In Response to: Remembering 185

I greatly enjoyed seeing 185 Nassau featured in the June 5 issue. I took one creative writing class there, which was a wonderful experience. However, that grand old building housed far more than the Creative Writing Program. Visual arts and theater and dance also made 185 Nassau their home, and these programs also deserve recognition. 

As with creative writing, both of these certificate programs nurtured artistically inclined students, taught by leading artists. In my year alone (1984), visual arts graduated eight students, including internationally renowned talents such as Mary Weatherford, Dave Maisel, and Accra Shepp. Our instructors included Emmet Gowin, Sean Scully, and Jim Seawright, among many others. Many nondepartmental Tigers also enriched their creativity and appreciation for the arts through these programs.

In short, 185 Nassau was — and remains — a unique haven for the creative arts at Princeton, even if it is a bit off the beaten path. Please consider a more in-depth feature on this underappreciated treasure for a future issue.

Joel Deitch ’84
Atlanta, Ga.