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Interviews & Writings

This page brings together a selection of Charles Simonds’s writings and conversations, offering a window into the ideas, questions, and philosophies that have shaped his work. Here you’ll find correspondence, artists statements, a master’s thesis, as well as recorded and printed interviews spanning many years. Together, these materials trace the evolution of Simonds’s thinking and provide deeper insight into the world of the Dwellings, his engagement with landscape and ritual, and his ongoing dialogue with place, imagination, and impermanence.

video interviews

Simonds with Richard Shiff

Charles Simonds in conversation with Richard Shiff at the Institute of Fine Arts, New York University, April 1, 2016.

Bowery Artist Tribute Interview

Interview with Ethan Swan, New Museum, New York (1hr 3min),  June 21, 2012.

Artist statements

“Dwelling , a memoir," published by Verlag der Buchhandlung Walther Konig, Cologne, 2015, distributed by D.A.P., New York
“Situation Esthetics: Impermanent Art and the Seventies Audience,” Artforum 18, no. 5. January 1980, pages 22-29.
“House Plants and Rocks,” exhibition at Leo Castelli Gallery, New York, 1984.
“Masters Thesis” Simonds, Charles. Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, 1969.

Published Interviews

“Microcosm to Macrocoms/Fantasy World to Real World: Interview with Lucy Lippard.” Simonds, Charles. Artforum 12, no. 6, February 1974, pp. 36-39.
“Charles Simonds, Interviewed by Daniel Abadie,” Albright-Knox Art Gallery Temenos Catalogue, 1977, pp. 6-14
“Entretien avec Charles Simonds,” Semin, Didier. Beaux Arts 39, October 1986, 28-30.
“Interview with Charles Simonds,” Millet, Teresa. Charles Simonds IVAM Catalogue, 2003, pp. 142
"BOMB Magazine- Charles Simonds: Interview by Christopher Lyon, Stephanie Weber & Veronika Vogler" Lyon, Christopher. Weber, Stephanie. Vogler, Veronika. Bomb Magazine, October 2nd, 2014
"Stephanie Weber in Conversation with Charles Simonds.” Published in “Dwelling Munich” catalogue by Kunstraum Munich, Kunst im offentlichen Raum- ein Programm des Kulturreferats der Landshaupstadt Munchen and Lenbachhaus, München 2017.
German text available here
"Clay as Transformer" Lange-Berndt, Petra. "Dwelling Munich 2017" Catalogue of exhibition at Kunstraum Munich and the Kulturreferat der Landhauptstadt Munchen.
German text available here
“Art and Community: Dwelling Munich" Charles Simonds with Irving Sandler. Art in Conversation Brooklyn Rail July /August 2018
“To Offer/To Exchange” Charles Simonds Interview by Lauren Von Haaften-Schick" Performance Research, November 29, 2018
“Charles Simonds's Dwellings” Interview with Xavier Salomon, Frick Madison, Winter/Spring 2022

Correspondence

1973 Robert Smithson "To Whom it May Concern" in Support of La Placita/Project Uphill
1973 Lucy Lippard "To Whom it May Concern" in support of La Placita/Project Uphill
1975 Jesus Abraham Laviera, “Tato" “Dear Sir” in support of LaPlacita/Project Uphill
1974 ArtForum in response to Microcosm to Macrocosm/Fantasy World to Real World ArtForum, Feb. 1974.
To Linda Nochlin Transcription of letter regarding ArtPark
From Gordon Matta-Clark to Charles Simonds
From Merce Cunningham 1978 Postcard
Board of Estimate, New York Letter read by Simonds at hearing regarding Guggenheim Museum Expansion
2001-2006 From Sol LeWitt Postcards
2011 Knoedler and Company 2011 Knoedler Exhibition

Anita I. Bell Papers

This small collection includes three psychoanalytic articles by Charles Simonds' mother, Dr. Anita I. Bell, and a brief overview of her career.

Article 1 : Bell, Anita I. : Bowel Training Difficulties in Boys, Prephallic and Phallic Considerations. Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry. Vol,3 No. 4 October 1964
Article 2: Anita I. Bell M.D., Charles F. Stroebel, PH.D., DeborahD. Prior, R.N.,B.A. Interdisciplinary Study: Scrotal Sac and Testes Psychophysiological and Psychological Observations. The Psychoanalytical Quarterly Vol.XI., No. 3 1971
Article 3: Bell, Anita I., Additional Aspects of Passivity and Feminine Identification in the Male. The International Journal of Psycho-Analysis Vol. 49 Part 4 1968
Anita Bell: Career Overview
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Floating Cities Montages, 1978, Photomontages, 11" x 14"