Louise Nevelson – Monochromatic Sculptures Created by Marni Sheppard 2017 3rd Grade Art Project Northwood Elementary PTA Art Enrichment Program

She was born Leah Berliawsky in 1899 in Ukraine Louise Nevelson 1899 - 1988 Louise Nevelson was an American sculptor known for her monumental, monochromatic, wooden wall pieces and outdoor sculptures. Nevelson cultivated her life with as much passion and intensity as she crafted her sculptures. She was an intuitive artist who drew on the methods of collage to assemble her most famous works from found objects made of wood, piecing together room-size and smaller sculptures that would function together as total environments. When Nevelson struck upon her now-signature use of monochrome, she was able to do in her art what she had hoped to do in her life: neutralize idiosyncratic details, harmonize disparate elements, and transform the common and mundane into elegant objects of mystery. She rendered neutral the wood castaways that she first scavenged from the streets and later acquired from friends and acquaintances with coats of black, white or gold paint. Stripped of the details that hinted at their histories, that contained threads of stories, the cast-off objects acquired dignity and power, a grandeur they never had as baseball bat shards, chair backs and other furniture fragments, crates and timber yard orphans. According to the artist, 'black contained all color … It was an acceptance … Black is the most aristocratic color of all'.4 She was born Leah Berliawsky in 1899 in Ukraine Nevelson knew as a child that she would be an artist. At age nine, she saw a statue of Joan of Arc at the Rockland Public Library and decided to sculpt.

Examples of Louise Nevelson’s sculptures

When Nevelson struck upon her now-signature use of monochrome, she was able to do in her art what she had hoped to do in her life: neutralize idiosyncratic details, harmonize disparate elements, and transform the common and mundane into elegant objects of mystery. She rendered neutral the wood castaways that she first scavenged from the streets and later acquired from friends and acquaintances with coats of black, white or gold paint. Stripped of the details that hinted at their histories, that contained threads of stories, the cast-off objects acquired dignity and power, a grandeur they never had as baseball bat shards, chair backs and other furniture fragments, crates and timber yard orphans. According to the artist, 'black contained all color … It was an acceptance … Black is the most aristocratic color of all'.4

What to remember about Louise Nevelson * An American female sculpture. * Used monocramatic colors. * Made art from found objects.

Today we will make our own sculpture like Louise Nevelson

Step 1 – Create the base Create a capital letter H with 3 popsicle sticks. Be sure to have the horizontal one on top. This defines the dimensions of the stick compartment.

Step 2 – Fill in the base Add glue to the two vertical sticks and fill in the spaces from the center out with additional sticks to create a relatively solid back. Write your name and class on a label and keep for the end of the project.

Step 3 – Add sides to the base Add four more drops of glue and two more vertical sticks one at the left-one at the right to create edges or sides to the base. Repeat these steps until the sides of the container are about ¾” to an inch high (approx. 3-4 popsicle sticks on each side). Layer the sticks.

Step 4 – Choose your shapes In table groups, go one table at a time to the different boxes of assorted wood shapes and find the objects you want to put in your compartment and glue into their basket. Each student can choose ten shapes.

Step 5 – Paint your creation After your composition is to your liking (less is more) you will paint your creation. When it is your turn, proceed to the painting area. Choose your color of paint: black, white or gold

Step 6 – Label your artwork Place your name label on the back of your piece Set on the drying racks in the kiln room on the shelf with your teacher’s name