Created to Create, Kathleen O'Brien and Rose Ange Leddy

When an artist curates a show it is very much a piece of art, the same way a theatrical performance is the director's art.  We have a little idea one day, then we spend hours, weeks, months, sometimes years growing that idea into a show.

This show for me has been flowing around in my mind for decades.  

I have always been artistic, and a Christian.  But when I was younger I didn't think to combine those two things together.  And in college, one of my professors was a Christian who only used Biblical stories as his subject matter.  So I really didn't want to include my faith in my work because I didn't want to be seen as a copy cat, piggybacked, importer......

But one day my professor mentioned how he was a part of a Christian group of artists, but they broke up.  That made me sad, and sparked a little bit of passion for me to not hide my faith in my work.  It started out if I had an inspiring idea I would create it, if it was Christian then I would do it too.

Over the years I have created art that gives glory to God, that tells a story about my life and my faith.  But I have also created a lot of "secular" art too.

Then one day I was checking in artwork for the MCCFAC Juried Art Show.  And Sister Kathleen and Sister Rose Ange brought in some of their work.  I didn't realize they were sisters.  They were just sweet women with beautiful and soft artwork that I was instantly drawn too.

When I looked at their check I saw they were Sisters. And I realized you can see a little piece of a person's soul in their artwork. 

Over the years, I have seen this so many times, I have had a lot of art flow through my life, and a lot of artists. I have seen artists with grief create work that touches the soul of other people who are going through grief.  And I have seen the positive impact a piece of art created in happiness can have on people.

This show highlights the positive and refreshing feeling you can feel from art created by artists who have faith, and feel that connection to God while they create, or when they are inspired to create.

 Creation is God's first word to us, Holy Wisdom's scripture.  The natural world speaks to me.  My pastel paintings are an expression of my response, delight in, and gratitude to this World.  - Rose Ange Laddy IHM

 The inner radiance of God's living creation touches me.  Such beauty in our day to day world is anything but ordinary.  My hope in these watercolor paintings is to let the wonder of the trees and blossoms be made visible.  Be reverenced.    - Kathleen O'Brien IHM

This show hangs Through the end of June, Gallery hours are

Wednesday -11-3

Thursday 11-3

Friday 11-6

Saturday 11-3

Located at 12 S. Monroe St in Downtown Monroe MI