Alice Neel, 1978

Alice Neel interviewed by Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel, for the television program Inside New York's Art World, 1978. This program is part of the Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel Video Archive at the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Duke University. To view similar videos from the Archive on KZbin, visit the Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel Video Archive Playlist: • Barbaralee Diamonstein... . For further information, visit the collection guide: library.duke.e....

[@barbaraarlen2882]

I think Alice Neel is great but it would have been better to have someone else interview her with a sense of humor.

[@mdebhul1528]

Indeed, or if said interviewer possessed - within her- truly an understanding of how a creative, artistic, gifted, human being such as Alice Neel - embued with such a natural nature and expressive elegance might express herself (which said interviewer could not comprehend for the life of her).. For all the interviewers pomp, sadly came across as a poor choice for such a gracious subject as Alice Neel. The contrast between them is certainly a study.

[@honeybeez4]

Johnny Carson was a much better fit. He seemed more appreciative of Neel's personality and humor. This interviewer is terrible.

[@carlalord8420]

The interviewer is knowledgeable about art and literature, even if she did not interact smoothly wirh Alice Neel.

[@andreaandrea6716]

It's such an awkward interview because the interviewer is so controlling (despite being knowledgeable), and keeps corralling Alice Neel, rather than interacting with her. I want to slap her and say "Stop it! This is just unbearable!" She's unnatural. It was the 1970s... Dick Cavett would have been a MUCH better interviewer.

[@andreaandrea6716]

@@honeybeez4 I found his affection for her rather touching.

[@hayleyanna2625]

Such a magnificent artist and she had a wonderful sense of humor. ❤️

[@lshwadchuck5643]

KZbin showed me this after I'd watched Fran Leibowitz interviewed about Alice Neel. I had read an article many years ago that showed her apartment lined many paintings deep. I had the impression she never sold any. Fran talked about her admiringly as someone who had no success. Alice is happy to regale her audience with ALL her success and recognition!

[@trishtaylor3652]

Alice Neel is one of my favorite artists! A wise and brave woman!

[@MegadoseTheOutsiderArtist]

Oh gosh! The interviewer is terrible! She seems to think she is an intellectual or something! She needed to shut up! Jeez! It was very hard to watch, but i really wanted to hear Alice Neel talk, ya know?

[@audreyoreilly4055]

I've only just discovered Neel in the last few months and am blown away by her. Thankgod for the likes of KZbin that we can get to discover the amazing female artists and creatives whose careers were literally kept from up by the patriarchal structures.

[@denisceballos9745]

Naw, Alice Neel been around for a long time... I remember seeing her work in the 1970’s and 80’s. She was big then, and she did covers for Time Magazine. It’s just that she’s Really Big now because of the show at the Met. You’re right that she’s a terrific artist! 👩‍🎨

[@loriartist]

The interviewer, Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel, helped create the Landmarks Commission after the magnificent Penn Station was torn down in the 1960's, and was (and still is!) a passionate and financial champion of the arts her entire life. At first, I was also put off by her manner, ,so I looked her up. On Wikipedia and beyond. Because of Barbaralee's insightful questions, we get to hear Alice Neel's thoughts on sustaining a life as a painter, her influences, her approach to composition through geometry, how many hours people pose for her, when she does her best work, and more. Thank you Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel for a fantastic interview that is as fresh in 2021 as it was in 1978.

[@kerrycampbell3924]

Thank you for saying this!

[@erik_carter_art]

The interviewer comes across as rude. :\

[@pffortes]

The interviewer is horrible. She comes across so smug. Instead of allowing the far more interesting Alice Neel speak, she talks over her and refuses to shut up.

[@GarryApgar]

When Neel asked if she'd ever read "Candide," Diamonstein-Spielvogel mumbled "I think so," and quickly changed the subject. Imagine the same response if you were asked if you'd ever read "Harry Potter" or the Bible. What an elitist idiot. The quintessential New York intellectual elitist.

[@lshwadchuck5643]

I was fuming, but then she softened up in the second half. I think her style of talking was just TV at that time.

[@shelleylevy1836]

What a disappointing interviewer. Such a dry, dull person. She still couldn't dampen Alice Neel's fabulous personality. I am such a fan of her beautiful portraits.

[@hundredsand]

That presenter is disrespectful & condescending and an insult to such a figure as Neel. Neel stands her ground though.

[@dottiebaker6623]

Alice Neel is delightful! The interviewer was being honest when she said her most prized possession was her own ideas.... she may have been a wonderful advocate of the arts, but is taking herself sooo seriously. The two faces of feminism in the 70's - the interviewer, who cares so much what people think of her, and Alice, who doesn't give a hoot. Wonderful bit of history - so instructive!

