Dawn's Presence
Artist
Louise Nevelson
(American, born Russia (now Ukraine), 1899 - 1988)
CultureAmerican
Date1972-1975
MediumPainted wood
DimensionsOverall: 93 x 32 x 32 in. (236.2 x 81.3 x 81.3 cm)
Credit LineGift of Walter P. Chrysler, Jr.
Object number77.1241
Not on view
DescriptionPainted wood construction sculpture of two columns.Label TextLouise Nevelson American, 1900–1988 Dawn’s Presence, 1972–75 Painted wood When you put together things that other people have thrown out, you’re really bringing them to life—a spiritual life that surpasses the life for which they were originally created. –Louise Nevelson Louise Nevelson’s sculpture Dawn’s Presence breathes new life into scraps of wood, discarded banister rails, and old posts. She created this work by scavenging street castoffs and then assembling them into a tight geometric arrangement reminiscent of a Cubist still life. Finally, Nevelson painted the sculpture white, imparting an ambiguous tone to the idea of a new day. Nevelson recycled parts from her first major installation, Dawn’s Wedding Feast (1959), to create this sculpture, demonstrating how one can look backward to move forward. Gift of Walter P. Chrysler, Jr. 77.1241 Exhibition History"Large or Small, Bronze or Wood, Painted or Plain: Problems and Solutions in Sculpture", The Chrysler Museum, Norfolk, VA, July 9, 1981 - September 13, 1981. "Women of the Chrysler: a 400-Year Celebration of the Arts," Large Changing Gallery, Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, Va., March 24 - July 18, 2010. "Remix Redux: A Fresh Mix For Our Modern And Contemporary Galleries," Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, Virginia, August 15 - December 30, 2012.
