Honoring the Artist: Elizabeth Nehls

Interviewing someone over the phone is often difficult for obvious reasons. In this case, circumstances dictated that the conversation had to be short as well. Fortunately, this week's cover artist, Elizabeth Nehls, is one of those rare individuals who can express her thoughts and feelings in a precise yet meaningful way, with no time lost.

Q: Elizabeth, as we talk, I am in New Mexico, looking out over the beautiful mountains where Native Americans lived thousands of years ago. And we're not far from the Rio Grande where all those John Wayne movies took place. I know you're in a very different location now, either your apartment in New York or your house in Jamesport, which you are fixing up. Tell us what else you're currently involved with.

A: I've written a children's book, Finding Faces that features faces on buildings in New York. Obviously, it's about architecture and art.

Q: Can you give examples of where we can look for these faces?

A: The Metropolitan Museum of Art for one; the sculptured faces at the top of the building appear to touch the sky. Another example is the Old Customs Building where the Native American Museum is. Then there are the faces on the Art Students League. A lot of brownstones in New York have faces on them, too.

Q: What was your primary intention in writing this book?

A: I wanted to change the way we see things. We can pass something every day and never really see it. When the light hits a building the right way, you can see something you didn't know was there. You never know where these faces will pop up. I also thought the book would serve as a good activity to do with children, especially in the winter when the leaves are off the trees. You can keep the children amused by finding faces on the buildings.

Q: It's obvious that an enduring subject of yours concerns children, and this brings up another project of yours, your art series, "Children at Play." One of the series is on the cover.

A: Yes, "Children at Play" means a lot to me, capturing fleeting moments that will never happen again. Each moment is so precious.

Q: You've also captured these moments in other countries besides America.

A: Yes, for example, in St. Barth's where I did a commission for Villa Finistere. We were at a museum and some children were walking down the stairs. I love to capture children in motion. Another time in Portugal, we drove past a group of children in uniforms. It was one of those moments; we backed up to take a picture.

Q: What do you think has contributed to your interest in children besides obvious reasons?

A: I was an art teacher; I went to a small undergraduate school in Wisconsin, and I have a master's degree in Studio Art from Adelphi University.

Q: You have other interests as well. For example, you studied at the Art Students League, you've written poetry, obviously you appreciate architecture, and you also paint landscapes.

A: Yes, I'm drawn to landscape that shows the contour of the land, when the fields have been plowed and are beginning to grow.

Q: We can't wait to hear about your next project. Sorry, that's not a question.

Marion Wolberg Weiss

Ms. Nehls can be reached at her website: www.elizabethnehls.com and for commissions at: 631-252-9173.

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