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30-515: From 1954 to 1962, the villa in Longpont-sur-Orge owned by William and Noma Copley served as a social hub and a central gathering place in the postwar era for a community of Surrealists to reunite after their dispersal during the war. Among the artists who frequented the villa located at 27, rue du Docteur Darier were Man Ray , Henri Matisse , Marcel Duchamp , Roland Penrose , Lee Miller , and British architect Maxwell Fry . Brico Dépôt ,

60-508: A Belgian diamond merchant she met in New York City. The couple relocated to his native Belgium, returning to the U.S. in 1939, as Europe was on the verge of war. Following their divorce in 1941, she joined the U.S. Office of War Information (OWI), taking advantage of her fluency in both Flemish and French to work as a translator during the War. At its conclusion, she was commissioned to produce

90-421: A divorce with his second wife, Noma, Copley and new friend Dmitri Petrov decided to publish portfolios of 20th-century artist collaborations with the abbreviation SMS (for "Shit Must Stop") . Copley's Upper West Side loft became a meeting place for performers, artists, curators, and composers to work together on the open-ended collective. The SMS portfolio contained six volumes, each of which were shipped out from

120-501: A film directed by Henri Cartier-Bresson called Le Retour , a documentary about the repatriation of French prisoners of war and deportees from Germany after the war. Rathner (now going by the first name Noma) moved to Los Angeles after the war. There she met and became involved with the American avant-garde composer, George Antheil , who dedicated his Symphony No. 5 'Joyous' (1947–48) to her. Through her relationship with Antheil, she met

150-633: A highly individualistic spirit." Copley’s frequent collaborators were Jean Stark and painter/goldsmith/framemaker Robert Kulicke . David Mamet , Nancy and Carroll O'Connor , and members of the Rothschild family were among those who commissioned singular pieces from her. In 1986,Copley met Flory Barnett, founder and ex-director of Lower Manhattan Cultural Council. They became partners, sharing an apartment together on Central Park West in Manhattan until Copley’s death in 2006. She died on February 23, 2006, at

180-580: A magnet for members of the Parisian interwar avant-garde who had dispersed during the war. Here they hosted many Surrealist artists and writers. Among the visitors who frequented gatherings at the villa were Man Ray and his wife Juliet, Marcel Duchamp , the American photographer Lee Miller and her husband, the British Surrealist Roland Penrose , and notable collectors of Surrealist art Melvin and Rosalind Gersten Jacobs . During this period,

210-606: A non-profit organization dedicated to fostering the creative arts. According to a 1975 article in New York Magazine , she "emerged from the Paris world of surrealist painters five years ago to become one of New York's most original jewelry designers." Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota , on July 31, 1916, Norma Rathner was the only child of Russian immigrants Bess (nee Waxman) and Harry Rathner. On June 5, 1936, she married Abraham Elkon,

240-542: A series of monographs and artists' books. The couple sold their Longpont home in 1962 and moved to Manhattan. Under Noma Copley's tutelage, Marcia Tucker became the curator and manager of the couple’s collection from 1964 to 1966, which proved to be a springboard for Tucker's curatorial career. In 1966, the Copleys renamed their foundation the Cassandra Foundation. When the couple divorced in 1968, they decided to keep

270-402: A stroke he had suffered three weeks earlier. Mr. Copley's first five marriages ended in divorce. He had a son and two daughters. His daughter, Claire S. Copley, founded the short-lived, but influential Claire Copley Gallery , which exhibited important works by Michael Asher and Bas Jan Ader . Noma Copley Noma Copley (born Norma Rathner , July 31, 1916 – February 22, 2006)

300-604: A subsidiary of Kingfisher plc , has its head office in Longpont-sur-Orge. Inhabitants of Longpont-sur-Orge are known as Longipontains in French. The commune has the following primary school groups, or Groups of preschools ( maternelles ) and elementary schools: Groupe scolaire de Lormoy, Groupe scolaire des Échassons, Groupe scolaire Jean Ferrat (primary only). Two nearby secondary schools, Collège Jean Moulin (junior high school) and Lycée Léonard de Vinci are in nearby Saint-Michel-sur-Orge . This Essonne geographical article