[@tracya.schneider7698]

You said exactly what I was thinking!! 😂😂😂

[@leesadexter7187]

The "Diamondstein" gals pretty dry..but I did see her smile a time or 2. I think she likes hearing herself drawl out words to make herself sound like she's not as stupid as she really is

[@gstritter]

For those who criticized Speilvogel, the interviewer, I have two thoughts. First, this interview was not for entertainment purposes (as was Neel’s hilarious interview with Johnny Carson). It was an interview of an artist for other artists/art lovers. It did not concentrate on Neel, the woman, so much as Neel, the artist. Secondly, Speilvogel did a herculean job of covering a lot of material in less than an hour. Clearly, she had to be much more directed in the interview than anyone (including perhaps Speilvogel herself) wanted. Despite that shortcoming, I was so disappointed when the video ended - I could have easily listened for several more hours. I left it feeling more enriched for having listened to this wildly interesting conversation and for having learned more about the amazing Alice Neel. Oh, and if anyone has a link to any of Neel’s slide shows, I would LOVE to see it!

[@kerrycampbell3924]

Thank you for saying this. I think the interviewer is doing a good job. I like her.

[@MM-qn3go]

What a woman and artist!

[@brooklynbabydoll718]

Such a pure spirit, I love her compassion for others and I smile when I imagine how fun she probably was to be around. Im always blown away by how much she remembers the past and the fact that she makes it a point to have her history told accurately makes her a true documentarian in addition to a historian as she mentioned that her art is, and I agree. Will def keep this in mind as I build my own lifes' story as an artist.

[@stevenikitas8170]

She's very funny and perceptive. And her paintings indeed go miles beyond being "portraits"... Portraits, as we know them, are largely illustrations. Alice Neel is an artist.

[@robc941coff8]

Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel is not a good interviewer in this instance. She is pompous, condescending, and appears disinterested the entire time she is speaking to (not with) Alice Neel who is genuinely attempting to have a conversation. Ms. Neel is such a talented artist! I’m actually embarrassed for Barbaralee.

[@asunsol]

I have just discovered Alice and what an extraordinary woman she was! Amazing intelligence and sense of humour and one of the greatest artist in history in my opinion. I can’t understand why I didn’t know of her beforehand.. maybe 🤔 because she is not so famous in Spain, my country? She should be though

[@apronhugsingreeenbay]

Horrible interviewer! Rude to Mrs Neel.

[@leesadexter7187]

Please forgive me ms. diamondstein is very good actually

[@edwardferry8247]

Love the way Alice gently takes apart the pompous interviewer.

[@Sunshine-zm1fx]

It's very satisfying.

[@ElsaRiverosMusic]

Journalist schools should show this video to teach journalist what NOT to do when interviewing anybody. They journalists need to understand that they have to listen, to learn and that they are not the important subject, the stars of the interview. I had to stop watching Barbara Diamond whatever. And Alice Neel you are an amazing artist and amazing woman

[@Sunshine-zm1fx]

The interviewer was really annoying and did not understand the gem she had in Alice Neel. The way she is trying so hard to control the interview is... off-putting.

[@audreydunphy6565]

God love her,the interviewer she lost it in the first five minutes.Hope she went on to have a different career lol😂

[@amimari-keeponwalking]

The interviewer does not seem truly interested in this fascinating woman! The conversation is not natural (except Alice!).

[@xyzllii]

Unlike most below...I think the interviewer does a good job. The two women make a good contrast together.

[@speteydog2260]

Alice Neel’s work is so colorful, and truthful. Thank you for bringing it to light.

[@jackiwannapaint]

an amazing painter and a great influence on me when I started to paint.

[@circlepatch3709]

Jesus Christ! Why can't the interview put her ego away and let Neel talk!

[@Simonjose7258]

Wow! They're doing an exhibition at the Met. A retrospective on Alice Neel. 👏

[@brooklynbabydoll718]

At 9:48 and also at another point during this interview Ms. Neel mentions that Billie Holiday is in the audience and purchased her paintings but I'm confused because Billie Holiday had died in 1959 and this interview was in 1979.

[@MattStaples1]

I heard that too, is she talking about a painting of Billie Holiday? I can't find one online, but I thought the first time she said it was a painting of Holiday, then she switched. They both did live in Harlem around the same time, so they possibly could have met.

[@denisceballos9745]

OK; Alice Neel is referring to the lady who purchased her painting titled “TB in Harlem”, painted in 1940. The collector is Wilhelmina Holladay, perhaps she went by “Billie”. (Google the painting’s title.). I was wondering the same thing. You’re right, the singer/actress had passed away much earlier.

[@andreaandrea6716]

@@denisceballos9745 Great research! THANK YOU!!

