Marta Whistler
Interview by Kelly Prentice
Photographed by Larry Fink
About the artist: Her figurative and symbolic semi-abstract paintings are noted for daring colors and the prevailing theme of man’s place in the universe. Whistler is concerned with the idea of the enslavement of man through forces he does not understand and is also a relief sculptor with Native American influences.
Where they’re from: Amsterdam, though she is a U.S. citizen and lived in Oklahoma for many years.
When they moved to Easton: 2004
Why they live in Easton: We wanted to move to New York but when we saw what the prices were, we said, “Oh my, we can’t do that.” So we started looking at places close by. A very good friend of ours was teaching at that time at Lafayette College. She said, “Marta, why don’t you come to Easton?“ I didn’t know anything about Easton. We came here and looked around. I told my husband Dudley, “I am really a city girl.” We looked downtown and saw this house with a sign on it. The realtor said that one was not available but gave us the key to another house and went in by ourselves—it was a disaster area. Lowered ceiling. Carpeting. Plexiglas. Six layers of linoleum that had to be removed . . . But I believe a house has a soul, and this house has a soul, too.
Philosophy: I want to prod your mind to see what you see, not what I dictate. I’m sometimes dumbfounded by what other people see because I realize it was probably [in my] unconscious. Individuality is one of the most important things. Children are pushed to fit in, when they should really be embraced for their differences. I can’t believe schools have been cutting arts programs. How are children going to express themselves?
What makes them smile: I love history. I love old towns, old houses. There’s something about Easton that’s very difficult to describe; the past lives of people who lived here many years ago and houses that speak to you, that want to be occupied. Every time I return home, I feel like this old house says, “Welcome back, Marta Whistler!”
How they see Easton’s future: There is no perfect city in the world. So let’s take everything the way it is. Let’s bring more people here to realize that Easton is a great place to live. We are not too far from New York, we have the beautiful Delaware River and then you go into the country and you think you’re in a different world. And I think Pennsylvania people are on the whole very warm and genuine people.
Links for further reading:
https://www.martawhistlerpainterandsculptor.com/
This interview was originally published in the Third Edition of Laini’s Little Pocket Guide to Easton in 2010. It was accompanied by the following:
They flee from New York City and elsewhere, because they found a warehouse building at a price they couldn’t pass up. Or because Easton reminds them of a place they once knew, long ago and far away. Maybe it’s because their friend Karl Stirner convinced them to come. Or because of its historic charm and the opportunity to create art in seeming anonymity.