330-467: A uniquely American style. Man Ray introduced him to Noma Rathner , whom he married in 1954. Man Ray took numerous portraits of the Copleys and served as best man at their wedding in Paris. Their home in Longpont-sur-Orge in the outskirts of Paris became a central gathering place in the postwar era for a community of Surrealists to reunite after their dispersal during the war. The Copleys developed

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360-461: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . William Copley (artist) William N. Copley (January 24, 1919 – May 7, 1996) also known as CPLY , was an American painter, writer, gallerist, collector, patron, publisher and art entrepreneur. His works as an artist have been classified as late Surrealist and precursory to Pop Art. Copley was born in New York City in 1919 to parents John and Flora Lodwell; they died shortly after in

390-506: Is still on view. From the time of the Copley Galleries until his death, Copley amassed a large collection of artworks with an emphasis on Surrealist works. The basis of his collection started when he began purchasing works that did not sell at the Copley Galleries. From there, he amassed monumental works including Man Ray 's "A l'Heure de l'Observatoire – Les Amoureux." Copley's collection was sold at auction in 1979 for $ 6.7 million, at

420-571: The 1919 Spanish Flu epidemic. Copley was adopted in 1921 by Ira C. Copley , the owner of sixteen newspaper companies in Chicago and San Diego. Ira C. Copley remarried after the death of his wife, Edith, several years after the adoption took place. The three lived in Aurora, Illinois, until Copley was ten years old whereby the family moved to Coronado Island, California . Copley was sent to Phillips Andover and then Yale University by his adopted parents. He

450-755: The 1950s and 60s dealt with ironic and humorous images of stereotypical American symbols like the Western saloon , cowboys, and pin-up girls combined with flags. His works during this period were often considered a combination of American and Mexican folk art and melded in well with the new young POP movement occurring in America when he returned to New York in the 1960s. Artists like Andy Warhol, Christo, Roy Lichtenstein and many others were frequent visitors at Copley's studio on Lower Broadway. Copley believed that pop art had always interested him, claiming American pop art had much to do with "self-disgust" and "satire." In 1967, after

480-599: The American artist Man Ray , who photographed her several times, the first being in 1949. While in Hollywood she worked for the producer Albert Lewin , and subsequently for Walt Disney . On March 23, 1951, she moved from Los Angeles to Paris. Man Ray, who had recently relocated from Hollywood to Paris, introduced her to the artist and art patron William Copley whom she married on December 31, 1953. Man Ray served as best man at their wedding. The Copleys acquired an estate in Longpont-sur-Orge , outside of Paris, which became

510-572: The Surrealist scene as other locations such as New York City had done, and the Copley Galleries faced hardships in gaining popularity and sales. Copley painted part-time during the gallery's running from the encouragement of friends Duchamp and Ernst and worked on painting full-time when the gallery closed after its first year. Copley moved to Paris in 1949–50, leaving behind his wife and two children to continue to paint. During his time in Paris, he remained in Surrealist circles and continued to paint with

540-657: The William and Noma Copley Foundation, dedicated to helping emerging artists and composers through grants. His focus was on artists, hers on composers. Leading members of the international avant-garde and art world were among the board members and advisors. The foundation gave grants to such emerging composers as John Cage and Benjamin Lees , and artists Joseph Cornell , Vija Celmins , Joseph Kosuth , Dieter Roth , Carolee Schneeman , Bruce Naumann , Christo , and Pop art pioneers Eduardo Paolozzi and Richard Hamilton . It also published

570-619: The William and Noma Copley Foundation, later known as the Cassandra Collection, in 1953 with the funds from his father's inheritance. The board, in which Marcel Duchamp was also an adviser, gave small grants to artists and musicians. Upon Duchamp's death in 1968, the William and Noma Copley Foundation (later the Cassandra Foundation) gave Marcel Duchamp's last work, " Etant Donnés " to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where it

600-574: The age of 89. Copley's iconic pencil bracelet is in the collections of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the Yale University Art Gallery, and reproduced in the book Jewelry by Artists: In the Studio, 1940–2000 . Her ivory soap ring is in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and several of her pieces were on display in the 2011 exhibition "Picasso to Koons: Artist as Jeweler" at

