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his letter, quirkily dated in the format "26-V-'73" covers several art-related topics in two pages. Indiana opens, "Andy - Thanks for your invitation to the opening of your new gallery - it is beautiful & the first exhibition really memorable," before commenting on some of his own work, and that of his friend and fellow artist, Lowell Nesbitt, which he thought would have fit the exhibition well but hadn't been included: "Just sorry that I forgot about my stained wood torsos of the late 50's when Ron asked in Washington at Nesbitt's Corcoran opening. But then curious that you did not see that my wood steles with the peckers did not qualify. Let's say that the show didn't need them. I brought one of Lowell's "Torsos" to the opening & he was very dejected that he wasn't included too (Larry)." Larry is most likely Larry Rivers, another friend and artist, who must have reported Nesbitt's reaction to Indiana. Indiana then continues, cryptically, "Nicest {torso of all/torque/turn was running into Warren (Green Shirt) again after a long time no-see," before drawing the letter to a polite and friendly close: "So thanks for many things. Sending you a thank-you / reminder for your artist childhood drawing show!)" Indiana signs off, in all lower-case cursive "- bob," then leaves a post-script which surely made sense to Crispo but is a mystery to today's reader: "P.S. - still sorry." Written in black ink in Indiana's distinctive penmanship, on two sheets of his stationery (recto only), with deckled edges at the top and bottom of each sheet. Each sheet measures approximately 10.25" x 7.25" The first sheet is embossed at the top with a 'seal' that has Indiana's stylized numeral 2 in the center, with the words Robert Indiana, Spring, 1966, and New York, around the circumference. Indiana's longest-held address in New York was at 2 Spring Street, on the Bowery. Robert Indiana (1928-2018) was an American painter and sculptor, who worked with a variety of media. By far his best-known piece is "Love," the L and O letters stacked over the V and E, with the O tilted to the right, which has taken many forms over the years - from its origin as a 1964 Christmas card sent by Indiana, to large scale, three dimensional sculptures. Andrew Crispo (1945-) was a successful American art dealer, who opened his gallery in New York City in 1973. He is perhaps best known these days for the mulitple crimes and scandals he was associated with, however - most notably the "S&M/death mask murder" of a young man in 1985. Lowell Nesbitt (1933-1993) was also a well-known American artist who worked in several different forms and media. He started his career in the abstract style, but after a change to realism - advice generally credited to Robert Indiana - Lowell is best remembered for his series of floral paintings. Condition: Fine condition, and would be incredibly easy to display.
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