Armand Merizon Collection, 1999-2004 | Heritage Hall, Hekman Library

By Ed Gerritsen, 2016

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Collection Overview

Title: Armand Merizon Collection, 1999-2004

ID: COLL/560

Primary Creator: Merizon, Armand

Extent: 2.0 Cubic Feet. More info below.

Arrangement: Folder level description

Abstract

Contains research material, raw video stock for the production of a biography of painter, Armand Jasper Merizon (1920-2010), conducted by Muriel Zandstra. Contains image of Merizon's works, his comments on those works, his philosophy and motivation as an artist, as well as influences on his work, particularly the progression of his macular degeneration. Also contains interview with fellow artists and art critics about Merizon's work.

Biographical Note

Armand Jasper Merizon was born 28 February 12920 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, to Jaspere and Josephine (De Young) Merizon; a few years later the family moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan. He began painting at age 10 and at 16 won a scholarship to the Vesper George Art School in Boston. From Massachusetts he moved to Maine, Arizona, and Europe before settling again in the Grand Rapids area, eventually on a farm about 8 miles south of the city.

He began painting full-time in 1950 and joined with seven other area painter to form the "West Michigan 8." Credited for his skill in color composition; his works were selected for more than 35 exhibition and gallery showings. He won numerous awards for his work and was collected by patrons around the world. He was diagnosed with macular degeneration in the 1980s and eventually was declared legally blind, but continued to paint until his death on 2 April 2010.

Merizon married Betty Jeanne Grainer (1923-2008) and the couple had five children: Michele (1951-2008), René, Mark Aaron, Chantal, and Aimé M.

Administrative Information

Repository: Heritage Hall, Hekman Library

Alternate Extent Statement: 3 Boxes

Acquisition Source: Muriel Zandstra

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: [General Materials]],
[All]

Series 1: [General Materials]

Box 1

Folder 1: Painting Discussion with Betty --- 1999
Folder 2: Merizon at Artworks Big Rapids
Folder 3: Panel Discussion --- September 2005
Folder 4: Reviewing Slides of Paintings --- October 2002
Folder 5: "Return to Ocean" Talk
Folder 6: Wege Foundation, Virginia Glew Jaeger, Paul Collins
Folder 7: Reviewing Slides of Paintings --- October 2002
Folder 8: Interview - Development of His Artistic Career --- July 2002
Folder 9: Reflections With the Artist
Folder 10: Armand, Michelle, Aime, Betty, Yard Studio, etc.
Folder 11: Merizon Interview - Childhood, Marriage, Frankfort --- October 2002
Folder 12: Jen and Muriel Interviewing Merizon --- November 2004
Folder 13: Interviews with Sandy Burr and Sally Scobey --- May 1983
Folder 14: Interview - Search for Beauty and Truth --- November 2002
Folder 15: Interviews for Documentary
Folder 16: Interview for Veterans History Project --- May 2003
Folder 17: Merizon Interview --- October 2002
Folder 18: Interview with Armand Merizon --- July 2002
Folder 19: Sunday Morning Channel 2

Box 2

Folder 1: Panel Discussion, Question/Answer Session --- September 2005
Folder 2: Talk to GVA --- April 1995
Folder 3: Talk at Lotus Club --- March 1990
Folder 4: Discussion in Studio with Dr. W. Michel --- May 2004
Folder 5: Grand Rapids Art Museum - J. Markle, Wolverine Gas, etc.
Folder 6: Grand Rapids Art Museum
Folder 7: Merizon Lecture --- April 1989
Folder 8: Interview (1 of 3) --- December 2009
Folder 9: Interview (2 of 3) --- December 2009
Folder 10: Interview (3 of 3) --- December 2009
Folder 11: Interview with Muriel Zandstra - Childhood, Education, Military --- October 2002
Folder 12: Interview with Muriel Zandstra - Marriage, Frankfort, Europe --- October 2002
Folder 13: Interview with Muriel Zandstra - Spiritual Journey --- October 2002
Folder 14: Talk to GVA --- 1976
Folder 15: Trinity "Armand"
Folder 16: Excommunication Continued?
Folder 17: Interview --- November 2004
Folder 18: Lottery Winner - Excommunication --- October 2009
Folder 19: Humor - Minister Amway Painting --- October 2009
Folder 20: World's Fair --- October 2009

