Victor Dada Records

Collection

Identifier: SC-017

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Victor Dada was an ensemble of writer/performers who worked in the medium of performance poetry or performance art. They utilized music, poetry, theater, comedy and electronic sound constructs in performances.

Victor Dada was active in Dallas, Texas from 1979-1986; the group gathered for retrospective performances in the early 1990s. Materials in the Victor Dada Records pertain to the 1979-1986 active period and primarily document the performances of Victor Dada in all aspects including scripts and poems, programs, promotion, correspondence, contracts, press coverage, and photographic, audio and video documentation of performances and appearaces. The collection also contains Victor Dada statements of purpose, business records, photographs and negatives documenting promotional photo shoots, and publications. The bulk of the records are contained in two 'scrapbooks.' Additional material is foldered or in digital format.

Dates

1979 - 1987

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for public research. Researchers must make an appointment to view this collection.

Biographical / Historical

The following biographical information is transcribed from a biography written by Victor Dada contained in the records.

"Although they worked in various forms of entertainment, including theater, comedy, music, video and radio, Victor Dada drew most of their inspiration from poetry. They worked language to its most shamanistic, absurd core, producing performances that tood the oral and kinetic delivery of words and images into the deepest collective unconscious of themselves - and their audience.

Victor Dada coagulated into a coherent (!) entity in the early 1970s in Dallas. They drew their name from the groundbreaking anti-art of the original Dada poets and painters, and from the tiny red shed on Victor Street in old East Dallas where they met. Many writers and musicians worked with the group during their early sessions, but the group eventually solidified into seven permanent members: Joe Stanco, Gary Deen, Farely Scott, Ken Shaddock, Tom Henvey, David Border and Doak Boattiger. Several of these members moved away from Dallas in the mid-1980s and the group disbanded temporarily for a few years. During this hiatus, David Border, Tom Henvey and Doak Bottiger stated a new nightclub in Deep Ellum inspired by the group: Club Dada.

In 1992 Victor Dada gathered for a retrospective performance. They still maintain the original philosophy with which they began.

Victor Dada can best be described as a performance poetry ensemble, using multi-voice textures and music to schock the audience into new perceptions of language and sound."

Victor Dada's first public performance was in 1979. They are well-known for shows Political Wrassling (1984), Cabaret Voltaire (1985) and St. Valentine's Day Sex Massacre (1986)

Note written by Victor Dada / David Border

Extent

1.17 Linear Feet

x.x MB/GB or xx electronic files in additionl to analog materials other_unmapped

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Victor Dada was an ensemble of writer/performers who worked in the medium of performance poetry or performance art active in Dallas from 1979-1986. They utilized music, poetry, theater, comedy and electronic sound constructs in performances. The collection documents these performances through scripts and poems, programs, promotion, correspondence, contracts, press coverage, and photographic, audio and video documentation of performances and appearaces. The collection also contains Victor Dada statements of purpose, business records, photographs and negatives documenting promotional photo shoots, and publications.

Arrangement

The bulk of the records are contained in two 'scrapooks,' which have been described at the level of a 'page' or group of 'pages.' The first 'scrapbook' documents Victor Dada performances where 'page' descriptions include the performance title, date and types of documentation available for that performance; these are arranged chronologically. The second 'scrapbook' contains buisness records, group documentation and photographs, and are arranged simply keeping similar 'pages' together. The scrapbooks have been described at the item level to provide detailed access to the materials contained within. The other business records and the scripts and poems are foldered. Scripts and poems are arranged by author; author folders are filed alphabetically.

The 'scrapbooks' are three-ring binders and the 'pages' and page sleeves.

Electronic records arrangement:

Custodial History

David Border maintained the records and documentation of Victor Dada. Prior to the gift, he reviewed his collection, created the 'scrapbooks' and collected any Victor Dada-related material held by other members. Border also digitized material from the 'scrapbooks' and audio and video recordings.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of David Border on February 15, 2013. Border was a member of Victor Dada and acted as recordkeeper, documenting the activities of the group.

The collection was acquired by the DMA Archives as part of the DallasSITES (history of contemporary art in Dallas, 1963-present) research project (2011-2013).

Processing Information

The collection was processed by Archivist Hillary Bober in July 2014. 'Scrapbooks' created by David Border were retained with other materials foldered.

Draft of finding aid sent to David Border for review 30 July 2014.

Additional description/notes were added for DACS compliance and ArchivesSpace local usage guidelines in 2021.