The Passionate Life: A profile of Chantal Westby

The Passionate Life: A profile of Chantal Westby

By Kai Englisch

This is a profile I wrote while doing an internship in Philadelphia with The Broad Street Review.

 

 

“Such a war humanity has never faced.” 

Climate change, and spurring action to stop it, is the subject of Chantal Westby’s latest work Silence, It’s Up to Us, a series of sculptures and abstract art that will be on display at InLiquid galleries in the summer of 2023. It’s been five years since work began on it, and another twenty since the seed of the idea first took hold. But fundamentally, it’s work that comes from a woman who is driven both by a relentless creative instinct, and a heart deeply devoted to her family and the world.  

“I was reading the New York Times more than twenty-five years ago. It was around three weeks after I came here to the US. In the middle of the page of the NYT [was an article] about global warming, and what it will be today. Such a war, humanity has never faced[...]

It was a moment that Chantal, a former designer and future homemaker (born in Northern France and majoring in Haute Couture in Paris) would never forget. Throughout her next years in the United States, she raised her kids and being unable to find work as a designer because of a language barrier, “became the perfect housewife.” But the impact of the article always remained in the back of her mind. 

“[Sic] After the birth of my first grandson Daniel more than six years ago, I made the promise that I will do everything and that to my last breath. With all my power and resources to make myself heard.”

The pieces themselves are plaster sculptures made of 100% recycled materials, clad in white so as not to distract from the message. “I do not want to add color in [my] collection ‘’Silence, it's Up to Us,'' I wish that the message remains powerful.” That said the striking figures are the message. The piece that hangs to the left of my stool is a large plaster fishnet that hangs down from the ceiling on hooks. Inside the net hangs a human figure falling in flight like an underwater Icarus, falling prey to its own arrogance and clad in real news headlines warning of a coming climate disaster.  The symbolism of the work is direct, and emotional. Its message asserts its control on the viewer, the work of a heart that stares fearlessly at the problems we're facing through unflinching eyes. “I think because of the problem of climate change, the museums aren’t jumping on it fast enough[...]I want people to react, like do something! Go vote, select your president![...]Just try to drink from fountains[...]Live sustainably” she exclaims. She wants her art to strike people, to spur them to action. “You have to change, because we have no choice. We are spoiled. In America, it’s all about consuming. Consume. Consume. Consume. You watch the television, it’s all about buy[ing]…We have to consume differently[...]try to drink from fountains[...]try to use recycled bags.”  She hopes that her work will inspire people to action. But getting it out there has been a challenge for her. “The big problem is visibility[...]The galleries just want to flirt you know[...]the museums aren’t jumping on [the issue] fast enough[...]The art world is really, really hard. You have to be grounded. You have to be serene. Maybe you have a supportive family, maybe you have people who help you…you have to fight.

Despite the challenges that her life as an artist brings, Chantal continues to create, pouring her heart into this project today as she has for the last five years. It’s because for her, she creates not only for the sake of creating, but to fight for a better world for the next generation. Chantal hopes that her work will bring people’s awareness and humanity out, and by speaking through her work, more people will start to act on an issue that has far reaching consequences.

“I’ve been in the world of creating for a long time, since I was a child. I need it. [But] after I had my grandchildren, I promised to do everything to tell people ‘you have to change.’[...] it’s all about the children[...]I have to fight for you, and our kids. This is my message.” 

Chantal Westby is a Philadelphia based multimedia artist currently working in the Spring Garden Artist Studios. Her latest collection, “Silence, It’s Up to All of Us,” is scheduled to be on display at The InLiquid gallery located in Northeast Philadelphia. You can find out more about Chantal and her work at her website, or by coming by her studios directly.

Chantals Website: Energy Abstract Painting and Arts | Chantal Westby Gallery | United States

Her address: 915 Spring Garden St, Philadelphia, PA 19123