Thinking Outside the Box: Louise Nevelson at Kykuit (with Deborah A. Goldberg, Ph.D.)

Summary

In this virtual program, 'Thinking Outside the Box: Louise Nevelson at Kykuit,' curator Deborah Goldberg explores the connection between Nevelson's monumental metal sculpture 'Atmosphere and Environment VI' and her earlier wood assemblages. Set at the historic Kykuit estate, the lecture delves into Nevelson's artistic journey, from her cubist influences and theatrical installations to her innovative use of materials like plexiglass. The discussion highlights Nevelson's transition from black to white and back, emphasizing the significance of form and the interplay of light and shadow in her work.

Takeaways

• 🏛 The Pocantico Center of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, located in Tarrytown, New York, is a community resource offering public access through museum visits, lectures, cultural events, and artist residencies.
• 🎨 The virtual program 'Thinking Outside the Box: Louise Nevelson at Kykuit' is presented by independent art curator Deborah Goldberg, who teaches art history at the School of Visual Arts and has lectured at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and MoMA.
• 🗿 Louise Nevelson's monumental metal sculpture 'Atmosphere and Environment VI' is explored in relation to her earlier wood assemblages and contemporary plexiglass works like 'Transparent Sculpture VII'.
• 👩‍🎨 Nevelson, born in 1899 in Kiev as Leah Berliawsky, transitioned from painting to sculpture, heavily influenced by cubism and her studies with Hans Hofmann.
• 🎭 With a background in theater, Nevelson created theatrical environments and was known for her dramatic personal style, often wearing heavy makeup, furs, and self-designed jewelry.
• 🖼️ Nelson Rockefeller owned a painting by Picasso, 'Le Torrero', which, along with Nevelson's work, showcased the influence of cubism and the concept of 'push and pull' in art.
• 🌳 Nevelson's early work with found objects, such as furniture parts and wooden liquor boxes, led to the creation of room environments and assemblages with a ritualistic quality.
• ⚒️ The switch to metal for her sculptures was for permanence, allowing her work to be displayed outdoors and interact with the landscape and seasonal changes.
• 🖤 Nevelson's choice of black in her work was to focus on form and geometry, stating that black encompasses all colors and contains the essence of the universe.
• 🔄 After a period of using white and gold, Nevelson returned to black, creating works that played with light, transparency, and shadow, reflecting her interest in energy and the feast for the visual eye.

Q & A

Where is The Pocantico Center of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund located?

The Pocantico Center is located in Tarrytown, New York.

What is the significance of Kykuit, the historic Rockefeller estate?

Kykuit is significant as it is the home to The Pocantico Center and overlooks the Hudson River, built in 1913 by John D. Rockefeller.

What type of programs does The Pocantico Center offer to the public?

The Pocantico Center offers a variety of public access through museum visitation programs, lectures, cultural events, and artist residencies.

Who is the presenter of the virtual educational program 'Thinking Outside the Box: Louise Nevelson at Kykuit'?

The presenter is independent art curator Deborah Goldberg.

What is Deborah Goldberg's profession and where does she teach?

Deborah Goldberg is an art curator and teaches art history at the School of Visual Arts.

What is the focus of the lecture 'Thinking Outside the Box: Louise Nevelson at Kykuit'?

The lecture focuses on exploring Louise Nevelson's monumental metal sculpture 'Atmosphere and Environment VI' in relation to her earlier assemblages in wood and contemporary work in plexiglass.

What was Louise Nevelson's background before she became known for her sculptures?

Louise Nevelson was initially a painter and studied with Hans Hoffman in Munich, Germany, where she learned about cubism and Picasso.

Why did Louise Nevelson switch from working with wood to metal?

Louise Nevelson switched to metal for permanence, as wooden sculptures cannot be placed outdoors, whereas metal allows her work to frame the landscape and change with the seasons.

What was the significance of the color black in Nevelson's work?

Nevelson chose black because it encompasses all colors and she felt it was a world of geometry and magic. She wanted form to be the focus, not color.

How did Louise Nevelson's work evolve from her early 'Moon Garden Plus One' to her later outdoor metal sculptures?

Nevelson's work evolved from creating room environments like 'Moon Garden Plus One' to outdoor metal sculptures that incorporated geometric forms, transparency, and the interplay of light and shadow.

What was the connection between Nelson Rockefeller and Louise Nevelson's work?

Nelson Rockefeller commissioned Nevelson's 'Atmosphere and Environment VI' and owned other works by her, including a white column from the 'Dawn's Wedding Feast' ensemble.

How did Louise Nevelson's work relate to the Art Deco movement and other artists of her time?

Nevelson's geometric units and forms foreshadowed the minimalism movement and artists like Donald Judd. Her work also showed similarities with Art Deco elements and was contemporaneous with artists like Frank Stella and Roy Lichtenstein.