Sadly,
Charlene Westling passed away during the creation of this page.
Please scroll down for a bouquet of warm remembrances. ~ed.
note
Being
creative doesn't require being original. Remember that only
God creates 'out of nothing.' Creativity, rather, is the new
arrangement of old stuff. If I have a philosophy, it must be
that music is essential - kindness and beauty last forever -
and perseverance can accomplish miracles.
~Charlene Westling
Born in Kansas in 1923, Westling always made the most of life's
opportunities. It wasn't usual for a woman to attend college
in the l940's. She studied art and music at a University in
Pittsburg, Kansas and Louisville, Kentucky. During World War
II, she became the first woman radio operator for Delta Airlines,
later traveling to various jobs with different airlines. However,
as Dorothy of Oz, she found home on the prairies of Kansas best,
married, raised two sons and a daughter. Her busy life as wife
and mother included music she cherished since childhood and
studied at college. She became a violinist with the Topeka Symphony.
There was a "hodge-podge" of arts and crafts for her
children and tole painting and watercolors for herself, never
the slightest indication that dolls would one day become a central
part of her life.
 |
| Grace
- Circa 1995, one of a kind: 13" seated. Grace is made
of super- sculpey and has an angora goat-hair wig. He holds
her glasses in one hand, fingering her pearls with the other.
She has paused in her reading to reflect on past pleasures.
She wears a gown and robe of white cotton trimmed in lace. |
NIADA
Patron Betty Hodges: "Charlene comes from a doll making
family who are delightful, unfailingly polite, cheerful and
endearing.” Westling and her sisters, Virginia Studyvin
and Alice Swisher became captivated with dolls, took reproduction
classes, joined local clubs and began attending dolls shows
in l982. In 1983, the sisters collaborated on an original Santa
Claus doll winning a blue ribbon at a UFDC Regional. Westling
sculpted, creating head and limbs based on photographs of their
father poured in porcelain. Alice designed and crafted accouterments.
Virginia designed and crafted the body and the costume. The
Williams sisters became part of an extended circle of doll artists
and enthusiasts in Kansas, which then included nieces, Kathryn
Kluhsman, and her sister Nellie Lamers, ODACA Members, NIADA
colleague Elizabeth Brandon and Patron Hodges. Regretfully Kluhsman
died a few years ago.
It
is remarkable that Westling didn't begin making dolls until
she was almost 60. She became a member of NIADA in 1991 at the
age of 68 finding that coming to dolls late in life empowering.
“I often imagined my mother and grandmother at my age.
They were just sitting at home and seemed so old. So much more
is available to women today! "I was never a collector or
doll lover," she said, "but I could always sew, draw
and paint. Age is no barrier to accomplishment.”
For
the most part Westling created children revealing her deep affinity
for them. Her inspiration and remarkable perception came from
the many small folks she enthusiastically worked with as a community
volunteer in her hometown at the “The Topeka Latch Key
Program” and “Library Reading Programs.” She
also worked as a para-professional with learning disabled and
PSA (personal social adjustment) children in the Topeka school
district. "The joy and excitement as these children 'create'
is inspiring," said Westling, “supporting my conviction
that art in any form is a vital force in our lives. These children
did good art and even had their own exhibit at the Mulvane Art
Museum in Topeka, Kansas."
 |
| Ben
- Circa 1994, an edition of 3: A 15" black boy carrying
a ball bat. The entire figure is fabric over composition.
He has a black mohair wig. |
Westling
found working with porcelain hazardous to her health. After
studying the dolls of Käthe Kruse and Martha Chase, she
experimented finding aspects of mask construction much to her
liking. The warmth and flexibility of cloth appealed to her.
She used oils incorporating skills and knowledge of color learned
as an art major. An unlucky accident, breaking her wrist, cancelled
her career as a violinist, but introduced her to the rudiments
of the methodology she began using. The doctor's technique of
applying her cast seemed applicable to doll making. With a bag
of scraps of plaster and gauze from the casting procedure she
proceeded to experiment.
"In
my efforts to push on I found “E” is the key letter
-- Experiments, Exasperation, Expendable and Embryo (current
state of ideas.)" she stated in the 1993 NIADA Journal.
