Oral history interview with Sheryl Long, 2015

Biographical Note

Sheryl Long was born in Iowa. She grew up on farms in Iowa, Nebraska and Missouri, moving to Florida when she was fourteen. She attended the University of South Florida in Tampa, but dropped out in 1972 after marrying Tim Pharr. They relocated to Captiva Island, Florida where they soon met their neighbor Robert Rauschenberg. She worked as a seamstress for Robert Rauschenberg in Captiva, collaborating with him on several projects

Scope and Contents

Sheryl Long, collaborator and neighbor of Rauschenberg in Captiva, Florida, describes her early life in Florida and her introduction to sewing, making her own clothes in high school. She talks about moving to Captiva, Florida and meeting Robert Rauschenberg for the first time at a party at his house. She talks about Bob Petersen recruiting her for some sewing work for Rauschenberg. She describes sewing silk buttonholes for Hoarfrosts and continued collaboration on textile projects. She provides detail regarding particular pieces made in the 1970s and 1980s, specifically in terms of Rauschenberg's process, and the experience of collaborating with him on Captiva. She discusses her involvement with select pieces from Rauschenberg Overseas Culture Interchange (ROCI). She describes the process of being with Bob in the studio, and shares observations regarding Bob's inner life. She shares her view of him as an inspiration to her, a father figure, and a dynamic collaborator, but also as insecure in certain regards, and capable of being difficult and abrasive in certain settings. She also shares why she stopped working with him, citing a need for more work stability and other factors

Subjects

• Artistic collaboration.
• Captiva Island (Fla.).
• Interviews.
• Long, Sheryl--Interviews.
• Oral histories (literary works)
• Rauschenberg, Robert, 1925-2008.
• Rauschenberg Overseas Culture Interchange.
• Textile crafts.
• Vanderscoff, Cameron interviewer.

Access Conditions

Copyright by the Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York and Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, 2015