Biography
Carlene M. Unser, FSPA, was born in Wisconsin, the daughter of Charles and Nellie Pease Unser. She studied the art of weaving at Marquette University where she received her M.A. degree. Her thesis, written in 1959, was entitled “The Relationship Between Art Judgment as Measured by the Meier Art Judgment Test and Manipulative Dexterity in Art as Evidenced by a Specific Example of Free Associative and Creative Drawing.” She continued her study at Illinois State University, San Jose University and the University of Tennessee, Arrowmont.
Sister Carlene was a member of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration order. Before joining the faculty of Viterbo University in 1966, she taught first and second grade for twenty years. At Viterbo, Sister Carlene became the head of the Art Department and ultimately an emerita professor of art. In October 2006, the Sister Carlene Unser endowed art scholarship was established. The goal of the scholarship is to provide one student with at least $500 per year.
Sister Carlene exhibited her weavings at Luther College in the late 1970s in an exhibit in the Union gallery entitled, “Fibers.” At that time, her open warp wall hanging was purchased for the Luther College Fine Arts Collection.