630-830: The artists behind the works, and grasping Surrealist ideas. It was during this time that Copley and Ployardt decided to open a gallery in Los Angeles to exhibit Surrealist works. Copley and Ployardt tracked down Man Ray while living in Los Angeles. Ray then introduced them to Marcel Duchamp in New York City. There, Duchamp opened many doors for them, introducing the two to New York dealers in Surrealism. In 1948, Copley and Ployardt opened The Copley Galleries in Beverly Hills, displaying works by artists including René Magritte , Max Ernst , Yves Tanguy , Roberto Matta , Joseph Cornell , and Man Ray . However, Los Angeles had not yet caught on to

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660-605: The artists to subscribers. The works included came from artists both well-renowned and obscure, including Marcel Duchamp , Roy Lichtenstein , Man Ray , Christo , Richard Hamilton , Claes Oldenburg , John Cage , Terry Riley , La Monte Young , Dick Higgins , Ronnie Landfield , Bruce Nauman , Meret Oppenheim , Neil Jenney , Yoko Ono and others. Copley's works in the 1970s focused on his own understating of differences and challenges between men and women in romantic and sexual relationships. His works were now erotic, even pornographic. In 1974 he exhibited these new works at what

690-506: The collection intact under William Copley's stewardship. The Sotheby Parke Bernet auction of the Copley collection in New York on November 5–6, 1979 set records for many of the artists in the sale. After her divorce, Copley studied goldsmithing, and began a 25-year career as a fine arts jeweler hailed as starting a "whole new movement in 'pop' art jewelry." Characterized as “a surrealist for whom

720-403: The couple expanded their collection, building upon works Bill had acquired in the course of running the Copley Galleries in Hollywood in 1947–48. The collection included iconic works by such 20th-century masters as Man Ray, Duchamp, Giorgio de Chirico , Hans Arp , René Magritte , Max Ernst , and Yves Tanguy . Copley died on February 22, 2006, in New York City. In 1954, the couple launched

750-499: The displacement of the object is most important,” she was best known for works that represented ordinary objects such as zippers, buttons and pins and pencils that she cast in gold, as well incorporating the ancient art of granulation into contemporary works. A review of her work in the Los Angeles Times described her “Pop-surreal” jewelry as consisting of “beautifully wrought objects that reflect not only wit and sophistication but

780-624: The time the highest total for the auction of a single owner's collection in the United States. Copley's first exhibition took place in Los Angeles in 1951 at Royer's Book Shop. From there Copley participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions worldwide. In 1961, Copley was given an exhibition in Amsterdam by the Stedelijk Museum. The museum became the first public institution to add a Copley to their collection. Copley's paintings throughout

810-501: The work was then well received. In conjunction with the New York Cultural Center Show, there was a special "CPLY X-Rated Poster and Catalog. Copley moved to Roxbury, Connecticut in 1980, where he built a studio and spent time among friends. In 1992 he moved full-time to Key West, Florida, due to health issues and lived with his sixth and final wife, Cynthia Gooch. He died on May 7, 1996, at age 77 from complications from

840-408: Was an American fine arts jeweler and art collector noted for her contributions to Surrealist practices and activities. From 1953 through 1968, she was married to William Copley and, with him, helped to acquire one of the largest collections of Surrealist paintings and sculpture in America. In 1954, they established the William and Noma Copley Foundation (subsequently renamed the Cassandra Foundation),

870-733: Was drafted in the Second World War in the middle of his education at Yale, a decision negotiated by the school and the army. Copley experimented with politics upon returning home from the war, working as a reporter for his father's newspaper. By 1946, Copley met and married Marjorie Doris Wead, the daughter of a test pilot for the Navy. Doris's sister was married to John Ployardt, a Canadian-born animator and narrator at Walt Disney Studios. Copley and Ployardt soon became friends and Ployardt began introducing Copley to painting and Surrealism . The two traveled to Mexico and New York, discovering art, meeting

900-663: Was then the New York Cultural Center in Columbus Circle, New York in a show titled "CPLY X-Rated." These pieces were a sudden change from his previous romantic whimsical periods. The American public had difficulty with the material, for which Copley expressed, "Americans... don't know the difference between eroticism and pornography. Because eroticism has always existed in art. And pornography has never necessarily been in art." Copley's experienced greater feedback in Europe, where

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