Anna Banana, born in Victoria, British Columbia, in 1940, is an artist who pursued studies at the University of British Columbia. Since 1970 she has been involved in publishing, performance, mail art, organizing public art events.She co-founded Dadaland with Bill Gaglione.
Scope and content
The collection consists of fifteen items, as arranged and numbered by the creator, related to the practice of Anna Banana from 1970-1996, and including: 1. "Memorabilia" Envelope of 30 items, posters, programs, from 1970's events, performances, and other works; 2. "About VILE", 106 pages, 22.5 x 28 cm, a book regarding the end of VILE magazine, edited and published by Anna Banana; 3. "Proof Positive that Germany is Going Bananas", #6 /6 limited edition, 22.5 x 28 cm, a book documenting Banana's research into the "New German Banana Consciousness," 1993-1994; 4. "20 Years Fooling Around with A. Banana." limited edition mini book #91 /100, 7 x 7 cm, deluxe edition with colour stamps tipped in, 40 pages; 5. "Why Banana?" 5.5 x 7.5 cm mini book Copyright 1979/ 1986; 6. "Artistamp News" (12 page newsletter) Vol. 5 # 1, June 1995 and Vol. 6 #1 February 1996; 7. "Wrap; Banana Held" video of performance, May 24 /94 at Le Lieu, Que. (VHS); 8. "Banana Sampler" excerpts from the 1980 Banana Olympics and the Futurist Sound and Towards the Future performances in 1979-80, 20 min 1.25 cm tape recording; 9. "Specific Research/ Current Obsessions", VHS tape recording of a performance December 1992, at the Glass Slipper, Vancouver; 10. A plastic sheet of colour slides from performances and installations, 19 slides from: a) "Why Banana" performance 1982, at the Western Front, Vancouver, b) "In the Red, In the Black" a performance workshop, 1985, Calgary, c) "Banana Split", installation at the Warehouse Show, Vancouver, 1985, d) "Banana Split", installation, Copenhagen, 1986, e)"In and Out of the Suitcase", a performance, Rosenheim Germany 1986, f) "Banana Power" a performance, Ghent, Belgium, 1986, g) "World Series" a performance at the Western Front, Vancouver, 1987, h) "Banana Power" a performance, Rosenberg, New York,1986, I) "20 Years of Fooling Around with A. Banana" a twenty year retrospective at the Grunt Gallery, Vancouver, 1990; 11. A plastic sheet of fifteen colour slides, "Banana Roar Shack Test", part of Proof Positive Germany Going Bananas; 12. A portfolio of twenty colour photocopies of recycled postcards, a collaboration with Michael Coper in 1996, and Smoking Cigarettes, a print by Banana; 13. A folder containing a curriculum vitae of Banana, a bibliography, and articles by Anna Banana; 14. "Banana Rag" #25 and #28; and 15. Twenty-six sheets of Artistamps in protective sleeves and three sheets of postcards in sleeves.
