Louise Louise Nevelson:Nevelson:SculptorSculptor

Louise Nevelson was born Louise Louise Nevelson was born Louise Berliawsky in 1899 in Kiev, Russia. Berliawsky in 1899 in Kiev, Russia. Her family immigrated to the U.S. in Her family immigrated to the U.S. in 1904 to Rockland, Maine. Her father 1904 to Rockland, Maine. Her father was a successful builder and was a successful builder and lumberyard owner.lumberyard owner.

This fact would have some influence This fact would have some influence on her later artwork.on her later artwork.

In 1920 she married In 1920 she married Charles Nevelson Charles Nevelson and moved to New and moved to New York. At this time York. At this time she studied visual she studied visual and performing arts, and performing arts, including drama.including drama.

In 1928 she enrolled In 1928 she enrolled at the Art Students at the Art Students League. League.

From 1932-33 From 1932-33 Nevelson worked Nevelson worked with Diego Rivera with Diego Rivera on his murals in on his murals in New York.New York.

The mural was later The mural was later removed because removed because of the communist of the communist theme it portrayed.theme it portrayed.

She started to make She started to make sculpture in 1932 sculpture in 1932 and in 1944 she and in 1944 she began experimenting began experimenting with wooden with wooden assemblages.assemblages.

UntitledUntitled, 1950’s, painted wood., 1950’s, painted wood.

31x12x11.5”31x12x11.5”

Near the end of Near the end of the 1950’s, she the 1950’s, she began the began the ‘sculptured ‘sculptured walls’ for which walls’ for which she later she later became became internationally internationally famous.famous.

Sky Cathedral, 1958, Wood 115x135x20”

Albright-Knox Art Gallery, New York

These were wall-like These were wall-like reliefs made up of reliefs made up of many boxes and many boxes and compartments into compartments into which abstract shapes which abstract shapes are assembled are assembled together with together with commonplace objects commonplace objects such as chair legs, bits such as chair legs, bits of balustrades, and of balustrades, and other ‘found objects’.other ‘found objects’.

Dawn’s Wedding Chapel IV, 1959, Painted wood. 109x87x13”

Royal Tide I, 1960, Painted wood

86x40x8”

Nevelson’s creative assemblages

were sometimes painted a uniform black, or later white or gold. They won her a reputation as a leader in abstract art in America.

She was a flamboyant character, dressing very dramatically and wearing layers of mink eyelashes.

She said, “Some of us come on earth seeing – some of us come on earth seeing color.”

She was also known for her environmental sculptures.

Above: Seventh Decade in a Forest, 1971-76. Aluminum & steel, Baltimore, Maryland.

Right: Dawn Shadows, 1983, 33 tons of Aluminum & steel, Los Angeles.

Dark Presence III, 1971.Dark Presence III, 1971.

In 1967, Louise had a woman’s show at the In 1967, Louise had a woman’s show at the Whitney Museum which became the turning Whitney Museum which became the turning

point in her life. She continued to create point in her life. She continued to create and exhibit her works during the 70’s and and exhibit her works during the 70’s and

80’s.80’s.

The U.S. The U.S. Postal Postal Service Service even paid even paid tribute to tribute to Louise Louise Nevelson Nevelson by making by making stamps stamps with her with her artwork on artwork on them.them.

Louise Nevelson was a woman with a very independent mind who threw off the shackles and restrictions of her life to become an outstanding sculptor.

She lived until 1988.

Resources:Resources:

www.enotes.comwww.enotes.com

www.guggenheimcollection.owww.guggenheimcollection.orgrg

www.jewishvirtuallibrary.orgwww.jewishvirtuallibrary.org..

Your assignment will be to create your Your assignment will be to create your own portion of an assemblage. To do own portion of an assemblage. To do this, you will begin with a shoebox, this, you will begin with a shoebox, which will hold your sculpture. which will hold your sculpture.

Then, you will glue items that you have Then, you will glue items that you have brought which have meaning to you brought which have meaning to you into the box. Pay attention to the into the box. Pay attention to the way the items are placed.way the items are placed.

Next, you will choose a color that you Next, you will choose a color that you think represents you. You will paint think represents you. You will paint most of the things in your box a solid most of the things in your box a solid color, in the style of Louise Nevelson.color, in the style of Louise Nevelson.

Lastly, to complete your box you will Lastly, to complete your box you will add the letters of your first name in add the letters of your first name in some creative way. The letters must some creative way. The letters must be put on some items, not just be put on some items, not just written or painted into your box.written or painted into your box.

When everyone is finished with their When everyone is finished with their boxes, we will hot glue all of them boxes, we will hot glue all of them together to create a “wall” assemblage together to create a “wall” assemblage to display that tells others something to display that tells others something about each one of you. By putting them about each one of you. By putting them all together, you create something all together, you create something bigger and more diverse than any one bigger and more diverse than any one of you would be able to achieve.of you would be able to achieve.

DO NOT RUSH THIS!!! Your work needs DO NOT RUSH THIS!!! Your work needs to look nice and neat so it can be to look nice and neat so it can be displayed.displayed.