After trial and error she found that she could press these materials
into a mold and have something very light weight. "My goal
for each doll I create is to record some of a child's spontaneity,
their moments of vulnerability; to imply by the image I paint
and the posturing of the body that he or she is in the midst
of an action of thought or movement.” wrote Westling in
The Art of the Doll published by NIADA in l992. (Still available
through the NIADA Website).
Mornings,
Westling proceeded to her studio, a converted old pigeon loft
with big sky lights separating herself from the telephone and
surrounded herself with the melodies of her favorites, Brahms,
Mozart, and Mahler. "I must have music!" It is like
the air, or the sun. It is the flowing in the background of
mind and shutting out all extraneous thoughts. It helped me
move over to the right side of my brain.
 |
| The
Patriarch - Circa 1995, one of a kind: 14", seated;
the patriarch is made of super sculpey and has an angora
goat-hair beard and wig. He wears a natural cotton robe
and crude leather sandals. Part of a stone wall offers a
resting spot for a few moments meditation. |
Westling has enjoyed profound admiration from fellow NIADA artists,
patrons and collectors.
Elizabeth
Brandon: "Charlene's dolls are the very picture of enchantment
and delight, small children finely modeled and artfully painted
with that spark of life in their eyes. Collectors adore them.
But it is Charlene herself that I treasure. She's modeled by
the Master Artist, who has already accomplished an inner core
of glowing steel, radiating strength, compassion and a delicious
wry humor over the experiences of life."
NIADA
Patron Barbara Steiker: I especially love the sweet expressions
of the faces. They reflect the nature of the artist herself.
She is a gentle person, this aspect being reflected in her dolls,
which are winsome, sweet and charming."
Patron
Hodges: "Westling's dolls have a great appeal to the doll
collecting public because they are fresh and innocent. She puts
a great deal of work into her creations. There is no monumental
ego at work here. She made dolls with a clear, direct expression
and was very exacting in her painting and needlework."
"Creating
a work of art is hard work," affirmed her most avid fans,
her sisters. "Talent is a gift that demands to be used
and Charlene responded to that demand striving constantly to
make each new character better than the last. Charlene's dolls
express, so well her love of and joy in the innocent wide-eyed
wonder of children and the serene and confident wisdom of maturity.
She looked at people with love-colored glasses seeing beauty
in the dimpled hands of children, the worn, well used hands
of age and the various wonderful colors God has used to paint
his people. Her dolls seem to whisper a secret to your heart
capturing your imagination and involving you emotionally in
a joyous way.
 |
| Lady
Ann - Circa 1993, one of a kind: 18 1/2", fabric over
composition head arms and feet. She has a cotton stuffed
body over wire armature and wool roving hair. Her gown is
a silk/wool blend fabric over a lace and gauze underskirt.
She wears kid leather high-button shoes. |
Westling's
dolls have won innumerable awards and have been featured in
many exhibits. Perplexed Princess, was featured in "A Celebration
of The Doll -- The Figure In Cloth" which traveled the
United States during 1994 and 1995. Curator, Beverly Dodge Radefeld:
"Charlene Westling is one of the most talented, sharing
artists I have ever met. Her quiet demeanor instantly makes
you feel very comfortable. Her work brings that same warm feeling
that you get talking to her. Her dolls are absolutely exquisite
in their presentation, and the workmanship is perfect. She uses
techniques that are both established and her own innovative
ideas to get the effect she desires. I love her dolls!!"
Her
dolls are in collections in 16 states and five foreign countries
-- The Netherlands, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, Canada
and England. She promoted the art of the doll diligently. She
was the guiding force behind the exhibit "A Cast of Characters"
presented by the Mulvane Art Museum in Topeka in 1993. Her dolls
have been featured at The Springfield Historical Museum in Eugene,
Oregon, in the series "Dolls for the 21st Century"
showcasing dolls by contemporary artists in the United States
and England. She was featured in the book, The Doll, by Contemporary
Artists (Abbeyville Press) by Krystyna Poray Goddu and Wendy
Lavitt. She is also featured in the video “the doll, A
Documentary" produced by Lee Hubbard Crowe and Mel Metcalfe
III.
 |
Keturah
and Shua c. 1996: fabric over composition
Named for Abrahams's second wife and one of their six sons.
