Frank Bara Collection, 1980s to 1990s

Creator:
Bara, Frank
Extent:
4 Linear Feet 2 document boxes, one flat box & 1 mapcase folder
Language:
English .
Scope and content:

This small collection is related to the Arthur Mitchell Collection, and consists mainly of Dance Theater of Harlem publications, performance history, and Frank Bara's drawings and other materials that he used to create the Dance Theatre of Harlem 20th Anniversary Puzzle. Including some of Bara's original drawings and mock-ups for the DTH Puzzle, a digital copy of the VHS tape made when he presented it to Arthur and members of the DTH company in 1991, a DVD on the Biographical Luciano Pavarotti Jigsaw Puzzle made by Bara, and a DVD of the work of David and Abraham Roentgen and the Marie-Antoinette automaton filmed for the Metropolitan Museum by Bara's partner Marvin Hayes, artist, innovative videographer and software designer. The collection also include Hayes' etchings for his 1977 project, "God's Images."

Biographical / historical:

Frank Bara started making jigsaw puzzles in 1972. From a New York Sun article (https://www.nysun.com/on-the-town/living-breathing-and-working-as-santa-all-year/6069/): His puzzles, the pieces of which are so delicate that they need to be handled with tweezers, take between three months and a year to make. He hand paints and wood-burns each piece and spells words by carving intricate series of letters out of the wood itself. Mr. Bara's largest puzzle, commissioned by the Dance Theater of Harlem, was 9-feet long and had 4,000 pieces. "It has the names in it of everybody who was associated with the theater for its first 20 years," said Mr. Bara. "There are paintings and sculptures in it. There are two miniature grand pianos." He started off making the puzzles as opening-night gifts for theater friends, but as his work became better known, so did his clientele. Mr. Bara has puzzled for Bob Fosse, Lucianno Pavarotti, and Stephen Sondheim.

Access and use

Restrictions:

Boxes 1 & 2 of this collection are located off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.

Terms of access:

Reproductions may be made for research purposes. Permission to publish material from the collection must be requested from the Curator of Manuscripts/University Archivist, Rare Book and Manuscript Library (RBML). The RBML approves permission to publish that which it physically owns; the responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.

Preferred citation:

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Frank Bara Collection; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Location of this collection:
RBML Home Page
6th Floor East Butler Library
535 West 114th Street
New York, NY 10027, USA
Before you visit:
Researchers interested in viewing materials in the RBML reading room must must book an appointment at least 7 days in advance. To make the most of your visit, be sure to request your desired materials before booking your appointment, as researchers are limited to 5 items per day.
Contact:
rbml@library.columbia.edu