Sasha Kolin is the painter. I have 2 works by her. She had been a patient of Dr.
Bertram Schaffner (my uncle). She traded her paintings in lieu of paying Bertram's fee.
Tamme Haskell
*****
Sacha Kolin (WOW). I've got to quit buying so many books!! I really REALLY want to
read about her life and especially about Lisa's research. Mary South
*****
It certainly brought back lots of memories - its amazing how a person does not think
about something for many years, and then when it's mentioned, you recall that
memory! I called my mother to ask her about the quiz in case she could think of any
other stores or designers with Alexand****. She immediately said Alexanders like I
did, as she used to take me shopping there when I was a kid all the time in Paramus NJ.
See below excerpt - I was there! I saw it! :) Wow! Beth Long
*****
I really enjoyed this quiz and reading about Lisa's quest to find out about the artist. And
then, to find out that she was also connected to her husband's family, how cool is that?
Karen Kay Bunting
*****
OK, Alexander Department stores. I had forgotten all about the clue Alexander after
spending some time researching Alexander Calder who was a very interesting surrealist
artist that spent time in Arizona. I couldn't prove he was Jewish or had a bio written by
a quiz master. I thought for awhile he might have done the jewelry on the models, but
couldn't prove that either.
It was the study of the surrealist artists that were the interesting part of this quiz for
me. A week off and my skills just get rusty. :>) Judy Pfaff
Bertram Schaffner (my uncle). She traded her paintings in lieu of paying Bertram's fee.
Tamme Haskell
*****
Sacha Kolin (WOW). I've got to quit buying so many books!! I really REALLY want to
read about her life and especially about Lisa's research. Mary South
*****
It certainly brought back lots of memories - its amazing how a person does not think
about something for many years, and then when it's mentioned, you recall that
memory! I called my mother to ask her about the quiz in case she could think of any
other stores or designers with Alexand****. She immediately said Alexanders like I
did, as she used to take me shopping there when I was a kid all the time in Paramus NJ.
See below excerpt - I was there! I saw it! :) Wow! Beth Long
*****
I really enjoyed this quiz and reading about Lisa's quest to find out about the artist. And
then, to find out that she was also connected to her husband's family, how cool is that?
Karen Kay Bunting
*****
OK, Alexander Department stores. I had forgotten all about the clue Alexander after
spending some time researching Alexander Calder who was a very interesting surrealist
artist that spent time in Arizona. I couldn't prove he was Jewish or had a bio written by
a quiz master. I thought for awhile he might have done the jewelry on the models, but
couldn't prove that either.
It was the study of the surrealist artists that were the interesting part of this quiz for
me. A week off and my skills just get rusty. :>) Judy Pfaff
As with many visual artists, Sacha Kolin fell into
obscurity upon her death in 1981. Author and family
historian Lisa Thaler, captivated by an abstract painting
she acquired in 1998, began a decade-long global
reconstruction of the artist's life story. Look Up: The
Life and Art of Sacha Kolin was published by Midmarch
Arts Press in June 2008.
As the subject of a genealogical quest, Sacha presented
many challenges. With determination and groundbreaking
research, Lisa applied her expertise as a family historian
to recover Sacha's story (Look Up, "Ten lessons for
genealogists, art historians, artists, and journalists," pp.
344-347).
obscurity upon her death in 1981. Author and family
historian Lisa Thaler, captivated by an abstract painting
she acquired in 1998, began a decade-long global
reconstruction of the artist's life story. Look Up: The
Life and Art of Sacha Kolin was published by Midmarch
Arts Press in June 2008.
As the subject of a genealogical quest, Sacha presented
many challenges. With determination and groundbreaking
research, Lisa applied her expertise as a family historian
to recover Sacha's story (Look Up, "Ten lessons for
genealogists, art historians, artists, and journalists," pp.
344-347).
