and reviews. Love [illegible signature]"
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Letter from Theresa Dickinson to Richard Carlyon, 1967 May 1
Theresa Dickinson
A photocopy of a typewritten letter from Theresa Dickinson to Richard Carlyon, printed on Twyla Tharp And Dance Company letterhead. Dickinson thanks Carlyon for his hospitality when the Twyla Tharp Dance Company performed at the Arts Festival, updates him on car rental information, and seeks a missing purse. She mentions Tharp will write separately.
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Letter from Yvonne Rainer to Richard Carlyon, 1967 May 13
Yvonne Rainer
Typewritten letter from Yvonne Rainer to Richard Carlyon, dated May 13, 1967. Rainer expresses interest in coming down to Richmond for the next Bang Bang Bang (the Spring Arts Festival), and expects to have a new evening-length work ready for the next festival.
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Letter from Sophia Merrick to Richard Carlyon, 1967 May 18
Sophia Merrick
Typewritten letter from Sophia Merrick to Richard Carlyon, dated May 18, 1967. Merrick informs Carlyon about the availability of the Twyla Tharp Dance Company for performances during the 1967-1968 season, and gives information about cost.
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Letter from Theresa Dickinson to Richard Carlyon, 1967 May 26
Theresa Dickinson
Typewritten letter from Theresa Dickinson to Richard Carlyon dated May 26, 1967. Dickinson inquires about travel reimbursement on behalf of Twyla Tharp, and requests the remaining funds as the company is attending Expo 67 in Montreal. Marginalia at the top right show calculations of the expenses. Dickinson has handwritten at the bottom: "better to write me here than the other address I gave you."
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Budget, 1966-67 Arts Festival, 1967 June 1
Handwritten budget for the 1966-1967 Arts Festival dated June 1, 1967. Transcription of first page: "Tues - N.Y. Scene, $1460.02; Publicity, $439.82; Student Activities, $1400.00; Wed - films, $240.39 + 10.57 = 250.96; Misc., $95.00; Thurs - Tharp, $1093.44 + 40.50 = 1133.94 + 59.90 = $1193.84; Fri - music, 400.00 + 73.83 = 473.83; Sat - Ashley, 681.57 + 91.00 = 772.57; Sun - Firazzo, 101.62 + 84.39 = $186.01; donations, $580.00; ticket sales, $2,322.20; Total Income, $4,302.20; Total cost of Festival, $4812.15 [crossed out], $4872.05. This does not agree with the account book I've kept because some last year bills were paid this year and some bills were paid through the School of Art budget.” On the reverse side is a handwritten list of names.
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Letter from Theresa Dickinson to Richard Carlyon, 1967 July 18
Theresa Dickinson
A photocopy of a typewritten letter from Theresa Dickinson to Richard Carlyon, printed on Twyla Tharp And Dance Company letterhead. Dickinson tells Carlyon of recent company performances at "Expo," and of future performances in New York. She also asks for help contacting Hans Scholl to receive pictures, presumably from the Arts Festival.
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Letter from Meredith Monk to Richard Carlyon, 1968 February 29
Meredith Monk
Typewritten letter from Meredith Monk to Richard Carlyon [misspelled Carline in the letter], dated February 29, 1968. Monk inquires about performing at RPI, per suggestion of Yvonne Rainer. Enclosed are several news clippings reviewing Monk's work.
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Notes on the RPI Bang Festivals by Eleanor Rufty Carlyon
Eleanor Rufty Carlyon
A 4 page typed document written by Eleanor Rufty Carlyon recounting her recollections of the Bang festivals at Richmond Professional Institute, where she was an adjunct faculty member, and also married to faculty member Richard Carlyon, who was a festival co-founder.
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Technical Schedule for Bang Arts Festival Performance
A two page handwritten technical schedule for an unnamed performance, with sections for time, event, audio, top project, and bottom projectors 1 and 2.