Come Alive!

*Collage postcard by Ryan Corey*
I'm in my screen printing phase ever since THIS amazing device popped up on the radar. By the way, the price is down from $299 to $199 at Joannes as of this Sunday the 22nd. Yikes and Yeah.
As I was perusing the Amazon screen printing category, I came upon this book: COME ALIVE!: THE SPIRITED ART OF SISTER CORITA . This is one of those books that changed my life. After looking at the web for a second, it's obvious that everyone ELSE is familiar with this woman. Where have I been?!!?
Sister Corita Kent has the most amazing story. Go to the site, be sure to "Enter" and read her bio. The book gives you a far broader picture, of course. It's filled with gorgeous repros of her prints, but the text is enthralling. A skilled and gifted teacher, Corita came roaring onto the scene as an art teacher at the Immaculate Heart College in L.A. (of COURSE L.A.!) in the 50's and 60's. Her riotous prints stunned the art community and cracked the Church wide open politically. The story is inspiring and invigorating!

Her department was on fire as she nurtured her students, jumped habit-first into her work and attracted illuminaries like Charles and Ray Eames, Buckminster Fuller and artists from every corner of the Planet. She traveled extensively, continued to interweave her cheeky use of letters and word with religious and politial imagery. The Church considered her their Brilliant Problem Child.

Corita considered billboards, signs and advertising the Cultural language of the day. She did not reject, but embraced the milleau.
The sign below dictated the tone, atmosphere and language used in her classrooms:

Here they are in a more readable print...I just wanted you to see the hand-fashioned coolness of the Real Thing Above:

If Corita hadn't passed away, I'd sign up for her class so fast the pen would catch on fire.

So join me in praise of a woman who lived her life in honest and humble enthusiasm. The attention always left her a bit puzzled. Never one to bask in the limelight, she simply powered on, doing what she knew was the right thing, following her path and bringing her particular brand of joy to everyone that knew her and some of us who would have liked to. Enjoy your weekend!

Comments

[kelly]

Corita has influenced me since I was a little girl seeing the gas tank in Boston painted in vibrant rainbow colors, the LOVE postage stamp...oh, I love that woman.
Her book, Learning By Heart has been my Bible. It should be on the bookshelf-or by the bedside of EVERY artist.

[Lisa Hoffman]

SEE??!!!....I think that I may be the only human not familiar with her.
Thanks for the additional book reference too...I ordered the new edition of LBH a few days ago....good, can't wait!...thanks Kelly.

[JeriAnn]

I am appalled that I know nothing about Sister Corita, even though I've seen her art. Why is Warhol so well known and not her, when they're from the same period? I recall reading something by a nun who was a calligraphy teacher about carving her own alphabet stamps when she was a student. I wonder if she had studied with Sister Corita?

Thanks for sharing this, Lisa. I adore Sister Corita's work!

[Chris]

Sister Corita called me once and told me that it's true: Nuns don't have to wear 'delicates'.

She was a fan of the prank call. I suppose that wasn't mentioned?!?!?!!!?

?

[Erin Perry]

Yeah, if you lived anywhere near LA during the '60's you knew about Sister Corita - one of the few people that made you proud to be Catholic back then.

And hey girl - I love the new blog banner - WOO-HOO!! Colour! Colour! Colour!

Erin in Morro Bay

[susan greene]

Oh a nun who paints...I must have this book. I also want the silk screening machine. Thank you for all this information.

[grrl+dog]

"phew!"
YOu didnt make a link to Joanne's, so i will continue to live in ignorance of the place I can get a yudu for less. probably only $325 for me now...

[Seth]

Those Art Department rules should be Life rules. Thanks for this one!!

[Seth]

LOVING the new banner, btw!

[stephanie]

well count me one that has not heard of her...not for long though, I plan to dive right in. Thank you so for this!!

Rules to live by...for sure....

only one white pup???

x..x
steph

[Fran Meneley]

OMG!!!! CALL THE BANNER PRIZE PATROL - YOU WIN!!! LOVE the new banner! It is sooooo YOU! Really. It's just fantastic. You've managed to capture yourself perfectly. Exactly what a blog banner should be and do. And little Lily too! Really extremely cool. I knew nothing about Sister Corita either. I just love uncovering new people and books...well I especially love other cool people turning me onto the new people and books. So when are Whit and I coming up for a little yudu funZ??? And I'm with Seth, those art dept. rules should be life rules. They are going in my studio, pronto!!! Love this post, thanks for much for being in the know.

xo frannie

[Leau]

I do remember some of those images but didn't know the name or that she was a nun!! I am watching the most interesting interview with Shepard Fairey (sp?) on CBS Sunday Morning. I love him even more now!! He knows and breaks all those fabulous rules too! Thanks for sharing. smooches
I'm with Seth, great new banner!

[michelle ward]

thanks for the reminder of this super star - always loved her use of typography. standing with you in praise. great new banner!!!

[Suzanne Myers]

Thanks for introducing me to Sister Corita and I love the new banner!

[cynjon]

Um, WOW. Yup, that's all! I know what book I'm asking for for my Bday!

p.s....guess what I'm just about finished with?

[Kathy McCreedy]

Oh my... I may have to call in dead to work today... you have done it again... totally derailed my morning with all the great information on your blog! I'm totally blown away by Sr. Corita's artwork! And I'm with you, I'd have done whatever it took to get into her class... over and over and over again! Gotta go and find a copy of that book! Thanks for all the great info! Bless you! :D

[ginnycartersmallenburg]

Oh Lisa,
I was a happy fan of Sister Corita. One of her quote posters hung in my house for years: damn everything but the circus...ee cummings.
I loved the boldness and colors. Thank you for reminding me of those years, that poster and her.