Charis Wilson sheds light on her life with photographer Edward Weston.

She was his model, muse, wife and lover. In a rare public appearance, Charis Wilson will share her memories of her 11-year relationship with one of the pioneers of modern photography, Edward Weston, at a booksigning this Friday at Thunderbird Books in Carmel.

Through Another Lens: My Years With Edward Weston is a vivid memoir of Wilson''s relationship with Weston that not only provides a detailed glimpse of Weston as a man and artist, but a self-portrait of a feminist pioneer who shunned sexual and social convention.

"It was love at first sight for both of us, but Edward wanted to be absolutely sure of himself and wasn''t going to take a chance," Wilson recalled in a phone interview with Coast Weekly from her home in Santa Cruz. "I was told before what a ladies'' man he was and how he would go after everyone, but that was entirely wrong. I latched onto him, no doubt about it."

For Wilson, the fact that she was only 19 and essentially seduced the 48-year-old Weston concerned her little as regards Carmel''s straitlaced pretensions.

"It''s a myth that Carmel was ever an artists'' colony after its beginnings, and at those times [our relationship] was considered shocking and inappropriate to people in Carmel," says Wilson. "But Edward, by that time, had so many admirers we had a pleasant group of enthusiasts around us without worrying about who might disapprove."

Wilson says her memoir offers an opportunity to set the record straight concerning Weston''s public image, and to celebrate Weston more as a man than an artistic icon.

"I think part what of prompted me to write the book was the feeling I owed Edward Weston a debt," says Wilson.

"Edward was an unexpected combination," Wilson continues. "As a man he was very gentle, warmhearted and undominating. What he did for me was to really accept me for who I was in my spirit. As a photographer he was totally devoted to what he was doing. He was one of the people of our age who was a complete original."

In looking back on Weston''s artistic accomplishments, Wilson says Weston''s true legacy is to be found in the impact his photographs continue to have to new generations of photography lovers.

"In the early ''30s, people would say [Edward Weston] had given them new eyes," recalls Wilson. "He brought a new kind of vision to people, and I still get letters from people and dedicated fans of Edward''s work saying they had the same feeling of discovering the world through his eyes."

Charis Wilson will be at the Thunderbird Bookshop, July 24, 4:30-6:30pm. 3600 The Barnyard, Carmel. 624-1803.

Art Listings

Call for Artists Monterey Museum of Art is seeking submissions for a juried art show to be presented 9/26-11/29. Deadline for submissions is 8/24. Call for details. 372-5477. Through: 8/24.

Carmel Art Association "Monterey County: A Colorful Past." Recent work by CAA artists depicting MoCo''s historical landmarks and artifacts. Also, works by Eileen Catbagan, Mary FitzGerald Beach, Frieda Golding, Susan Jordan and Wilda Northrop. Dolores Street, between 5th and 6th avenues, Carmel. 624-6176. Through: 8/5.

Carmel Valley Manor "The Canals of England." Color photographs and stories of English canals by Mary Adair. 8545 Carmel Valley Rd., Carmel. 626-4711. Through: 7/31.

Center for Photographic Art "Roadworks." Photographs by Linda McCartney, the late wife of Paul McCartney. Sunset Cultural Center, San Carlos Street and 8th Avenue, Carmel. 625-5181. Through: 9/11.

Chapman Gallery Works by SC Yuan, Hank Ketcham, Ron Elstad, Keith Lindberg and Colden Whitman. Also portrait artist Gail Reeves will be painting in the gallery every Saturday. 7th Avenue, between San Carlos and Mission streets, Carmel. 626-1766. Through: 9/6.

Fireside Gallery "Crossing the Mirror." The exhibit includes photographs from two bodies of work by Martha Casanave. One group features pinhole photographs of staged scenarios; the other, "Beware the Dog," includes close-up studies of peoples'' pooches. At the Highlands Inn, Highway 1, Carmel. 624-3801. Through: 7/27.

First Murphy House Turn-of-the-century summer dresses from the Gallery of Historic Costumes. Lincoln Street and 6th Avenue, Carmel. 624-4447. Through: 7/31.

Grove Homescapes Marilyn Barrett''s "up-close photo studies of rock formations" and Melissa Lofton''s paintings of the coastline. 472 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove. 656-0864. Through: 7/31.

