Project and Commission Files
name: label: Collection Creator
content: Zimmerman, Elyn, 1945-
setName: label: See more items in
content: Elyn Zimmerman papers
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 22.8 Linear Feet (Boxes 5-15, 21-22, 100, 123-125, 128, 131, 139; OVs 23-85, 109-116, 120-122, 126-127, 137, 136, 138, 141, 143, 144; RDs 97-98)
label: Extent
content: 0.223 Gigabytes (ER01-04)
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1970-2023
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives of American Art
identifier: label: Identifier
content: AAA.zimmelyn, Series 4
objectType: label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Gigabytes
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: Files are arranged chronologically by project date. Most files contain additional oversized material arranged at the end of the series.
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: Project and commission files comprise the bulk of the collection, and comprehensively document dozens of Zimmerman's site-specific sculptural projects and proposals for public and private sites across the United States and internationally. Many of the projects, both temporary and permanent, were designed for the outdoors and incorporate granite, water features, and landscape architecture. The documents capture the many phases of each project including proposals, planning, site visits, contracting, construction, fabrication, transportation, installation, completion, restoration, preservation, and relocation. Material includes correspondence, contracts, photographs, slides, models, blueprints, and original sketches and drawings. The files include a small number of born digital records, including digital images of projects, construction sites, and floorplans, as well as PowerPoint presentations.

Major projects documented here include Marabar  at the National Geographic Society in Washington, DC, Terrain  at O'Hare International Center, Keystone Island at the Dade County courthouse in Miami, Lithos I  at the Manufacturers Life Insurance Tower in Los Angeles, First Market Plaza in San Francisco, Sanctuary  at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, the Birmingham Museum of Art Sculpture Garden, Free Fall at the Cancer Institute in New Brunswick, Wa Marafiki Mkusanyiko  at the US Embassy in Tanzania, the Watercourse at Bentall in Vancouver, and Capsouto Park  in New York City. Also included are building plans for the reinstallment of Marabar which was moved from National Geographic's headquarters to American University in Washington, D.C. and renamed Sudama. Files also include plans and material related to Zimmerman's fabrication of the original 1995 World Trade Center Memorial.

In addition to these site-specific works, project files, sketches, and stencils pertaining to a series of encaustic drawings titled "Ceremonial Objects" are also filed here. Included here as well are a few files related to residencies, fellowships, and a panel presented at the College Art Association conference.