Paul Ryan papers, 1931-2009

Ryan's work on the use of video to create a self-correcting system of relationships through scored routines of interactions are referred to throughout the collection as "triadic behavior," "relational practice," or "threeing." This series includes documentation from projects related to threeing such as the Triadic Tapes (aka "Inventing Triadic Behavior"), the Circuit, which is courseware for implementing threeing concepts into education, the Consensus computer program, the ICM method, the Behavior Invention Marathon, the Tricultural Tournament, the Hall of Risk, exhibited at the 2002 Venice Biennale, and many others.

Also found are records related to threeing in general and not a specific project, such as notes and flyers for workshops or demonstrations. Kleinform illustrations include sketches, finished drawings, and Photostats of a visual element of threeing exercises. Several of these illustrations were created by Claude Ponsot and published in Ryan's writings about Triadic behavior. The threeing rug design project was in part a collaboration with the artist Michael Kalil. Sketches and diagrams documenting the project contain a variety of media, from quick pencil sketches to color prints.

Also found are 35 videocassettes (U-matic) referred to throughout Ryan's papers as the Triadic Tapes, aka Inventing Triadic Behavior, which document extensive early threeing experiments with dancers at the Ashokan Field Campus of the State University of New York at New Paltz. An additional video recording is found with records for the "Video Variations on Holy Week" workshop on triadic behavior at the Kitchen. Records from the Empowerment Center Retreat include still photographs of Ryan's threeing ritual.