Slowly but surely, Thaler was able to unravel Kolin's
life story. The artist was born in Paris in 1911 to
Malwina Slobodianiuk and Julius Kolin, an engineer
who later became involved in designing airplane
propellers. Kolin's parents encouraged her art, and
Sacha was exposed to art classes and exhibiting
opportunities that were rare for women artists. In
1936, the Kolins moved to New York City, where
Sa-cha had her first one-woman show, "Modern
Sculp-tures and Sketches" at Rockefeller Center.
Three years later, Sacha was included in the show
"New Americans of Friendship House" along with 41
other émigré artists.
But even as later years would hold nearly 20
one-woman shows and more than 125 group shows
for Kolin, she died a poor woman in 1981, and a
steady stream of friends and acquaintances came to
her house after her death to take her belongings in lieu
of payment for money they claimed she owed.
Thaler's book presents a narrative of Kolin's life that is
about midway between a memoir and a catalogue
raisonné, a comprehensive catalog of the entire body
life story. The artist was born in Paris in 1911 to
Malwina Slobodianiuk and Julius Kolin, an engineer
who later became involved in designing airplane
propellers. Kolin's parents encouraged her art, and
Sacha was exposed to art classes and exhibiting
opportunities that were rare for women artists. In
1936, the Kolins moved to New York City, where
Sa-cha had her first one-woman show, "Modern
Sculp-tures and Sketches" at Rockefeller Center.
Three years later, Sacha was included in the show
"New Americans of Friendship House" along with 41
other émigré artists.
But even as later years would hold nearly 20
one-woman shows and more than 125 group shows
for Kolin, she died a poor woman in 1981, and a
steady stream of friends and acquaintances came to
her house after her death to take her belongings in lieu
of payment for money they claimed she owed.
Thaler's book presents a narrative of Kolin's life that is
about midway between a memoir and a catalogue
raisonné, a comprehensive catalog of the entire body
Reviving Sacha Kolin
Menachem Wecker
Posted Oct 29 2008
Look Up: The Life and Art of Sacha
Kolin
by Lisa Thaler
Midmarch Arts Press, 2008
472 pages, $28
http://www.sachakolin.com/
Lisa Thaler's obsession with Sacha Kolin
dates back to a modernism show in
Winnetka, Illinois, in 1998. Just before
she and her husband, Martin, were ready
to leave the exhibit, they both found
Menachem Wecker
Posted Oct 29 2008
Look Up: The Life and Art of Sacha
Kolin
by Lisa Thaler
Midmarch Arts Press, 2008
472 pages, $28
http://www.sachakolin.com/
Lisa Thaler's obsession with Sacha Kolin
dates back to a modernism show in
Winnetka, Illinois, in 1998. Just before
she and her husband, Martin, were ready
to leave the exhibit, they both found
 |  |  |  |
| If you have a picture you'd like us to feature a picture in a future quiz, please email it to us at CFitzp@aol.com. If we use it, you will receive a free analysis of your picture. You will also receive a free Forensic Genealogy CD or a 10% discount towards the purchase of the Forensic Genealogy book. |
| Quiz #185 Results |
 |  |  |  |
| ********** |
| Click here to see results of 5th occasional photoquiz survey. |
| Click here to see results of 5th occasional photoquiz survey. |
| Answer to Quiz #185 - November 23, 2008 |
| ********** |
| ********** |
| If you enjoy our quizzes, don't forget to order our books! Click here. |
| A Brief Bio of Sacha Kolin by Lisa Thaler |
| Untitled Sacha Kolin Year: 1978 Medium: Watercolor Paper Size: 15 x 22 inches www.rogallery.com/Kolin/Kolin_untitled.htm |
themselves coming back to a certain painting, which they later learned was Kolin's
"Departure." Martin was sure he saw the Hebrew letter lamed in the work, while Thaler
insisted the work was abstract. Indeed, "Departure" seems to have a crimson lamed just
to the left of the painting's center, but one is tempted to dismiss the form as an abstract
geometric shape, especially given the larger context. It is flanked by blue, green, tan,
purple, white, gray and red shapes, which are decided un-Hebraic.