Box 3

All of the items in this box are DVDs

Item 1: Merizon, Disc 1 & Disc 2
Item 2: Boston Art Museum
Item 3: Harvard
Item 4: Armand Merizon Paintings: Color corrected March 2005
Item 5: Interview Paintings --- June 2004
Item 6: Family Pictures
Item 7: Armand on Fence
Item 8: Magazine Scans
Item 9: 24 Paintings: Color corrected May 9, 2005
Item 10: Website Files & Photos
Item 11: West Michigan Eight Show at Eyekons Gallery
Item 12: Headshot and Still of Armand
Item 13: Armand reviewing slides of his paintings --- 1982-1985
Item 14: Armand reviewing slides of his paintings --- 1940-1971
Item 15: Armand reviewing slides of his paintings --- October 2002
Item 16: Merizon Marine for Promo --- March 1989
Item 17: Merizon Photos & Newspapers
Item 18: VHS Transfer, Discs 1A and 1B
Item 19: VHS Transfer Discs 3 and 4
Item 20: Channel 8 News Broadcast --- 11 September 2005
Item 21: Armand Panel Discussion, Calvin College --- 9 September 2005

Box 4

Folder 1: Interview by Jennifer Dornbush - Development of Artistic Career --- July 2002
Folder 2: "Return to Ocean" Talk --- April 1989
Folder 3: "Armand" with Jennifer Dornbush and Muriel Zandstra
Folder 4: "Reflections" With the Artist
Folder 5: Merizon Viewing Slides of His Paintings --- 1973
Folder 6: Interviews with Sandy Burr and Sally Soobey --- May 1983
Folder 7: "War of the Spirits" --- May 2003
Folder 8: Interviews for Merizon Documentary
Folder 9: Merizon Interview on Search for Beauty and Truth --- November 2004
Folder 10: Interview in Merizon's Studio with Jennifer Dornbush --- July 2002
Folder 11: Merizon Explaining his Paintings at Home --- 1999
Folder 12: Jennifer Dornbush and Muriel Zandstra Interview --- November 2004
Folder 13: Merizon at Artworks, Big Rapids
Folder 14: Interview with Kim Smith --- June 2004
Item 15: A Conversation with Meindert De Jong, Calvin College --- 1988

Box 5

Item 1: ARMAND - Film
Item 2: ARMAND (Close Captioned Film)
Item 3: ARMAND - Heartland Copy --- 13 June 2015: VHS
Item 4: ARMAND - www.ArmandMerizonDocumentary.com: VHS, 58 Minutes
Item 5: ARMAND - Final [DVD]
Item 6: ARMAND - Premier Screening --- 10 September 2005: DVD of screening at Bytwork Theater, Calvin College
Item 7: "Photo Images" DVDs of Armand's Paintings: Discs numbered 1-10
Item 8: "Digital Photo" DVDs of Armand's Paintings: 17 Discs

Box 6

Item 1: Box of 54 Digital Video Cassette Tapes: 20 tapes contain pictures of Armand's paintings, many of which are used in the documentary. There is a printed index of the paintings identifying tape location and present ownership. 34 tapes contain interviews and source material for the documentary ARMAND.
Item 2: Chantal Interview --- 19 November 2012: Cassette Tape
Item 3: Interview with Dr. Jack Chase: Cassette
Item 4: Armand & Peter Cook --- 6 October 2004: Cassette
Item 5: Judy Gezon --- 13 September 2004: Cassette Tape
Item 6: Armand Merizon --- 12 April 2001: Cassette Tape
Item 7: Muriel, Armand, Betty --- December 2001: Cassette Tape
Item 8: Recollections of Our Times, Artur Schnabel: Cassette Tape

Box 7

Folder 1: Letters to Family --- 1937-1938
Folder 2: Letters to Family --- 1942
Folder 3: Letters to Family --- 1943
Folder 4: Letters to Family --- 1946-1955
Folder 5: Letters to Family --- 1933-1955: Typed Copies
Folder 6: The Life and Works of Armand Merizon in Pictures
Folder 7: Newspaper Clippings and Awards
Folder 8: Magazine Artwork
Folder 9: Correspondence
Folder 10: Lecture by Armand Merizon to Grand Valley Artists --- 27 February 1964
Folder 11: List of Paintings by Year
Folder 12: Photos
Folder 13: "Daddy Stories" by Aime Merizon --- 7 April 2010
Folder 14: Documentary Overview
Folder 15: Legal Right and Releases for Documentary

Box 8

Folder 1: Transcripts of Interviews and Speeches for Documentary (pages 1-81)
Folder 2: Transcripts of Interviews and Speeches for Documentary (Pages 82-166)
Folder 3: Transcripts of Interviews and Speeches for Documentary (Pages 167-237)
Folder 4: Transcript - Merizon Interview "Life History" --- 26 October 2002
Folder 5: Transcript of Various Interviews --- 2004

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: [General Materials]],
[All]