Rudi Stern

Rudolph George Stern (November 30, 1936 – August 15, 2006) was an American multimedia artist most widely known for his work in neon. In his later years, he concentrated on making documentary films.[1]

Rudi Stern
Born
Rudolph George Stern

(1936-11-30)November 30, 1936
New Haven, Connecticut[1]
DiedAugust 15, 2006(2006-08-15) (aged 69)
Cadiz, Spain[1]
NationalityAmerican
Known forMultimedia artist
Spouse(s)
    Moira North
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1980; div. 1988)​
    [2]
      Raffaella Trivi
      ​
      ​
      (m. 2004⁠–⁠2006)​
      [2]

      Biography

      Stern was born in New Haven, Connecticut. He graduated from Bard College in 1958 with a bachelor's degree in studio arts and from University of Iowa in 1960 with a master's degree.[1][2] He also studied painting with Oskar Kokoschka and Hans Hofmann.[1][3]

      In the mid-1960s he moved to New York City, where he met the poet and artist Jackie Cassen. They collaborated on multimedia installations of kinetic art, including the "Psychedelic Celebration Number One" for LSD advocate Timothy Leary,[3] and installations at the Electric Circus nightclub.[1]

      In 1972, he founded Let There Be Neon,[2] a studio and gallery in New York.[1] He designed and produced neon pieces for the Broadway show, Kiss of the Spider Woman,[4] and other art and music performances, as well as commercial signs.[1]

      Together with Katharine Kean, he directed the 1992 documentary Haití: Killing the Dream, starring Jean-Bertrand Aristide.[5]

      Between 1999 and 2001, his multimedia installation "Theater of Light" was shown at multiple locations in New York and New Jersey. The installation involved several screens, more than 30 projectors and "surrounded audience members with densely layered, constantly changing images, intricately choreographed to music."[1]

      Stern died in 2006 at his home in Cadiz, Spain, from complications of lung cancer.[1] He was married twice, to Moira North and then to Raffaella Trivi. He had two daughters: Stella (with Trivi) and Lumiere (by an earlier relationship).[1]

      Publications
      • di Lemme, Philip (1984). American Streamline: Handbook of Neon Advertising Design. Introduction by Rudi Stern. Van Nostrand Reinhold Company. ISBN 978-0-442-28104-5.
      • Stern, Rudi (1979). Let There Be Neon. Harry N Abrams. ISBN 978-0-8109-1255-7.
      • Stern, Rudi (1990). Contemporary Neon. Visual Reference Publications Inc. ISBN 978-0-934590-37-2.

      See also

      References
      1. Fox, Margalit (August 18, 2006). "Rudi Stern, Artist Whose Medium Was Light, Dies at 69". The New York Times. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
      2. "Rudi Stern Memorial Page". Let There Be Neon. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
      3. Gigliotti, Davidson (December 1999). "The Early Video Project: Interview with Rudi Stern, Parts One and Two". davidsonfiles.org. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
      4. "Rudi Stern, 69; Artist Was Known for His Work With Neon". Los Angeles Times. August 21, 2006. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
      5. "Haití: Killing the Dream". IMDb. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
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