Paul Sharits (1943-1993)

State University of New York at Buffalo

Faculty Arts and Letters

January 5, 1977

Gudmund Vigtel

Director

High Museum of Art

Atlanta, GA.

Dear Gudmund Vigtel:

I am one of three persons in New York State who has received a Bicentennial Film Grant. My project is the only one of the three which is intentionally a work of art. I am in the process of producing a 45 minute lone, wide screen, color and sound work which is described in the enclosed copy of my grant proposal. Declarative mode will be an energetic, “abstract” celebration of Jefferson’s radical stance against slavery. The soundtrack is based upon a little-known section of Jefferson’s original draft of the “Declaration of independence,” in which he denounced racism and slavery; the text was omitted by Congress from the final draft of the “Declaration.”

                The film will be completed soon and I wish to premier it on Jefferson’s birthday, April 13 of this year, and have it screened for one week if possible. Although it is, in a sense, an abstract work, it is nevertheless a political statement and addresses itself to the Nation (a nation still troubled by racism.) For this reason, I believe it is appropriate that it be premiered simultaneously in different regions of America, at the finest art museums. I’m writing to you because I have great respect for your institution and would be deeply honored if you will agree to be one of the six museums across the country to premier Declarative Mode.

                The film is being shot from 15, 17” x 22” color-coded drawings. From these drawings, 15 more drawing-studies for “Frozen Film Frames” are being made. (Frozen Film Frames are film strips sandwiched between sheets of clear plexiglass.) Declarative Mode is composed of five movements; each movement will be put into 5’2” x 6’ “FFF’s”. I am hoping that one of the six museums premiering Declarative Mode will care also to display either one or both sets of works related to the film. In this case, I would be happy to be personally present on the premier evening.