Henry Miller Library "The Alchemy of Possibility." Paintings and art work from Carolyn Mary Kleefeld''s book of the same name. Highway 1, just south of Nepenthe, Big Sur. 667-2574. Through: 7/31.

La Mirada "Fragile Traditions: The Art of the Asmat." Traditional works by native people of New Guinea from the collection of Loet Vanderveen; "Armin Hansen and William Ritschel: California Paintings from the Permanent Collection." 720 Via Mirada, Monterey. 372-5477. Through: 7/26.

Monterey Museum of Art "Jo Mora: Artist and Writer." Collection of paintings, drawings and sculptures. Also works by Marie Brumund. Through 8/16. 559 Pacific St., Monterey. 372-5477. Through: 9/6.

Morgan''s Coffee & Tea "Living and Breathing." Abstract paintings by Shane Ridenour. 498 Washington St., Monterey. 649-4613. Through: 7/31.

Pacific Grove Art Center "Four Points of View." Plein air paintings by Delia Bradford, Mary Lou Correia, Geri Keary and Shirley Nootbar; "Future Memories," abstract paintings by Psy; "Day''s End," coastal sunset photographs by David Gubernick; "A Diary of Near and Far," paintings and prints by Kristin Hayward. 568 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove. 375-2208. Through: 8/21.

Pajaro Valley Gallery "Collective ''98: New Works by PVAC Members." Works in many media by members of the Pajaro Valley Arts Council. 37 Sudden St., Watsonville. 722-3062. Through: 8/15.

PG Museum of Natural History "Leaping Elk, Dancing Men: Prehistoric Art of the Russian Altay." Photographs by Christopher Hulse. 165 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove. 648-3116. Through: 8/16.

Rox Arcana Group show by members of Monterey Bay Metal Arts Guild featuring jewelry and other small metal works. Carmel Plaza, Ocean Avenue and Junipero Street, Carmel. 624-3122. Through: 7/31.

Sculpture House and Gardens "Spirit of the Human Form." All new works from Gay Gordon, Christopher Moon, Mark Bava and Jane Morba. Four miles south of Rio Road on Highway 1, Carmel Highlands. 624-2476. Through: 7/30.

Searle Art Watercolors by Mark Farina and works by his students from Carmel Adult School. 639 Lighthouse Ave., Monterey. 373-0126. Through: 7/31.

Seaside City Hall "We Color Outside the Lines." Works by Seaside Art Commissioners, past and present, including Walter Avery, Merlin Brown, Sandra Robinson Gray, Gloria C. Mattos Hughes, Patsy Hughes Irvine, Ed Krankshaw and Colleen Lingenfelter. 440 Harcourt Ave., Seaside. 899-6270. Through: 8/1.

Shallcross Gallery Abstract oil paintings and prints by Mira Kamada. Inside Galerie Monterey, 499 Calle Principal, Monterey. 655-0642. Through: 7/31.

Valley Art Gallery "Retro and Recent." Fiber art and basketry by Eloise Iverson. 218 Main St., Salinas. 455-1706. Through: 7/25.

Venture Art Gallery "I''d Rather be Sculpting." Abstract sculptures in several media by Ken Wiese. Resin-casting demonstration. 260 Alvarado Mall (in the Doubletree Inn), Monterey. 372-6279. Through: 7/31.

Village Pub Oil paintings by Sofanya. During Sunday reception, Sofanya will demonstrate her "essence portraits." Highway 1, near the Big Sur River Inn, Big Sur. 626-2876. Through: 8/8.

Weston Gallery "Selected Artists." Photographic works by Ansel Adams, Edward Weston, Irving Penn, Yousouf Karsh, Paul Strand and Imogen Cunningham. 6th Avenue, between Dolores and Lincoln streets, Carmel. 623-4453. Through: 8/31.

Woman''s Wellspring Polaroid transfer photographs with hand painting by Clare Lerner. 575 Calle Principal, Monterey. 649-2320. Through: 7/31.

Zantman Art Galleries Figurative paintings by Jie Mei Wang. 6th Avenue and Mission Street, Carmel. 624-8314. Through: 8/14.