Gail Levin & Dewald Aukema NYC 2006 © george s.zimbel
When I checked my email and found an invitation to a memorial service for Gail Levin I realized she was gone and immediately started to cry.
At 84 I have seen many of my colleagues leave this earth, but they don’t all bring tears… mostly they bring sadness. With Gail it was different and I have been trying to figure out why. We all knew she was smart. A visit to her apartment meant you had to wade through books..books everywhere..books in the living room..books in the kitchen..books books. But the books didn’t corrupt her warmth and humanity..they just meant that in any situation she could bring intelligence as well as warmth. But all this was mixed in with an energy that was always there.
When we returned to 52nd & Lexington Ave, the site of the blossoming white dress, to shoot a segment for Marilyn “Still Life” I became frustrated because I couldn’t relate that scene with what was in my pictures. The subway grate was the only visual anchor. I felt very confused. I said this to her and she said to me: ” Don’t worry, it’s great, we have that all on tape.”
WNET/Thirteen will rebroadcast American Masters: Marilyn Monroe: Still Life October 8th, 8-9PM
Directed by Gail Levin