DATE: Sunday, August 3, 1997                TAG: 9708010321

SECTION: CAROLINA COAST          PAGE: 30   EDITION: FINAL 

COLUMN: ART BEAT
SOURCE: MARY ELLEN RIDDLE

                                            LENGTH:   64 lines

EXHIBIT HONORS LIFE AND GENEROSITY OF SOUTHERN SHORES ARTIST

When Dorothy Luedemann died in October at the age of 85, she left a windfall for the local arts community.

Her estate included a one-bedroom home in Southern Shores overflowing with art.

The bulk of her belongings, valued at approximately $500,000, was endowed to the Outer Banks Community Foundation, a local charitable organization that supports worthy community causes.

The stipulation in Luedemann's will was that the assets must be used to enhance the art community.

In honor of Luedemann - and as a preview to a coming auction where her estate will be sold in Greenville in October - an exhibit of select art will hang at the Dare County Arts Council Gallery from Aug. 11 through 22.

Visitors will have an opportunity to witness a slice of the Luedemann art collection that includes a 1955 signed, color wood cut by Seong Moy, several Chagall lithographic posters printed by Mourlot and a complete set of serigraphs: ``Ten Works by 10 Painters.'' This portfolio originally was sold from the estate of Robert Mapplethorpe and includes the work of Andy Warhol, Frank Stella, Robert Motherwell and Roy Lichenstein.

The show also will include examples of Luedemann's art.

A printmaker, painter and sculptor, Luedemann graduated from Swathmore College with a degree in art. She moved to the Outer Banks in the early '70s and is credited starting the first local art show.

Luedemann concentrated primarily on printmaking and is known locally for her maps of the Outer Banks and of North Carolina's historic hot spots. These are meticulously rendered. And several, handcolored by the artist, will be available at the upcoming show.

The works mentioned here are only a tip of the Luedemann iceberg. When members of the Community Foundation, Dare County Arts Council and local arts community entered her home, they were shocked by her pack rat ways.

``I don't think there was anyone who walked into Dorothy's house who didn't gasp from overload,'' said Peggy Birkemeier, executive director of the Community Foundation. ``It was a treasure trove from her past. Approximately 400 pieces were appraised.''

The collection covers a wide range, including art from classical Chinese to contemporary Picasso prints. About eight truckloads of furniture and miscellaneous goods, including vintage clothing and a massive hat collection, already have been donated to local non-profit groups including Hotline and The Theatre of Dare.

A huge collection of art books, many now out of print, will be auctioned along with the rest of the art by Michael Cable in Greenville on Saturday, Sept. 20 at the Pitt County Shrine Building on Evans Street Extension. Preview begins at 8:30 a.m. and the sale starts at 10. Phone bids are accepted. For more information on the auction, call (919) 756-9929.

Proceeds from both events will benefit the Dare County arts community. A field of interest fund will be set up to support visual or performing arts. And a scholarship fund eventually will be available to Dare County High School graduates seeking college level training in the arts.

Birkemeier hopes to make some of the assets available in 1998. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by MARY ELLEN RIDDLE

Peggy Birkemeier and Norm Martinus hold two maps that were created

by the late Dorothy Luedemann. When Luedemann died in October, she

left a home filled with art and her will stipulated that the assets

must be used to enhance the art community.

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