Thaler has since changed her mind, after discovering that the work dates from a time
when Kolin was involved in a little-known movement called In-dian Space Painters.
Kolin was thus experimenting with calligraphy, amongst other things, and she used,
"spontaneous gestural flourishes and ancient written forms, which were often
commented upon by the press," Thaler said. "I now see in Departure's compact
"Departure." Martin was sure he saw the Hebrew letter lamed in the work, while Thaler
insisted the work was abstract. Indeed, "Departure" seems to have a crimson lamed just
to the left of the painting's center, but one is tempted to dismiss the form as an abstract
geometric shape, especially given the larger context. It is flanked by blue, green, tan,
purple, white, gray and red shapes, which are decided un-Hebraic.
Thaler has since changed her mind, after discovering that the work dates from a time
when Kolin was involved in a little-known movement called In-dian Space Painters.
Kolin was thus experimenting with calligraphy, amongst other things, and she used,
"spontaneous gestural flourishes and ancient written forms, which were often
commented upon by the press," Thaler said. "I now see in Departure's compact
| ********** |
| Sacha in Vienna with Friends |
Lisa writes about her research on this
photograph of Sacha as a young girl in
Vienna:
I had sent copies of this photograph (taken
in Vienna) to Sacha's family in America,
Israel, Brazil, and Argentina. None
recognized the women on either side of
Sacha (center). I published the photograph
photograph of Sacha as a young girl in
Vienna:
I had sent copies of this photograph (taken
in Vienna) to Sacha's family in America,
Israel, Brazil, and Argentina. None
recognized the women on either side of
Sacha (center). I published the photograph
with "unidentified" women flanking Sacha. An Austrian emigre heard about my lecture
at the Austrian Cultural Forum (June 2008). She recognized the name of "Sacha Kolin"
because she talked to her aunt frequently at the end of her life. The aunt suffered from
memory loss - esp near term memory, but remembered Vienna when she lived with a
classmate (Sacha Kolin) who was less studious than herself (the aunt). How she
traveled with the family, etc. She told her cousin, also an Austria emigre. Both
cousins now reside in the USA. One of the cousins recognized the young woman on
the left as his mother. Lisa is still seeking the identity of the young woman on the right.
at the Austrian Cultural Forum (June 2008). She recognized the name of "Sacha Kolin"
because she talked to her aunt frequently at the end of her life. The aunt suffered from
memory loss - esp near term memory, but remembered Vienna when she lived with a
classmate (Sacha Kolin) who was less studious than herself (the aunt). How she
traveled with the family, etc. She told her cousin, also an Austria emigre. Both
cousins now reside in the USA. One of the cousins recognized the young woman on
the left as his mother. Lisa is still seeking the identity of the young woman on the right.
| ********** |
| Sacha as a child in Vienna. Studio imprint: L Gutmann, Wien, IX. Währingstr.18. Sacha lived in the 18th district 11 Jan. 1915 through sometime in 1927. |
of an artist's works. Thaler has documented about 2,000 of Kolin's works. Writing
Look Up became a process of not only unveiling Kolin's Jewish identity, but also of
deepening Thaler's connection with hers. "I was surprised how quickly a prolific,
exhibiting artist could fall into obscurity," she said of Kolin's absence from the
contemporary art history canon despite her recognition during her lifetime. "I grew
more sensitive, as a Jewish writer, to the aspects of personal and collective memory."
In fact, Thaler felt so connected to Kolin that she places small stones on the
gravestones of Kolin's family members buried in Chicago and lights a yahrzeit candle
for the artist every year.
Look Up became a process of not only unveiling Kolin's Jewish identity, but also of
deepening Thaler's connection with hers. "I was surprised how quickly a prolific,
exhibiting artist could fall into obscurity," she said of Kolin's absence from the
contemporary art history canon despite her recognition during her lifetime. "I grew
more sensitive, as a Jewish writer, to the aspects of personal and collective memory."
