Monument to Martha
Maker
H. C. (Horace Clifford) Westermann
(American, 1922-1981)
Date1960
MediumPine, Colonial Casque pine molding, plywood, mirror, tin, cast-metal soldier, plastic decal, and paper découpage
Dimensions47 x 19 x 19 in. (119.4 x 48.3 x 48.3 cm)
Credit LineGift of Martha Westermann Renner
CopyrightCopyright managed by VAGA at Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
Collections
Object number2014.25
Status
Not on viewPart sculpture, part architectural model, and part reliquary, H.C. Westermann made Monument to Martha as a gift for his sister Martha, whom he cared for deeply. She was the only member of his family who supported his art career, and also helped him through his traumatic experiences of WWII and the Korean War. In a letter, he wrote to her:
"I think often of how kind you've been to me Martha, extremely understanding and when I was in Korea, you sent me all that chow. I have been deeply moved during the past and also I've felt you were the only one who really had faith in me."
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