[@denisceballos9745]

Great interview; I thought the interviewer asked good questions. Gives you a good insight into that era - the 1970’s in NYC. 👍

[@avoice3390]

Neel is so delightful. Funny and very wise. The interviewer is so unfortunate.

[@EvieVermont]

Alice Neel is/was a very funny woman with a wonderful sense of humor; the interviewer? Not so much😮

[@Sylvia-q5u]

The dryness of the interviewer is a perfect foil to the innocent chuckling humour of Alice Neel and I love the way she steers Alice away from politics.

[@zeldasmith6154]

The interviewer is ignorant. Who is she? What is her experience? She certainly is not qualified to interview the artist.

[@cameronkrause4712]

i think that 2 so different personalities met on this stage is fascinating -it doesn't take anything away from Neel.

[@brentdsmith1]

I agree. In fact, I believe it highlights Neels’s lovely plain speaking qualities. I think that Neel was upset because she wasn’t allowed to show her slides…she constantly refers to the slides.

[@andreaandrea6716]

@@brentdsmith1 I agree! And how silly NOT to have them when the subject IS ART!!

[@19692080]

Wow, how cold the interviewer… So prepared yet not involved

[@keleniengaluafe2600]

Eve is our first WOMAN!Neel the second Woman knowing that freedom!thanks!

[@Simonjose7258]

This looks pretty decent for 78. It's not like they had camcorders. Only professional equipment for TV was available then. Maybe this was filmed for Public Television? (Yup. It was a TV show about Art.)

[@mdebhul1528]

The interviewers comment in relation to souls 'I don't know what you mean"... speaks volumes...they speak two different languages..

[@andreaandrea6716]

Well put.

[@deboramccallum3987]

We knew..and unlike her understand

[@christophermorgan3261]

Agree with all the comments on that pretentious interviewer, although Alice didn't mind, she seems incapable of prejudice. Was pleased but not surprised to discover what a learned mind she had, in literature, philosophy, music, history and politics.

[@lshwadchuck5643]

I think what, I agree, feels pretentious was really just a way of presenting back then, very dated now. Alice was timeless.

[@zjaneg]

This journalist is horrifying!!

[@PortiaI]

It's a crime the hostility the interviewer subjected Alice Neel to in this lengthy interview, startlingly unkind, officious and down right disrespectful. I'm sorry Alice had to endure it.

[@ValeriePantaloneArt]

Did the interviewer do any research on her before? How rude. This woman is probably the best American portrait painters of the 20th Century... A intelligent witty woman and you didn't do your homework? Shame! p.s..She.had access to information back then. They are called libraries and they kept newspapers and magazines articles on files

[@tracya.schneider7698]

BARBARLEE seems very self conscious and not TRULY HEARING Alice Neel.

[@speteydog2260]

Yes the interviewer is smug

[@luc7937]

Love

[@casteretpollux]

Ha, just wrote elsewhere she is possibly the greatest portrait painter ever. Glad to hear she had a similar view herself. And she is also hilarious 😆. Interesting to hear she learned from drawing from casts of classical art and from life drawing. The interviewer does not get the better of her. 😁

[@audreyoreilly4055]

Isn't it wonderful to hear her owning her talent? I'm done with self-deprecation,, even though women have been trained into it!

[@candacejones3352]

I could listen to Alice kneel for days. Love her hat. Love her art.

[@ITcanB]

Diamondstien didn't find the photo in the catalogue Alice was graciously polite, I would have said "Give it to me you incompetent fool I'll find it myself"!

[@deboramccallum3987]

I noticed that she never showed what Alice asked for either. Rude

[@vivienneb6199]

Wow, she is a great artist, and so funny!

[@sharonbell8895]

wonderful discussion

[@JoanBette]

The way she shaded Koch lmao😂

[@johncotner5206]

Michel Auget 's documentary is#1

[@kikeheebchinkjigaboo6631]

Alice meek was smart to put her boys in a private school despite being poor

[@bigbear8645]

❤absolutely love Alice!

[@Cyber_Diva]

Collector of Souls is a horrible title!! Can you please stop collecting, owning and commodifying everything?

[@andreaandrea6716]

Was that the title of this talk?? (If so, someone was reading the comments! It's no longer there). Great comment. I couldn't agree more.

[@Rhezoloution]

People relax and be grateful this interview exists. What did you want her to do play a game like Jimmy Fallon? Dont ruin the interview by overcommenting on the interviewer.

[@andreaandrea6716]

It's because it's so awkward.... and impossible to ignore. It's as if she is trying to corral Alice into some box or some niche and Alice isn't interested. The subtext is so loud. And THAT is why EVERYONE is commenting on it. No one wants a Jimmy Fallon interview. But a MUCH better fit would have been Dick Cavett. One can be grateful (I am) and also awake.