Mary Nohl

We're in the process of updating our website! Learn more about what that means and how you can help create history..

A Lifetime in Art

Barbara Manger and Janine Smith

Meet a uniquely creative artist and the remarkable home she decorated to display her talents in this insightful biography for young readers.

136 pages, 7 x 9, 85 color and b&w photos and illustrations
Paperback: $12.95 | ISBN: 978-0-87020-577-4
Ebook: $9.99 | ISBN: 978-0-87020-585-9
Publication Date: 2/25/2013

Reading Level: Ages 10–14, Grades 5–8

BUY

-

Description

Mary Nohl was born to create. From the time she was young, she enjoyed making things, from the model airplane that won her a city-wide prize to assignments in shop class, where she learned to work with tools. She explored many ways of creating art, including pottery, silver jewelry, oil paintings, concrete sculptures, and more. Many of her pieces were made from found objects that other people might think of as junk—chicken bones, bedsprings, and sand that she made into concrete. Mary Nohl: A Lifetime in Art tells the story of this creative Milwaukee-born artist and the legacy she left behind.

Located on the shores of Lake Michigan, Mary's cottage was decorated with bright colors and eye-catching figures in driftwood and glass. Fish and boats dangled from mobiles. Her telephone was painted in swirls of red. Even her bathtub had a woman painted into it. Outside, Mary created a world of whimsical figures in concrete. Massive heads, dinosaurs, mermaids, and men with bowler hats filled every corner of her yard. During her later years, her home became known as “the Witch’s House”—a place of local legend known far and wide. Her home is now a National Historic Site, and her art is held in numerous museums.

Author Bios

Barbara Manger

Barbara Manger is an artist and the founder of Artists Working in Education, a Milwaukee-based non-profit organization that provides art experiences for at-risk children.