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Carl Gustaf Nelson

 
Carl Gustaf Nelson

(Hörby, Sweden, 1/5/1898 - 8/6/1988, Oakland Grove, Illinois)

From the Website (http://www.cranberryisles.com/photos/carl_nelson.html) 11/14/07: Obituary From The Bar Harbor Times, 18 August 1988 Cranberry Isles lose painter Carl G. Nelson The Times would like to thank Charles Wadsworth, a Cranberry Island resident and publisher of the Tidal Press who has known Carl Nelson for 50 years, for writing this article. Carl G. Nelson, born in Sweden in 1898, came to the United States when he was five-years-old.  A part-time resident of Cranberry Isles for 21-years and a full-time resident for 19-years following his retirement from teaching in Boston, he died Aug. 6, 1988 at the age of 91.  Death followed a brief illness at a hospital near the residence of his niece Elaine Madsen of Oakland Grove, Illinois, who had provided him with loving care during his last years when he had become both blind and deaf. Nelson, during his long professional life, was both a well-known painter and a respected teacher.  His students at The Sioux City Society of Fine Arts in Sioux City, Iowa; The American Peoples School in New York City; The Cambridge School of Design in Cambridge, Massachusetts; The Boris Mirski Gallery in Boston, Mass.; The Cummington School of the Arts in Cummington, Mass.; and the YWCA Workshops in Boston, Mass., were legion.  In spite of a very heavy teaching schedule, he was also a prolific artist who worked in a variety of mediums which included oils, caseins, pen and ink and linoleum cuts.  A collection of his linoleum cuts called The Prince of Peace, was published by The Tidal Press of Cranberry Island in 1979. In the course of his career he was invited to appear in a number of distinguished group shows such as The Carnegie International; The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts; The Whitney Museum Biennial; The Boston Arts Festival and the Worcester Museum among others.  A partial listing of his work in the collections of a variety of museums includes The Worcester Museum, The Addison Gallery of American Art; The University of Maine and The Portland Museum of Art.  His work is in many private collections.  In his latter years he had a long and fruitful association with Fred and Clarice Fox who ran The Schoolhouse Gallery in Sanibel, Florida.  He was productive to the end, producing work into his 80s. But a listing of official honors does not include Mr. Nelson's prowess as a host and chef.  The many whom he invited to sumptuous dinners can testify to that prowess.  Nor does it include his passion for gardening, in particular for the care and nurture of every sort of flower which could be induced to bloom on Cranberry Island and provide constant subject matter for his paintings.  And mention should be made of the discreet flamboyance of his wardrobe which was often as colorful as his garden flowers and of his generosity in distributing the largesse from his vegetable patch. Although he has gone, the memory of his life is certain to be a permanent part of the lore and legend of Cranberry Island.  A memorial service will be held in the church on Cranberry Island at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 28.

1 objects

Red Sailboat, Cranberry Island

n.d.
gouache on paper
Gift of Judith Keenan
2007.22.32