Vivien Abrams Collens

Profile Updated: February 18, 2020
Vivien Abrams
Residing In: CORNWALL ON HUDSON, NY USA
Spouse/Partner: David Collens
Homepage: www.viviencollens.com
Occupation: artist currently focusing on public art and sculpture
Children: Stephanie, born 1987. Rachel , born 1991
Yes! Attending Reunion
Do you still see/talk to/hang out with any classmates? Who?

enjoyed the 2019 reunion. Great to see Steve Joseph and other friends. I keep in touch with Susan Cole, Lesley Dormen, Evie Bramen, Paige Fields Hoebel, and my cousin, Dede Abrams Atkins. would love to communicate with others.

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After Art School (Carnegie Mellon U), I lived in Mexico for 2 years, and got my MFA; then returned to Cleveland and worked at the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Cleveland Museum of Art.
In 1977 I moved to NYC to further my art career. focusing on shaped canvas or wood painting installations. In 1985 I met my husband , who is Director of Storm King Art Center; we married that year and have 2 daughters.
School Story:

Shaker had a great reputation . I was always proud to say I went there, and still feel that way.
Senior year was very difficult for me, as my father died unexpectedly on Sept. 16th. We were very close . Kennedy's assassination reopened the pain of an unexpected loss. I became depressed and withdrawn, feeling a gulf between myself and others. My dad had encouraged me to become an artist, and pursuing art seemed like the best way to memorialize him. Instead of study hall I took extra art classes. The teacher Mr. Jeffries, was good but only supported the boys in the class because "they would have to support a family one day"
My favorite school memories were hanging out with Ellen Silver...including cutting school and driving to OSU to see my boyfriend.

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Feb 18, 2020 at 8:26 PM
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May 14, 2019 at 10:14 PM

Posted on: Apr 26, 2019 at 9:13 AM

I'm excited about my upcoming sculpture exhibition, after so many years of painting. I learned to weld 2 years ago so the exhibit will include recent welded sculpture and a large ad hoc outdoor installation in the adjacent outdoor gallery.

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Jan 11, 2019 at 10:16 PM
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Dec 23, 2018 at 9:35 AM
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Nov 24, 2018 at 5:57 AM

Posted on: Nov 23, 2018 at 9:32 PM

belated birthday wishes Alan!

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Oct 27, 2018 at 9:05 AM
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Jun 03, 2019 at 1:09 PM

Posted on: Jun 18, 2018 at 5:16 PM

If you are in New Orleans, please check out my new sculpture , Froebel's Gifts, Blue Circuit
in the Poydras Corridor Sculpture Exhibition (Poydras at the Corner of Loyola).
The series is an homage to Friedrich Froebel whose educational methods were fundamental to modern art, engineering, and design.
Friedrich Froebel was the founder of the modern kindergarten in 1838. He designed basic geometric forms (sphere, cube, cylinder, beam) for children to manipulate , believing it would increase their ability to think abstractly. The sets were called Gifts, and were presented to children sequentially over a period of time.
Upon Learning that Frank Lloyd Wright and Buckminster Fuller had played with these as children, I began using an assymetric geometric form I made from a cube and 6 square beams, as a module for creating large scale architectural structures. Froebel’s Gifts: Blue Circuit is 18 ' high, welded aluminum, made from 12 identical modules.

“To Froebel belongs the credit for finding the true nature of play and regulating it to lead naturally into work. The same spontaneity and joy, the same freedom and serenity that characterize the plays of childhood are realized in all human activity. The gifts and occupations are the living connection which makes both play and work expressions of the same creative activity.” W. N Hailmann

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Feb 02, 2018 at 9:23 PM

hope you had a great birthday Amy!

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Dec 29, 2017 at 3:31 PM

Posted on: Dec 20, 2017 at 10:38 AM

Pleased to share that I installed 2 public sculptures this year. The one on the left is
Froebel's Gifts: energized cube.; 16'H, painted aluminum. .a commission for the permanent collection of the Kenner Sculpture Garden in New Orleans.
On the right is Kenergy. 18" H, a site specific installation at the Cary Hill Sculpture Park in Salem, NY.
I would love to do a piece in Cleveland.
Happy Holidays to everyone!

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Dec 18, 2017 at 7:02 PM
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Feb 24, 2017 at 12:48 PM

Posted on: Feb 23, 2017 at 10:13 PM

Hi Susan, Happy belated birthday from an old friend

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Feb 02, 2017 at 7:41 PM

Posted on: Feb 02, 2017 at 6:32 PM

hi Amy, hope you had a great birthday. let me know next time you viist NYC!

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Feb 03, 2016 at 12:45 AM
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Dec 19, 2015 at 6:07 PM

Hope you had a great birthday!

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Jul 27, 2015 at 6:59 AM

HI Evie, Thank you for meeting me for lunch Saturday. Loved talking with you -the time went so quickly! I was impressed with all your community involvement and appreciative of the work on our class reunion. Look forward to attending the next one!

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Jul 03, 2015 at 9:03 AM

look forward to seeing you tomorrow in Copenhagen!

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Jul 20, 2015 at 1:29 PM

Posted on: Jun 27, 2015 at 2:59 PM

I will be in Cleveland July 23-25. Would love to see classmates, tour Shaker, see some sights! If anyone would like to meet Thursday 7/23 or Saturday 7/25. please email vcollens@aol.com

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Jun 20, 2015 at 11:00 PM
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Jun 06, 2015 at 8:53 AM

Posted on: May 29, 2015 at 11:13 PM

It was great to see Joe Blake, and meet his lovely daughter Meredith, at the reception for my exhibit Wednesday! Joe is in the blue blazer/pink shirt. My husband David is in the blue shirt/tan blazer.