In fact, Thaler felt so connected to Kolin that she places small stones on the
gravestones of Kolin's family members buried in Chicago and lights a yahrzeit candle
for the artist every year.
| Alexander's Department Store http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander's |
| See TV Ad from the 1980s for Alexander's Department Store. Click here. |
| ********** |
| Award-winning department store window from July 1968. The artwork is that of a Jewish artist whose bio was authored by one of our Quizmasters. 1. What is the name of the department store? 2. Where is it located? Bonus: What is the name of the artist whose paintings appear in the window? |
| Submitted by Lisa Thaler. |
| Congratulations to Our Winners! Don Draper Dolly Bourke Tamme Haskell Betty Chambers Stan Read Fred Stuart Mary South Lorrie Millman Olivia Newman Naomi Fatouros Paul Camic Alan Cullinan Brian Kemp Wayne Douglas Carolyn Cornelius Norm Smith Don Draper Karen Kay Bunting Mike Dalton Doug Smith Debbie Sterbinski Dave Doucette Beth Long Judy Pfaff Robert E. McKenna |
| Comments from Our Readers |
| Answers: 1. Alexander's Department Story 2. New York City (Corner of Lexington Avenue at 58th Street) Bonus: Sacha Kolin Subject of Lisa Thaler's Look Up: The Life and Art of Sacha Kolin |
| ********** |
| Lisa Thaler Will Now Take Your Comments |
Alan Cullinan: Interesting quiz. I started off by looking for artist's named Alexander
(name on window), and came across Alexander Calder, whoes work is quite similar to
that displayed. Then I noticed the quiz was submitted by Lisa Thaler. Nice one!!!!
Lisa: Hugo Bastidas of New Jersey City University’s campus galleries described
Sacha’s “distinct vision” and “delicate” work. Her spare and gestural art is likened to
Klee and Miró. Another art professional claimed that her “drawings resemble Calder’s
—but are better. (See p. 169 of Lisa's book.)
*****
Don Draper: I discovered that Lisa Thaler has done a biography about Sacha. The
artist worked in New York and must have had some connection with the company or
management. Maybe they were friends or perhaps she paid for the exposure? Maybe
the clothing designer simply felt the artwork complemented the fashions? I found other
examples of her art work - referred to in one place as "Optical Art". She seems to
experiment with geometric shapes which is consistent with what we see in the store
window.
Lisa: This window was designed in-house by Alexander's Department Stores. The
display group, including Bip Callahan, received the Southwestern-themed clothes for the
front windows of the flagship store. Bip recalled Indian style works created by his
friend, the artist Sacha Kolin, and borrowed the paintings from her. The display was
voted one of the five best windows of the month in New York. Captioned "On the
fashion warpath—Apache suede," the photograph appeared in Views & Reviews in July
1968. For a further description, see Lisa Thaler's biography Look Up: The life and art
of Sacha Kolin (pp. 165-166, 196). According to the author's interviews, Sacha's
artwork was also part of displays in the windows of Tiffany & Co., Women's
Haberdashers, and other venues.
(name on window), and came across Alexander Calder, whoes work is quite similar to
that displayed. Then I noticed the quiz was submitted by Lisa Thaler. Nice one!!!!
Lisa: Hugo Bastidas of New Jersey City University’s campus galleries described
Sacha’s “distinct vision” and “delicate” work. Her spare and gestural art is likened to
Klee and Miró. Another art professional claimed that her “drawings resemble Calder’s
—but are better. (See p. 169 of Lisa's book.)
*****
Don Draper: I discovered that Lisa Thaler has done a biography about Sacha. The
artist worked in New York and must have had some connection with the company or
management. Maybe they were friends or perhaps she paid for the exposure? Maybe
the clothing designer simply felt the artwork complemented the fashions? I found other
examples of her art work - referred to in one place as "Optical Art". She seems to
experiment with geometric shapes which is consistent with what we see in the store
window.
