“She wanted us to see that anything could be source material and everything can have meaning. She wanted you to be awake enough to the world that you could make connections between the things that you see. And there was a perfect tack-on at the end – ‘There should be new rules next week.’ After all, rules were important, but they were never final. You were encouraged to be flexible and able to adjust to new conditions. Pretty good rules for the classroom, and for life in general.” — Sarah Greene on Sister Mary Corita Kent
During challenging times, many people turn to religion and spirituality for solace and guidance. We in the art world are fortunate to be able to turn to the wisdom of artist and former nun, the late Corita Kent (1918-1986). And we are also fortunate to have The Art Assignment to turn to for this video on Kent and her life as an artist, teacher, and inspiration, sharing timeless words of wisdom that seem applicable now more than ever.
From The Art Assignment:
Sister Corita Kent was a master printmaker and teacher, and her rules for artists and teachers are legendary – let’s break them down.
From the Corita Art Center:
Corita Kent (1918–1986) was an artist, educator, and advocate for social justice. At age 18 she entered the religious order Immaculate Heart of Mary, eventually teaching in and then heading up the art department at Immaculate Heart College. Her work evolved from figurative and religious to incorporating advertising images and slogans, popular song lyrics, biblical verses, and literature. Throughout the ‘60s, her work became increasingly political, urging viewers to consider poverty, racism, and injustice. In 1968 she left the order and moved to Boston. After 1970, her work evolved into a sparser, introspective style, influenced by living in a new environment, a secular life, and her battles with cancer. She remained active in social causes until her death in 1986. At the time of her death, she had created almost 800 serigraph editions, thousands of watercolors, and innumerable public and private commissions.