Westley Olmsted (1934-2011)

 Wes Olmsted’s homage to his colleague Martha Visser't Hooft(1906-1994) projects the great admiration he had for her artistic creativity, as well as her rebellious advocacy of non-traditional artists.  In 1933, Visser’t Hooft was one of the founders of The Patteran Society that rejected the conservatism of the Buffalo Society of Artists. This mixed media study includes a portrait sketch of Martha as well as Kachina doll, which are Hopi figures traditionally carved from cottonwood tree roots that represent benevolent spiritual beings who live among the Hopi people six months a year. Olmsted painted Martha’s face on one side of the Kachina doll which was incorporated into his sculptural homage to her.