Lisa: This window was designed in-house by Alexander's Department Stores. The
display group, including Bip Callahan, received the Southwestern-themed clothes for the
front windows of the flagship store. Bip recalled Indian style works created by his
friend, the artist Sacha Kolin, and borrowed the paintings from her. The display was
voted one of the five best windows of the month in New York. Captioned "On the
fashion warpath—Apache suede," the photograph appeared in Views & Reviews in July
1968. For a further description, see Lisa Thaler's biography Look Up: The life and art
of Sacha Kolin (pp. 165-166, 196). According to the author's interviews, Sacha's
artwork was also part of displays in the windows of Tiffany & Co., Women's
Haberdashers, and other venues.
| ********** |
Congratulations to Lisa Thaler on her book. All the reviews are good.
Carolyn Cornelius
Carolyn Cornelius
| ********** |
Sacha Kolin was born in Paris in 1911, trained
in Vienna at the Kunstgewerbeschule and
exhibited at the Secession. She returned to
Paris in 1933 to study in the atelier of sculptor
Naum Aronson, formerly a stonecarver for
Rodin, and exhibited in the annual Salons.
Sacha was the youngest to be named
Societaire of the Nationale Societe des Beaux
Arts. In late 1936, at age 25, the artist
immigrated to America and settled in
Manhattan. Sacha quickly established herself
in Vienna at the Kunstgewerbeschule and
exhibited at the Secession. She returned to
Paris in 1933 to study in the atelier of sculptor
Naum Aronson, formerly a stonecarver for
Rodin, and exhibited in the annual Salons.
Sacha was the youngest to be named
Societaire of the Nationale Societe des Beaux
Arts. In late 1936, at age 25, the artist
immigrated to America and settled in
Manhattan. Sacha quickly established herself
among the progressive artists of her time exhibiting at Rockefeller Center in 1937 and at
the New York World's Fair in 1940.
Sacha was an advocate on behalf of the displaced and the dispossessed. In the 1960s,
she was an early member of the Artist Tenants Association (A.T.A.), which fought to
legalize artist loft residences in former industrial buildings. In the 1970s with a grant
from the New York Department of Cultural Affairs, Sacha conducted film interviews
with street people, as the homeless were then known, to expose their plight.
Sacha Kolin led a daring, resourceful, and productive artistic life in Manhattan, until her
death February 14, 2008. Her career history includes 19 one-person exhibitions and
over 125 group shows. Currently, she is represented in over 110 museum and private
collections in the United States and abroad.
the New York World's Fair in 1940.
Sacha was an advocate on behalf of the displaced and the dispossessed. In the 1960s,
she was an early member of the Artist Tenants Association (A.T.A.), which fought to
legalize artist loft residences in former industrial buildings. In the 1970s with a grant
from the New York Department of Cultural Affairs, Sacha conducted film interviews
with street people, as the homeless were then known, to expose their plight.
Sacha Kolin led a daring, resourceful, and productive artistic life in Manhattan, until her
death February 14, 2008. Her career history includes 19 one-person exhibitions and
over 125 group shows. Currently, she is represented in over 110 museum and private
collections in the United States and abroad.
| Look Up: The Art and Life of Sacha Kolin by Lisa Thaler |
"... involving, surprising, gracefully designed, meticulously documented, and picture-
rich .... Kolin is fascinating and evocative, and Thaler portrays her with precision and
sensitivity." — Donna Seaman, Booklist
"... searching for everything Sacha Kolin in libraries, archives, and museum collections,
and even interviewing Kolin's family and friends.... Slowly but surely, Thaler was able
to unravel Kolin's life story." —Menachem Wecker, The Jewish Press
Lisa Thaler, the author of numerous family histories, has lectured widely on research
methodology and source documentation. Her articles and reviews have appeared in
Avotaynu, Stammbaum, Shemot, and other leading genealogy journals.
Visit the Sacha Kolin website and read the book reviews at: <www.sachakolin.com>.
