Interview with Nick Cernovitch, 1988-04-21

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Data source:

Research Catalog

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Item data

Title

Interview with Nick Cernovitch, 1988-04-21

Collection

Merce Cunningham Video Archive

Names

Cunningham, Merce (Creator)
Cernovich, Nicola (Interviewee)
Vaughan, David, 1924- (Interviewer)
Caplan, Elliot (Interviewer)
Caplan, Elliot (Photographer)

Date / Origin

Date Created: 1988-04-21
Place: New York City

Library Location

Jerome Robbins Dance Division
Shelf locator: *MGZIDF 5045

Subjects

Cernovich, Nicola
Stage lighting designers
Modern dance

Genres

Interviews

Notes

Content: Title provided by cataloger, based on original container label and research.
Acquisition: Gift; Merce Cunningham Dance Foundation, 2011-2012.

Physical Description

Extent: 1 videocassette (Video8) (32 min) : sound, color ; 8 mm.

Abstract

An interview with Nick Cernovitch, the first lighting designer for the Merce Cunningham Dance Company, as well as on earlier collaborations with Merce Cunningham and John Cage. Cernovitch begins by discussing his early exposure to and collaboration with Cunningham, Cage and Robert Rauschenberg while a student at Black Mountain College in the 1950s. He then speaks about how he became the first lighting designer for the Merce Cunningham Dance Company, and the influence of his studies to that point on the commencement of that work. (6:50) He then discusses his observations regarding the similarities and differences between his work for Cunningham and that done for Alvin Aileys company. (15:40) Following this, he discusses his personal experience of Cage and Cunningham, particularly while traveling with them. (18:15) Cernovitch is then asked about his impression of Cunninghams performance style and movement. (20:03) He then speaks about his responses to Cage's musical pieces and staging suggestions, and the ways in which they did not necessarily dovetail well with his lighting schemas and general design aesthetic. (23:49)

Languages

English

Identifiers

RLIN/OCLC: 950971780
NYPL Catalog ID (bnumber): b20970090
Universal Unique Identifier (UUID): 05f85ef0-2d77-0137-d067-011b3ca5cdd1

Rights

This item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Type Of Resource

Moving Image

Cite this item

MLA format

Jerome Robbins Dance Division, The New York Public Library. "Interview with Nick Cernovitch, 1988-04-21" The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1988. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/05f85ef0-2d77-0137-d067-011b3ca5cdd1

APA format

Jerome Robbins Dance Division, The New York Public Library. (1988). Interview with Nick Cernovitch, 1988-04-21 Retrieved from https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/05f85ef0-2d77-0137-d067-011b3ca5cdd1

Chicago/Turabian Format

Jerome Robbins Dance Division, The New York Public Library. "Interview with Nick Cernovitch, 1988-04-21" New York Public Library Digital Collections. Accessed December 6, 2025. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/05f85ef0-2d77-0137-d067-011b3ca5cdd1

Wikipedia citation

<ref name=NYPL>{{cite web | url=https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/05f85ef0-2d77-0137-d067-011b3ca5cdd1 | title= (moving image) Interview with Nick Cernovitch, 1988-04-21 (1988) | author=Digital Collections, The New York Public Library | accessdate=December 6, 2025 | publisher=The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox, and Tilden Foundations}}</ref>