| Edith
R. "Edee" Carlson Memorial Scholarship Pledged to the School
of Art |
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Edee
Carlson shown with some of her many animal carvings.
Photo courtesy of s. Nakamura
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| The
School of Art received a commitment for an endowed scholarship
to benefit a student participating in the Italy Foreign
Studies Program, or a similar study abroad program of
the school. The pledge, in memory of Edith R. "Edee"
Carlson, '65 Art, was made by her husband, Samuel
Nakamura of Bellingham, Wash. |
| Edee
Carlson became a nationally acclaimed woodcarver of American
Folk Art figures selling under the name "Loose Moose
Carvings." Her animals, Santa Claus figures and other
seasonally themed carvings were sold in prestigious galleries
in several states. |
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| An avid traveler
and photographer, Edee had fond memories of a study tour to Mexico
sponsored by the architecture department in 1964. As a Peace Corps
volunteer following graduation, she served in Cali, Colombia, and
traveled to Ecuador and Peru. Upon her return to the United States,
she married, had a daughter, and worked in a variety of jobs in Michigan
and Montana, but was always involved in various art projects as a
sideline. |
| Following the
end of her marriage, she moved first to Red Lodge, then to Kalispell,
and began to carve in earnest, gaining recognition and sales over
the next 12 years. She would later photograph brown bears in Alaska,
polar bears near Churchill, Manitoba, giant tortoises in the Galapagos
Islands and camels in Egypt, all of which became the subjects of future
carvings. |
| Edee was diagnosed
with cancer in early 2003 at the peak of her career and only two years
after remarrying. She passed away earlier this year at age 60. |
| "International
travel, and Italy in particular, had special meaning for both of us,"
Sam commented. "As an artist, Edee thought Florence was marvelous.
We honeymooned in the Lake Como region. When Edee and I met (on the
brown bear trip in Alaska), I was based in London, England, with my
employer, and traveled widely as part of my job. We both felt privileged
to have experienced the cultural diversity and simple pleasures of
foreign travel. I hope to honor Edee's memory in a small way by helping
future students experience the art and culture of overseas study,
while creating fond memories to last them a lifetime." |
| An individually
designated (named) scholarship may be endowed with a gift or multi-year
pledge of $15,000 or more if restricted to the university, college
or department level. |
| As other members
of her MSU class of 1965 prepare to celebrate their 40th reunion next
year, any classmates or friends who wish to contribute to this fund
in Edee's memory may do so by making donations to the MSU Foundation,
designating the gift to the Edith R. "Edee" Carlson Memorial
Scholarship. |
| Scholarship funds
for the Edee Carlson Memorial Scholarship will be available for the
2005-2006 academic year. |
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