Biography

Gordon '50 and Dorothy (Leavens) '49 Carlson

Whitworth Alumni Gordon and Dorothy Carlson were instrumental in creating Whitworth's art collection. Throughout their lives, they gathered a variety of art and donated it to Whitworth's collection in the hope that students would be exposed to different kinds of art than they might otherwise be.

The Carlsons met as biology students at Whitworth, graduating in 1949 (Dorothy) and 1950 (Gordon). In 1953, they married and moved together to the Seattle area. Gordon became a psychologist. Dorothy, a medical doctor, worked for the Bellevue School District and later had a psychiatric practice, sharing an office with Gordon.

Gordon and Dorothy were avid art lovers. Wherever they went, they visited galleries and art studios, bringing home a wide variety of art from across the Pacific Northwest, California, and New England. Even though they each had their own preferences, they always discussed the choices and agreed together about what to add to their collection. In addition to experiencing others' art, Gordon, especially, loved creating art himself. As a hobby, he made birthday cards and collages for his friends, signing his work "GORSON" for Gor(don) (Carl)son.

The Carlsons wanted to support artists whose work they admired, and they became personal friends of many of these artists. Discussing artists' work and ideas while getting to know the artists themselves was one of their favorite ways to engage in art. One of these artists was Ed Kienholz, an artist from the Washington-Idaho border area who attended Whitworth in 1948. The Carlsons and Kienholz and his wife, Nancy Reddin Kienholz, appreciated each other's senses of humor and edgy art ideas and ended up becoming close friends. The Carlsons later donated one of Kienholz's installation pieces to Whitworth. Another artist-turned-friend was Bill Rades, a professor of art at Pierce College in Tacoma whose work the Carlsons added to Whitworth's collection. Gordon was initially drawn to Rades because he was a war veteran, like Gordon himself.

The Carlsons had two children, Paul and Helen, and raised them immersed in art. Helen went on to become a photographer and gallery owner. Both Paul and Helen have continued their parents' legacy of donating art to Whitworth. Throughout their childhood, the Carlson children went to many galleries and museums, often meeting artists at openings and viewings in Seattle.

According to Helen and Paul, art collecting truly was one of Gordon and Dorothy's favorite activities. Paul remembers a story of his childhood that Dorothy told him. Once, when he was very young, Paul disapproved of Dorothy writing a check to pay for a work of art. Dorothy, upon noticing, asked him if he could imagine not owning any books, and he admitted he couldn't conceive of such a thing. Dorothy responded that she could not imagine living without art in the house, and reportedly Paul's eyes got very wide.

The Carlsons first donated art to Whitworth's permanent collection in the early 1970s. Throughout their lifetime, the Carlsons donated more than 65 pieces to Whitworth, along with funds for professors to buy art for the collection. They also periodically donated funds to be used to maintain and frame artworks. The Carlsons' additions to Whitworth's permanent collection include a large variety of art by artists of diverse backgrounds, some with controversial ideas and styles. They intentionally chose these pieces in the hope that, through this art, students would be able to get a wider exposure to the possibilities of art than they might otherwise.

The Carlsons also often donated art to the collection in honor of friends or acquaintances connected to Whitworth. In 1971, they donated several pieces in honor of Friend of Whitworth Mrs. Esther Marie Erickson Henager (Gordon's aunt), who believed Whitworth played a major part in advancing the value of learning and religion in the community. The Carlsons saw donating art as supporting that mission.

A few of the many themes that run through the Carlson Collection: the landscape of the state of Washington, faith, hope, charity, bridges, water, trees, flowers, and service, especially that of veterans (inspired by Gordon's time serving as an infantryman in World War II). The artists whose work the Carlsons donated often had a connection to the Pacific Northwest, whether that be that they were born, lived, or taught in the region. The Carlsons were keen to have representation from Eastern Washington in the artwork they donated as well. They bought from notable artists such as Kenneth Callahan, Charles Heaney, and Sidney K Eaton '41, who all worked or lived in Eastern Washington.

Gordon and Dorothy donated art freely and generously, with no restrictions, reflecting the kind and loving nature of their dispositions. Their initial donation of art made Whitworth's permanent art collection possible, and their additions to it year by year filled it with vibrancy. Whitworth Professor Emeritus of Art (1976-2022), Gordon Wilson, recollects using art from the collection for "show and tell" for his art classes. The artworks were kept in a room nearby and he would bring examples to class to use as examples for his teaching or for the students to emulate. Whitworth Professor Emeritus of English (1966-2022), Leonard Oakland, once said he went to the art department to check out a painting or two from the Carlson Collection. He ended up coming back with twelve paintings. In a 1981 letter to the Carlsons, he writes, "These prints and paintings have been such glorious additions to the campus that I wanted to tell you of my appreciation...Thank you again for your generosity—and that it has come in such wonderful shapes and colors."