Lois Dodd, Oral History

Oral History Interview of Lois Dodd by Liza Zapol in New York on December 1, 2011

Skowhegan · Dodd, Lois

Lois Dodd in her studio in the East Village. Photo by Liza Zapol

Skowhegan Oral History Project

The collection of Oral Histories began as a project in 2011 with oral historian Liza Zapol to create a consistent group of testimonies and memories from different people that shaped the school over the years.

“When I began this project, knowing I would be working with visual artists I formulated my questions visually and sensorially: If you were to make a drawing of an image from your summer in 1957, what would it look like? What is the perspective? What objects and spaces do you remember?

My questions, now that I know Skowhegan through grounded theory, are more dynamic in relation to the narrator’s whole life and understanding, ultimately engaging in how they make meaning. What results is a collection of narratives which evoke images and relationships that are integral to art history, society, and visual culture. And it is resoundingly specific—through this collection of oral histories, we hear a polyvocal Skowhegan.” Liza Zapol

A selection of Oral Histories are accessible in The Library. Additional interviews are accessible upon request at archive@skowheganart.org. Participants include: Sigmund Abeles, Emma Amos, Mildred Brinn, Ashley Bryan, Warren Cook, Daphne Cummings, Lois Dodd, Rackstraw Downes, David Driskell, Janet Fish, Richard Haas, Sidney Hurtwitz, Yvonne Jacquette, Penelope Jencks, Alex Katz, William King, Joyce Kozloff, Barbara Lapcek, Brice Marden, Alexander Milliken, Heidi Nitze, Muriel Palmer, Howardena Pindell, David Reed, Thomas Lanigan-Schmidt, Abigail Shahn, Robert Storr, Barbara Sussman

Abstract

Lois Dodd participates in an oral history with Liza Zapol. Dodd recalls first visiting Skowhegan in 1951 when she came there with Bill King, Jean Cohen, and Alex Katz who had all been participants. Bill was there in 1948, Alex was there in 1949, and Jean was there in 1950. Dodd shares how Willard “Bill” Cummings was someone who immediately stood out to her, because of how generous he was to people and created such an atmosphere of inclusiveness. Dodd states that what she learned from that was if you want something done in the world, you should strive to be generous and kind. Cummings was a terrific example of what someone can achieve in this world if they are generous and open.

Dodd then spoke in depth about her experiences coming back to Skowhegan as a faculty member in 1979 where it was an all female faculty, as well as her memories of later becoming a governor. Dodd states how despite watching the campus change throughout her many visits, Skowhegan’s spirit continues to always feel positive because of the way it was baked into the DNA by its founders. Dodd reflects on how the constant change with new participants and faculty every year at Skowhegan is a positive thing. Dodd then shares memories of her time as a Governor, stating that it is the opposite of the yearly changing faculty and participants. Dodd believes that the board of Governors should not change too much and it has to remain steady. The board of Governors should reflect a leadership that maintains the vision and consistency of its founders in order for Skowhegan to continue. For Dodd, as long as Skowhegan maintains the openness of the framework, it seems like that idea is always a good one, because nobody can make it their school. Skowhegan should remain a very fluid thing because through that fluidity, it can provide a place for art to happen.