The piece is 19" tall. Using fabric over composition,
a wire skeleton body covered with batting and cloth. They
are then painted as dimensional oil portraits. |
One
of her most notable works is Keturah and Shua – an adult
figure holding a small child. Westling: “Keturah's posture
reveals the nurturing love she has for her child. Emotion transferred
by the figure to the view is the goal I seek. She further quotes
Edith Pargenter: "Line, form, proportion -- these are the
body of beauty" This piece created much excitement at the
l996 NIADA Gallery when it was presented. In 1994, using Super
Sculpey she began to create older people finding strong appeal
in the faces of senior citizens whose lines reveal their character.
The same generous heart and spirit of Westling is evident in
these later figures.
"Creating
dolls made a profound change in my life," said Westling
acknowledging that she never had a deep reason for creating
dolls. "Maybe it will be comforting for some to know that
you can make dolls just because it is fun and probably a therapy
and uses up lots of the bits and pieces you have collected over
the years. “
This
lovely lady’s ability to engage in the world at large
with her incredible talent has come to a close. Charlene Westling,
revered member of NIADA, was diagnosed with ALS some months
ago and recently passed away just a few days before her 80th
birthday. Charlene and her art will be deeply missed. Her family
will be grateful for any messages of condolence.
Westling
Family // 3228 N.W. Alice Drive // Topeka KS 66618-1158
~Maralyn Christoffersen
In
Memory..........
Helen
Kish:
Anyone who ever spent five minutes with Charlene did not know
that they were in the presence of a genuinely lovely, kind hearted
woman. Although I did not know her well, Charlene was a quiet
and loving support to me during my years as president of NIADA.
I will always think of her with affection and admiration for
the beauty she brought into the world.
Annie
Wahl:
I feel very sorry for our loss. I can imagine how much deeper
the sense is for those who were very close to her. I thought
of her as one of the most beautiful women that I have ever known...inside
and out! Heaven is a prettier place now.
Diana Rew:
So sad to hear about Charlene, she was one of the sweetest people
I ever met.
Shelley
Thornton:
The world has lost one of its sweetest inhabitants. I am deeply
saddened to know I won't see Charlene again. The friendship
she bestowed on me was truly a blessing. She will always remain
in my heart. She was not a typical artistic ego; she was genuine,
kind and humble. Her art was not what she lived for, but was
fit into a complicated life that mainly centered around caring
for other people. She seemed to bring joy to her work in an
unselfconscious way, and received back joy for her endeavors.
Her love was freely given; that is what I will remember most.
Elizabeth Brandon:
Charlene was one of the best friends anybody could have; some
of the most fun I've had in life I had on trips to NIADA with
her and I will sorely miss her. Thank all of you who wrote and
sent gifts to her during these last months; her whole family
so much appreciated your kindness.
Maggie
Finch - Marta Kozlosky:
There was indeed in Charlene a most unusual quality, a gentleness
and warmth that took you into a world of serenity. She will
be sadly missed. We remember loving her instantly, the moment
of first meeting. How many people can one say that about? Charlene's
work seemed to be the outer revelation of her inner light.
Jodi and Richard Creager:
The first time Richard and I had the pleasure of meeting Charlene
was in New Orleans in 1991. We were 'family' immediately because
we were part of that year's inductees into NIADA. The first
thing that drew us to Charlene was her warm smile from across
the room. When she spoke her voice was soft with purpose. From
the congratulatory hug we received from her -- well, Richard
and I both felt 'hugged' for life. Her wit, charm, talent, smile
and yes 'her warm hugs' will live within our hearts forever.
We are forever honored to have known her.
Kathryn
Walmsley:
We most certainly have lost a very special person in Charlene
Westling. With very few exceptions I have found artists to be
special, gentle and sharing people. Most often humble about
their own achievements and eager to nurture and help those around
them. That said I think we all found Charlene to
be one of those extra special people who instantly made you
feel you had known her for years, always remembered who you
were and what you did and offered constant, quiet, positive
energy. I can't end without mentioning that I thought Charlene
was much younger than almost 80. No doubt this is a gift of
being a giving spirit. I am so grateful that we had the opportunity
to know her.
