Charis Wilson, Model and Muse, Dies at 95

[Michael Jones]

Another very important link with the past is missing.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/24/arts/design/24wilson.html?_r=1&hpw

Mike

[BrianShaw]

Very sad news, but thanks very much for letting us know.

[Michael Alpert]

Model and Muse? Charis Wilson was a fine, autonomous, intelligent, and attractive person. She was not an extension of Edward Weston, not in essence either a model or a muse. I think her book about her life with Weston made that clear.

[Bill_1856]

Model and Muse? Charis Wilson was a fine, autonomous, intelligent, and attractive person. She was not an extension of Edward Weston, not in essence either a model or a muse. I think her book about her life with Weston made that clear.

I certainly agree with that, Michael!
In fact, I've always thought that Weston's satisfaction and comfort with Charis was the kiss of death for his originality.
(Great book, by the way, as was her California and the West.)

[drew.saunders]

Her local paper, the Santa Cruz Sentinel, has an obit that is more about her than it is about Weston:

http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/ci_13863445?source=most_viewed

[chris_4622]

One of the ribald limericks.
http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?p=365372#post365372

[William McEwen]

Last I knew (a few months ago) she was working with her co-author on updating the Weston memoir. I have loads of cards and letters from Charis. She used inventive abbreviation, and filled every inch of the page with writing. It took some effort to read them. A nice lady, who was quick to provide her opinion!

[Merg Ross]

This is certainly an event, though not unexpected, that bears reflection on the lives of two talented and wonderful individuals.

Although I saw Edward on numerous occassions over the ten years prior to his death, I only met Charis twice. The first time was at Brett's home in 1982, and the last at a viewing of the "Eloquent Nude" film in 2005. That is the evening I will remember; her wonderful wit, and the sharing of wine and cheese at a table after the show.

I would disagree that Edward's originality ended with the introduction of Charis into his life; in fact it may have been just the spark that he needed to continue. Surely, much of the work for which he is noted was done prior to their relationship; however, I believe that some of his finest nudes were with Charis as subject.

I have just returned from Santa Cruz, and she lived and died in a beautiful place.

My thoughts are with her family.

[Terry Hull]

Very timely, and well done Edward Weston exhibit opened yesterday at the James Michener museum, Doylestown PA. The video intro interview, mostly with Charis Wilson was informative.