“When I fell in love with black, it contained all color. It wasn’t a negation of color, it was an acceptance. Because black encompasses all colors. Black is the most aristocratic color of all, the only aristocratic color. For me this is the ultimate. You can be quiet and it contains the whole thing. There is no color that will give you the feeling of totality. Of peace. Of greatness. Of quietness. Of excitement. I have seen things that were transformed into black that took on greatness. I don't want to use a lesser word. Now, if it does that for things I've handled, that means the essence of it is what you call alchemy."
-- Louise Berliawsky Nevelson (who spray-painted her walls black no matter where she lived for roughly thirty years)