Collection inventory


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Point of Contact/Punto de Contacto Records

An inventory of the records at the Syracuse University Archives


Finding aid created by: Anna E. Shuff
Date: 2025



Historical Note

Point of Contact/Punto de Contacto is an organization promoting the creation and study of contemporary visual and verbal arts in both English and Spanish. Point of Contact/Punto de Contacto was founded in 1975 as an independent arts journal at New York University by Pedro Cuperman. In 1976, Cuperman accepted a position as an associate professor at Syracuse University’s Department of Languages, Literatures and Linguistics and brought the publication with him to what would become the organization’s permanent home. Under Cuperman’s leadership, Point of Contact/Punto de Contacto became known for its interdisciplinary approach, publishing literary criticism and scholarship alongside new works in creative writing and the visual arts. In 2002, the organization expanded to publish an annual bilingual poetry series, Corresponding Voices. The following year, they organized the Syracuse International Film and Video Festival (now known as the Syracuse International Film Festival) which brought filmmakers from around the world to screen and discuss their works.

In 2005, Point of Contact/Punto de Contacto opened a gallery space to house and display its collection of contemporary art, as well as to host events and educational programming relevant to the organization’s mission to “explore contemporary visual and verbal arts, working across disciplines and across cultures.” Originally located on East Genesee Street, the Point of Contact gallery moved to its current location at Syracuse University’s Nancy Cantor Warehouse in 2013. In 2025, Point of Contact/Punto de Contacto celebrated its 50th anniversary and continues to publish Corresponding Voices, host exhibitions, and provide bilingual youth arts education through its El Punto Art Studio summer program and its cross-disciplinary STEM from Dance program.


Scope and Content Note

The Point of Contact/Punto de Contacto Records contain materials pertaining to the operations and activities of Point of Contact/Punto de Contacto as an organization. The collection is primarily in English but contains a variety of Spanish materials owing to Point of Contact/Punto de Contacto's bilingual focus. The collection is divided into three series: Events and exhibitions, Records, and Publications.

The Events and exhibitions series contains materials pertaining to art exhibits, poetry readings, and other events such as the Syracuse International Film Festival which were organized by Point of Contact/Punto de Contacto. These materials include programs, exhibition catalogs, clippings from event press coverage, media concerning exhibitions, and promotional materials.

The Records series contains materials concerning the operations of the Point of Contact/Punto de Contacto organization, including correspondence, art loan agreements, grant applications and proposals, news coverage, general press and promotional materials, and media created for or used by the organization.

The Publications series contains print editions of the Point of Contact/Punto de Contacto arts journal as well as drafts of articles, proofs and layouts, and other materials published by Point of Contact/Punto de Contacto.


Restrictions

Access Restrictions:

Please note that the collection is housed off-site, and advance notice is required to allow time to have the materials brought to the Reading Room on campus.

Access to audiovisual material requires advance notice to produce a use copy.

Some records in this collection are restricted. School, college and department records are restricted to the office of origin for 30 years.

Use Restrictions:

Written permission must be obtained from the Syracuse University Archives and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.


Related Material

More information about Point of Contact/Punto de Contacto can be found in the Syracuse University Clipping Files and the Pedro Cuperman Papers.


Selected Search Terms

Names

Cuperman, Pedro.
Gabin, María José.
Graves, Nancy, 1940-1995.
Kraczyna, Swietlan, 1940-
Lanzarini, Ricardo, 1963-
Maggi, Marco, 1957-
Pérez Celis, 1939-2008.
Pizarnik, Alejandra, 1936-1972.
Roth, Pedro, 1938-
Point of Contact/Punto de Contacto.
Syracuse University -- History.
Syracuse University.

Associated Titles

For as long as the night lasts/Todo lo que dure la noche.
Point of contact/Punto de contacto.

Subjects

Art and literature.
Art criticism.
Art museums -- Exhibitions.
Art museums.
Art, Latin American.
Authors, Latin American.
Latin American poetry.
Literary theory.
Poetry.
Art museum curators.
Artists.
Authors.
College teachers.
Critics.
Higher education.
Periodical editors.
Poets.

Types of Material

Application forms.
Artists' periodicals.
Books.
CD-Rs.
Correspondence.
DVDs.
Exhibition catalogs.
Fliers (printed matter)
Floppy disks.
Layouts (printed matter)
Leaflets (printed works)
Magazines (periodicals)
Notebooks.
Posters.
Press releases.
Proofs (printed matter)
Publishers' advertisements.
Sketchbooks.
Typescripts.
U-matic (TM)
VHS.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Point of Contact/Punto de Contacto Records,
University Archives,
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

Transfer from Point of Contact/Punto de Contacto Gallery in 2025.

Processing Information

Materials were placed in acid-free folders and acid-free boxes.


Arrangement

Events and exhibitions published materials and media are arranged chronologically. All other materials are arranged alphabetically.


Table of Contents

Events and exhibitions

Records

Publications


Inventory