Look Up is available at Amazon.com - click here.
rich .... Kolin is fascinating and evocative, and Thaler portrays her with precision and
sensitivity." — Donna Seaman, Booklist
"... searching for everything Sacha Kolin in libraries, archives, and museum collections,
and even interviewing Kolin's family and friends.... Slowly but surely, Thaler was able
to unravel Kolin's life story." —Menachem Wecker, The Jewish Press
Lisa Thaler, the author of numerous family histories, has lectured widely on research
methodology and source documentation. Her articles and reviews have appeared in
Avotaynu, Stammbaum, Shemot, and other leading genealogy journals.
Visit the Sacha Kolin website and read the book reviews at: <www.sachakolin.com>.
Look Up is available at Amazon.com - click here.
Founded in 1928 by George Farkas, who named it for his father Alexander Farkas,
catering to low- and middle-income consumers, Alexander's offered discounted
designer fashions and high-quality private label goods. At its height, the company
operated 15 stores, including locations in midtown Manhattan (the flagship at 59th
Street and Lexington Avenue, designed by Starrett & van Vleck), the World Trade
Center, Kings Plaza in Brooklyn, Fordham Road in the Bronx, Queens Boulevard in
Rego Park, Valley Stream in Long Island, Paramus, New Jersey, Main Street, Flushing
in New York, White Plains, New York and Milford, Connecticut.
The company's hold on the marketplace began to slip in the 1970s, as customers
defected to larger competitors and specialty retailers. In 1980, Interstate Properties took
a major stake in the ailing chain, seeking to convert its real estate to more profitable
ventures. Throughout the 1980s, Alexander's management struggled to expand the
retailer's offerings beyond leisure apparel, but was often distracted by real estate
sell-offs. The company made a last-ditch effort to modernize in the early 1990s by
expanding its activewear, electronics, housewares, sports equipment, and toy
departments, but to no avail. Alexander's finally declared bankruptcy in 1992 as debts to
vendors mounted and inventories dwindled.
After being reorganized into a real estate company, Alexander's began selling off its
valuable properties to developers. The company had owned all the real estate its large
stores sat on. Vornado, a real estate firm (which in a previous form was another
discount department store chain, Two Guys), had bought a controlling share of
Alexander's at bargain prices and refocused the company on development of its land
holdings.
"You'll find Alexander's has what you're looking for; how lucky can you get?!", an
Alexander's slogan / advertising jingle.
catering to low- and middle-income consumers, Alexander's offered discounted
designer fashions and high-quality private label goods. At its height, the company
operated 15 stores, including locations in midtown Manhattan (the flagship at 59th
Street and Lexington Avenue, designed by Starrett & van Vleck), the World Trade
Center, Kings Plaza in Brooklyn, Fordham Road in the Bronx, Queens Boulevard in
Rego Park, Valley Stream in Long Island, Paramus, New Jersey, Main Street, Flushing
in New York, White Plains, New York and Milford, Connecticut.
The company's hold on the marketplace began to slip in the 1970s, as customers
defected to larger competitors and specialty retailers. In 1980, Interstate Properties took
a major stake in the ailing chain, seeking to convert its real estate to more profitable
ventures. Throughout the 1980s, Alexander's management struggled to expand the
retailer's offerings beyond leisure apparel, but was often distracted by real estate
sell-offs. The company made a last-ditch effort to modernize in the early 1990s by
expanding its activewear, electronics, housewares, sports equipment, and toy
departments, but to no avail. Alexander's finally declared bankruptcy in 1992 as debts to
vendors mounted and inventories dwindled.
After being reorganized into a real estate company, Alexander's began selling off its
valuable properties to developers. The company had owned all the real estate its large
stores sat on. Vornado, a real estate firm (which in a previous form was another
discount department store chain, Two Guys), had bought a controlling share of
Alexander's at bargain prices and refocused the company on development of its land
holdings.
