Gene Davis papers, 1920-2000, bulk 1942-1990

Artwork includes a wide variety of material, including conceptual art, photographs, drawings, and moving images. Conceptual works include "The Artist's Fingerprints Except for One which belongs to someone else," created by Davis, and documentation of the 1969 "Giveaway," a collaboration between Davis, Ed McGowin, and Douglas Davis. Records related to the "Giveaway" include printed artist statements from Douglas Davis, Ed McGowin, and Gene Davis, and photocopied correspondence and notes documenting the event. Artworks by others include a conceptual writing piece by Juan Downey, and documentation of a happening by Wendy Stern, which includes witnessing "Air Displacement," a happening performed by Gene Davis in 1970.

Sketches appear to be ideas for stripe paintings, some with detailed notes written by Davis. Art photographs include a range of compositional experiments and appear to have been taken by Davis. Drawings are mainly informal drawings of Davis made by others. A Handmade sign reading "Allan Kapprow [sic] Happening" is also found.

Moving images include both film and video, with two finished works and 13 super 8 film reels which appear to be Davis's initial experiments with the medium. "Patricia" is a black and white 16mm film of a closely composed face of a woman changing facial expressions. Unlike the super 8 films, "Patricia" has an identifying title frame and appears to be a finished work. "Video Puzzle" documents a happening in a gallery in 1971 and may be the only surviving video from Davis's period of experimentation with video art.

The super 8 films contain a variety of content. Four of the reels contain static, rhythmic compositions of Davis's stripe paintings. Two of the reels indicate they were made in a class setting and contain compositions of interior lighting and close ups of faces. Another two reels are labeled "Masks, Corcoran," and contain static shots of Davis and others posing with handmade masks. Four additional reels contain street footage of kids in a park, young people gathered outside, Davis's dogs, and the exterior of his Pennsylvania Avenue studio.

Still images from additional video art by Davis videos are found in series 7, Photographs. Additional information about the Giveaway event is found in series 3, Correspondence, series 5, Writings, and series 7, Photographs. Additional moving images are found in series 1, Biographical Materials, series 4, Business and Estate Records, and series 7, Photographs.