Encounters with Greatness - Sol Lewitt

Sol Lewitt's colorful sculptures on the roof at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (2005)

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Several years ago, as a recent graduate from the arts program at Trinity College, I was invited to participate in a special project lead by artist, (the now late) Sol Lewitt and his assistants. The project was to implement one of Sol Lewitt's drawings into the new student center on Trinity's campus in Hartford, Connecticut.

I was part of a team of art students ready to carry out the project. Above are the plans for the space that were sent over by the artist. Mr. Lewitt later came to the site at Trinity to meet all of us and show us in person  how to re-create his design. There was scaffolding, cans of paint with Lewitt's usual bright colors, brushes of all shapes and sizes, and the sketches  you see here. Having plans to travel to Italy for a friend's wedding, I was not able to stay for the entire project. Upon my return from Italy, I was shocked and pleasantly surprised to find a package from the Lewitt studio with an original gouache by the artist inside as a thank you gift for my help. I don't keep it with me, but someday, I hope to enjoy it in a real house.

Several months later, we were all invited back to Trinity and honored along with the dedication of the completed space. Trinity's art department compiled a special binder of photographs for each of us. The final project also made headlines in the alumni magazine.

A photographer captured me taking in the finished product at the dedication (1998).

Encounters with Greatness - Louise Bourgeois

I just learned that famed sculptor, Louise Bourgeois, passed away yesterday at the age of 98. I can recall a visit with her a few years ago. Louise held informal open house sessions called "salons" regularly on Sundays at her home in Chelsea. Oddly enough, she was listed in the phone book, and if you wanted to attend a Sunday Salon with Louise, all you had to do was make the call and say that you would be showing up. I went on Halloween, 2004; a seemingly perfect fit for such a dark woman.

The session was like being in art school all over again. We talked about our work in a room full of other artistic hopefuls and in front of Miss Louise who would make the final judgement as if we were standing in front of the proverbial Pearly Gates. There was also a team of filmmakers ever-present and recording every moment for a future documentary. No one else was allowed to photograph or videotape any portion of that session.

For some artists in the room, she would ask tough questions and cast aspersions on their creations. I was one of the last people to present and was quite nervous. Miraculously, she showed me some mercy, and actually liked my work. We had a big discussion that I can no longer recollect, but I sailed on the knowledge of that moment as inspiration for my next few paintings. At the end of our time with her, she permitted me to photograph her just before I left her building. I knew one day that I'd be happy that I captured this moment in time. Rest in peace.