NetWorks Rhode Island and the Chazan Collection Exhibition, WaterFire Arts Center (2024) Bio:
Ilse was born in Frankfurt/Main, Germany in 1932. She grew up in Japan between 1936-1947, returning to Germany at the age of fifteen. In 1954 Ilse began to study fine art at the art academies of Hamburg and Berlin, focussing on lettering and typography through 1959. There, she completed her first woodcut prints.
Ilse moved to the United States in 1960 and taught typography and book design at the Rhode island School of Design in Providence, R.I for five years.
In 1965, Alexander and Ilse Buchert Nesbitt founded the Third & Elm Press at 29 Elm Street in Newport, Rhode Island. From the beginning, using only hand set type, the press printed and published limited edition books, note paper, and cards on an 1897 Golding platen press and original woodcuts on the 1830 Acorn hand press that inspired the press logo. At first, Third & Elm also printed letterheads, business cards, and invitations, however at present it no longer produces this type of work.
Since 1965 she has done numerous one-woman and group shows in the U.S. and Germany. Work can be found in the U.S. in the libraries of New York, Chicago, Providence, and many others. Her work is also housed in Germany in the libraries of Hamburg, Leipzig, and in the Klingspor Museum in Offenbach as well as in numerous private collections around the world.
Press Motto: “Whoever works joyfully and enjoys what has been done is fortunate” (Goethe). This applies to the shop. It is small, my tools and means are limited, and the absolute quality for which I incessantly strive may be hard to attain, but I enjoy what I do and so I am happy.” – Ilse Buchert Nesbitt
Original NetWorks Catalogue Bio:
Ilse Buchert Nesbitt was born in Germany and spent her childhood in Japan, absorbing the influence of sumi brush painting practiced by her mother. In the 1950s she studied at the Art Academies of Hamburg and Berlin, concentrating on typography and book design. As a personal art form, the woodcut seemed a natural progression from typography; both processes involve the relief technique. In 1960 Nesbitt moved to the United States to teach at the Rhode Island School of Design. At RISD
she met her late husband, Alexander Nesbitt, a calligrapher and type historian. They moved to Newport in 1965 and founded Third & Elm
Press which, over the years, has produced artists’ books and pamphlets. Nesbitt continues to create woodcuts, making her own paper in the traditional Japanese way. She has exhibited in the United States and Germany where she is also represented in private and public collections.
Source: NetWorks 2013 – 2014 Catalogue
Woodcut, 12 x 21.5 in.
Newport Art Museum, Gift of the Artist
Credits:
Video:
Richard Goulis
Paul Marsella
Music: Tim Coutis
Photographs and Alexander Nesbitt drawing by: Sandy Nesbitt
Executive Producer: Joseph A. Chazan M.D.
Additional Resources:
- Third & Elm Press
- Bio at the Arts & Cultural Alliance of Newport County
Highlighting the work of selected artists who have played vital roles in shaping the contemporary visual arts community in Rhode Island. This collection of brief video portraits provides a window into the lives, practices, and cultural contributions of professional artists.