"You'll find Alexander's has what you're looking for; how lucky can you get?!", an
Alexander's slogan / advertising jingle.
| See examples of Sacha's work at www.rogallery.com/Kolin/Kolin_hm.htm |
geometric forms, the Hebrew letter lamed
that Martin saw," Thaler writes in her
new book, Look Up: The Life and Art of
that Martin saw," Thaler writes in her
new book, Look Up: The Life and Art of
Sacha Kolin. "I imagine the lamed flanked by a gimel on the right and a tav on the left.
Together they spell galut, meaning exile."
Hebrew or not, Lisa and Martin bought the work and hung it over their son Henry's
bed. Though Henry paid little attention to the work, Lisa, a family historian, could not
put it out of her mind. Look Up is the product of several years of sleuthing, searching
for everything Sacha Kolin in libraries, archives and museum collections, and even
interviewing Kolin's family and friends. From the start, Thaler suspected that Kolin was
a Jewish émigré, but she was not expecting to one day discover that the painter and
sculptor was a relative of hers, as well. While researching in the Archives of American
Art in Washington, D.C., Thaler noticed the entry "David Thaler [of] Cedar Rapids,
Iowa" in Kolin's circa-1955 ad-dress book. David was Lisa's husband Martin's cousin,
but he had unfortunately died just six weeks before Lisa came across the entry.
Together they spell galut, meaning exile."
Hebrew or not, Lisa and Martin bought the work and hung it over their son Henry's
bed. Though Henry paid little attention to the work, Lisa, a family historian, could not
put it out of her mind. Look Up is the product of several years of sleuthing, searching
for everything Sacha Kolin in libraries, archives and museum collections, and even
interviewing Kolin's family and friends. From the start, Thaler suspected that Kolin was
a Jewish émigré, but she was not expecting to one day discover that the painter and
sculptor was a relative of hers, as well. While researching in the Archives of American
Art in Washington, D.C., Thaler noticed the entry "David Thaler [of] Cedar Rapids,
Iowa" in Kolin's circa-1955 ad-dress book. David was Lisa's husband Martin's cousin,
but he had unfortunately died just six weeks before Lisa came across the entry.
| From the 1940s, Sacha Kolin was part of a loosely affiliated group known as the Indian Space Painters. Inspired by American Indian lore and iconography, they used color and form to create a new pictorial language. Sacha incorporated native dance imagery and created flat-plane abstract compositions in a native palette. In the 1950s, she hosted a color workshop in her New York studio with Bauhaus- trained Hannes Beckmann and developed further in a non-objective style. Music was another passion, and Sacha sought to convey a lyrical expressiveness in her canvases. She participated in art exhibitions with a musical theme and organized concerts in conjunction with art shows. Her work of this time, and particularly her spare and gestural watercolors, is likened to that of Kandinsky and Klee. Her later calligraphic drawings and painted sculpture evoke Arp and Miró. A New York gallerist quipped that Sacha's “drawings resemble Calder’s—but are better” (Look Up, p. 169). Sacha was among the first members of E.A.T. (Experiments in Art and Technology), which arranged collaborations between artists and engineers. In the 1960s, Sacha deepened her interest in color motion studies and was well known for her Optical Art paintings. Her three- dimensional works became increasingly geometric, and based on the triangle. In 1973, Sacha's monumental aluminum sculpture Drawing in the Sky #1 was installed during her one-person exhibition at the Everson Museum of Art in Syracuse, New York, and remains on outdoor display to this day. |
| More about Sacha's Art |
| The death knell rang for another big New York City retailer yesterday as Alexander's Inc. closed its 11 stores and filed for bankruptcy protection. The budget department store company, merchant to successive waves of struggling immigrants since 1928, said it would reopen the stores for a close-out sale, then cease operations. The company, which has not turned a profit on its retail operations since 1987, will continue to try to sell or lease its stores, some of which occupy prime real estate locations like the one occupied by the flagship store at 58th Street and Lexington Avenue in Manhattan. Read more.... |
| Alexander's Shuts All Its 11 Stores: Plans Liquidation By STEPHANIE STROM Published: May 16, 1992 |
| ********** |