Sol LeWitt's 1965 'Do' Letter to Eva Hesse Preceded Nike's 'Just Do It' by Decades
So, back on April 14, 1965, Sol LeWitt, who was a conceptual artist, wrote a really encouraging five-page letter to his friend Eva Hesse, a sculptor. At that point, she was dealing with some serious self-doubt and hitting a creative wall. Their friendship, which began in 1960, was documented through their letters until Hesse sadly passed away from a brain tumor in 1970. This touching letter later made its way into a book called 'Letters of Note' in 2014, highlighting its inspirational message about staying resilient in art. Hesse, known for her innovative work in Post-Minimalism, often faced challenges in the male-dominated art world of the 1960s, using unique materials like fiberglass and latex. The LeWitt Collection now holds this important letter.
Key facts
- Sol LeWitt wrote a five-page letter to Eva Hesse on April 14, 1965.
- The letter was written to motivate Hesse during a period of self-doubt and artistic block.
- LeWitt (1928-2007) was a Conceptual Minimalist; Hesse (1936-1970) was a German-born American Post-Minimalist sculptor.
- Their friendship lasted from 1960 until Hesse's death from a brain tumor in 1970.
- The letter was included in the 2014 anthology 'Letters of Note'.
- Hesse's sculpture used organic materials like fiberglass, cheesecloth, and latex.
- The letter is held by The LeWitt Collection.
- The letter predates Nike's 'Just Do It' slogan, which debuted in 1988.
Entities
Artists
- Sol LeWitt
- Eva Hesse
- Kallie Cassidy
- Virginia Woolf
- Hunter S. Thompson
- F. Scott Fitzgerald
- E.B. White
- Kirk Varnedoe
- Elizabeth Buhe
- Liam Otero
Institutions
- The LeWitt Collection
- Museum of Modern Art
- Fordham University
- Brooklyn College
- Art & Ponder
- Nike
Locations
- United States
- Germany