Video interviews with 20th century cultural icons Louise Nevelson, Oscar de la Renta, Avery Fisher, Romare Bearden and Marian McPartland, among others, are now available from the Duke University Libraries on iTunesU and YouTube.

These and more than 100 other interviews with leading artists, musicians, architects, designers, photographers, directors, actors, writers and art collectors from the 1970s through the 1990s were conducted by arts commentator Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel.

In informal conversations with Diamonstein-Spielvogel, the interviewees discuss their influences and philosophies, the development of their careers, and their work. For example, designer Mary McFadden talks about her journey from her family's Tennessee cotton farm to the world of fashion, and the New Yorker's Brendan Gill argues against old critics judging the work of young playwrights.

The interviews, preserved in the Diamonstein-Spielvogel Video Archive, can be found online at http://library.duke.edu/digitalcollections/dsva/.

"The Diamonstein-Spielvogel Archive is a treasure trove for anyone interested in the arts, design, and architecture," said Scott Lindroth, vice provost for the arts and professor of music at Duke. "Hearing Chuck Close, Frank Gehry and others speak about their work in early stages of their careers is fascinating given their subsequent development, and now that the archive is available online we can all draw inspiration from their insights."

Diamonstein-Spielvogel conceived, produced and directed the interviews, most about 30 minutes in length, for seven series that were originally broadcast on network and cable television. She donated the tapes to Duke Libraries, and also gave copies to the Library of Congress.