Alumni Columns - Northwestern State University Alumni

FOUNDATION NEWSPortraits from the PastOhio artist finds inspiration in faces of Northwestern’s BeautiesMiss Jean HallMiss Bobbie MontgomeryMiss Clayton HallThe “Northwestern Beauties” picturedin the 1936 Potpourri werethe inspiration for a series ofpaintings by an Ohio artist, who foundthe photos in a yearbook that belonged toa friend’s mother.Artist Lesley Midlam Walton of Vandalia,Ohio, created a series of oil paintingsinspired by the black and white portraitsof co-eds selected by the studentbody based on their attractiveness withconsideration for friendliness, characterand personality.Walton’s friend, Martha HardcastleGuthrie of Clayton, Ohio, is the daughterof Anna Mae Edwards Hardcastle, whoreceived a 2-year teaching certificatefrom Northwestern in 1934 and laterreturned to pursue a bachelor’s degree,which she completed in 1946. AnnaMae’s sister, Alberta Edwards Forbes ofBaton Rouge, also attended NSU, graduatingin 1928. Other relatives of theEdwards family who attended NSU wereMary Edna (Melba) Woodward (1934),who was a Beauty in 1933 or 1934, andDorothy Diane Forbes Kaufman of BatonRouge (1957).“The only one of the Beauties that Iknew was Bobby Montgomery, who wasa good friend of my mother’s,” Marthasaid. “She went on to do modeling andwas the mother in a series of primaryreaders in which actual photographs ofpeople were used as illustrations.”Walton’s Beauties series was exhibitedlast year in Dayton, Ohio, as part of anostalgic collection of artwork by Midlam,inspired by photographs from the1930s and 1940s.“I have always loved nostalgia. Iwould prefer to watch an old black andwhite film to any current films withcolor,” Walton said. “I realized that Icould feel like Dorothy when she lands inOz and opens the door to color. I feel likeI’m taking the subject out of their grayworld and bringing them to life throughcolor.”Walton began the Graduation paintingsin oils on paper to appear more likepages from a yearbook. She prepared acollection for exhibit and was contactedby her friend Martha, a newspaperreporter, about an article.“Martha was asking me about theGraduation series when I mentioned thatI had planned on doing other pieces. Itold her I was having trouble findingyearbook photos from the 30’s. That iswhen she went and pulled the 1936 Potpourribook off her bookshelf,” Waltonsaid. “I was thrilled. When I went to lookI was fascinated with the Beauties. As Iturned the pages I could just see them aspaintings. But then I turned the page andsaw the Other Beauties. I was shockedand I felt so bad for them. Not only to bethe Other Beauties, but to have to sharethe page with the others as smallerimages.”Walton completed one set of imagesof the Beauties and is currently workingon the Other Beauties. She exhibits atThe Cannery Art and Design Center inDayton, Ohio, and is a member of theDayton Visual Arts Center and the DaytonSociety of Painters and Sculptors.Walton enjoys portraiture because of thepersonality one can see in a face.“I don’t see ugly in people’s faces,but I have seen ugly in people’s attitudesand actions,” she said.Alumni Columns Fall 2006 / 12Visit our website at: