Louise Nevelson is one of my ultimate favorite artists.
When my family & I visited Philadelphia recently,
we were able to view her sculpture, Bicentennial Dawn,
at the James A. Byrne Federal Courthouse,
across the street from the Independence Visitors Center.
We were able to enter and view this piece at no cost,
but my camera was confiscated until we left the building.
I took pictures from outside upon leaving.
The ability to experience Bicentennial Dawn in person added depth of meaning to my understanding of Louise Nevelson as an artist and her meaning behind this immense, intricate, three-part sculpture. Her words, written to describe the thoughts behind this work, are pure poetry.
Bicentennial Dawn
A multi-unit sculpture by Louise Nevelson, 1975
"My search in life has been
for a new seeing, a new image,
a new insight, a new consciousness.
This search includes the object
as well as the in-between places -
the dawns and the dusks,
the objective world,
the heavenly spheres,
the places between the land and the sea...
Man's creations arrest the secret images
that can be found in nature.
Bicentennial Dawn is a place,
an environment that exists between night and day -
solid and liquid - temporal and eternal substances.
It can be experienced as a monument to the past
as well as to the spores of the future.
Contemplation is the means by which
we extend our awareness.
Bicentennial Dawn is a contemplative experience
in search of awareness that already
exists in the human mind.
The inner and the outer equal one."
As I circled the units of Bicentennial Dawn,
pen and notebook in hand,
sketching and writing as I contemplated,
peace overwhelmed me.
The complete structure of all the pieces
Nevelson placed together carefully
in her creation
allowed her words to become reality.
Open spaces between structural elements
provide new ways to see in this piece,
among the connected forms and shapes.
In their very composition
exist new realities.
She saw this.
She formed this.
She lived and breathed this.
The significance of every morsel about Bicentennial Dawn is immense. The placement of each fragment of its composition, to the placement of this structure on earth in a federal courthouse, across the street from the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, in Philadelphia... the crux of freedom, America's foundation... there is so much depth to all of it.
Although I wasn't able to take photographs from inside, the pictures captured from outside are pleasing. Bicentennial Dawn floats as a reflection in glass, with the world behind it, and us in it. The sculpture interacts with us as we view it from changing perspectives: as we circle around, inside/outside, looking through, looking at, reflecting contemplatively.
It is quite a different experience to have the ability to view art in person, to interact with it.
Here is a link to the locations of Louise Nevelson's sculptures as they are placed internationally.
(Click on "Public Collections" PDF to view list)
My family & I also had the wonderful experience of visiting a gallery that happened to be showing their personal collection of Louise Nevelson's art during our trip. At this location, I was able to interact with my camera freely. I will post pictures and thoughts about this soon.
What about you? Favorite artists? Tales of seeing their work in person?
Please leave your comment below.
Links to newer posts about Louise Nevelson & her art:
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