This story appeared in the Bangor Daily News on June 24, 1974, written by Ted Sylvester. He would like to share it with you.
Louise Nevelson comes ‘home’
By Ted Sylvester
NEWS Rockland Bureau
ROCKLAND – Louise Nevelson spent the weekend in her home town. The 74-year-old internationally known artist was gracious at two dinner parties, spent much of Saturday re-arranging furniture and fixtures at her brother’s Thorndike Hotel, and took time out for interviews. She decided to stay an extra night here rather than return to New York to attend a dinner party for Dr. and Mrs. Henry Kissinger.
According to Time Magazine, Mrs. Nevelson is one of only two truly internationally American artists. She has exhibited her works in most major cities of the world including Paris, London, Tokyo, Munich, Jerusalem, Stokholm, Toronto, New York, Chicago and San Francisco. A recent showing in the west coast city was proclaimed the biggest show ever held there according to news reports.
The weekend occasion in Rockland was the dedication of the “Louise Nevelson Room” at the hotel. Owned by her brother, Nathan Berliawsky, the newly decorated dining room features 20 paintings by the famed artist as well as her latest sculpture situated on the west wall. The works will be on display for an indefinite period.
In an interview with the NEWS, Mrs. Nevelson recalled her childhood days in Rockland. She arrived here in 1905 at the age of three when her parents emigrated from Russia. She attended Rockland schools and graduated in 1918. Noted for her athletic ability, Mrs. Nevelson was captain of the girls’ basketball team.
She gave considerable credit to the Rockland school system and to two teachers in particular for encouraging her to follow a career in art. The teachers were Miss Anna Coughlin, who Mrs. Nevelson said was a poet and inspiration to her pupils. The other was an art teacher by the name of Miss Cleveland. Mrs. Nevelson said these teachers recognized her talent at an early age and encouraged her to pursue it.
The artist, now recognized as one of the foremost in the world, said she would like to see and participate in the erection of a “visual memorial” to Miss Coughlin at the high school. The teacher’s memory is perpetuated in the Coughlin Memorial Scholarship Fund which has aided Rockland students with furthering their education.
Sipping ginger ale and smoking a cigar, Mrs. Nevelson continued to reminisce about her childhood here. She recalled making yellow ribbon lapels for her friends to gain admittance to a patriotic gathering at the old armory. “Of course they knew we were not members, but they gave us cakes anyway,” she remembered.
Shortly after high school, Mrs. Nevelson married a wealthy shipping broker, Charles Nevelson. When the marriage ended in divorce, the young lady continued to pursue her career. In 1931 she moved to Munich, Germany, and studied under Hans Hoffman.
She began exhibiting in the 30s and 40s but it was not until the 1950s that she received wide critical acclaim. She has been an extremely active and much sought after artist since.
At the Saturday night reception, with such distinguished guests as Andrew Wyeth, Mrs. Nevelson’s presence was visibly apparent. She was dressed in a long flowing black gown, heavy black eyelashes, hair pulled back, and with an assortment of beads and necklaces.
Louise Nevelson and Andrew Wyeth at Thorndike Hotel. Rockland, Maine at a party given her by her brother Nathan Berliawsky owner of the hotel. 1974. Photo was taken by Ted Sylvester of the Bangor Daily News)
According to Ted, this is the only known photo ever taken of the two of them together.
She told this reporter the next day that she has the feeling that communications were not always verbal, so that she makes an effort to dress as she does “To present myself as a visual living picture every minute.”
To overcome extreme shyness as a young woman, the artist said she studied dramatics, voice and modern dance for many years. Although she did some movie work in Germany, she proclaims that being an artist had been “the blueprint on my life since I can remember.”
At 74, Mrs. Nevelson said she is involved with her work “more than ever.” While she never talks about the quality of her art—“that’s for others to decide” she said—Mrs. Nevelson described herself as the “most rounded” visual artist today. Her works include sculpture, paintings, etching, graphics, silk screen and drawings, among others. Her latest sculpture is on display at the Thorndike. The paintings had been on display at New York, but according to Mrs. Nevelson “have returned home.”
Having created several hundred sculptures in her career, they range in size from a whiskey glass to larger than the side of a house. What prices do they demand? According to the artist prices range from a “modest consideration” to $140,000.
As for continuing her work, Mrs. Nevelson said, “It’s the most direct way to communicate with humanity. I’ll never stop—it’s so exciting.”
