In the Gallery: "Healing - Sign Language" by Kim Tester

Presently, in the Marie Louise Trichet Gallery are works which comprise the second of our three retrospectives to celebrate the 15th Anniversary of the gallery. Each of the artists have had a solo show in the gallery since it opened in April, 1994. In the upcoming weeks, we will feature on our blog one of the pieces in the show and a brief reflection by the artist who created it.

Gallery hours are Monday - Saturday 10 am - 4 pm. The present show will run until August 22, 2009.

"Healing - Sign Language" by Kim Tester

I had received a grant to explore, through my art, my experience with ovarian cancer. I wanted to document the changes that took place in me physically, emotionally and spiritually. I printed my body on paper then drew images over the printed surface with color pencils and oil pastels. I

used the shapes found on box turtles' shells as the pattern around the figure as well as the "spine" found inside. I was most interested in that shape since it looked like ovaries and tubes at the end. As I worked, I wondered how turtles communicate with one another. Do the shell patterns look different to turtles? Is it a form of language for them? It made me think about my patterns. What do people see when they look at me? I then chose to add my version of American Sign Language to the work. The stylized hands drawn around the outside spell "healing."

June 5: World Environment Day

The United Nations has designated June 5 as World Environment Day. We encourage you to visit the website of the UN's Environment Program, the mission of which is to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.

Set in the rolling hills of Litchfield, Connecticut, Wisdom House has long sought to respect and protect the integrity of the environment. We appreciate the relationship between a healthy environment and a healthy mind and spirit. With this in mind, this October's Casagrande Interfaith Institute at Wisdom House will focus on the topic of climate change.

Elizabeth A. Dreyer Wins Catholic Press Association Award

Elizabeth Dreyer gives a retreat day at Wisdom House in

February, 2009, on the topic of "Spirituality for Christian Women.

At last week's Catholic Press Association 2009 convention, Elizabeth A. Dreyer, Ph.D., editor of the "Called to Holiness" series, won 1st place in the Gender Issues category for her book, "Making Sense of God." Dr. Dreyer is a frequent program presenter at Wisdom House.

The judges wrote about Dr. Dreyer's book: "This book reaches out to all women and helps them see themselves as grassroots theologians, whose specific experiences of joy and struggle, ecstasy and despair, virtue and vice, embodiment and sexuality are vital to a full Christian understanding of what it is to be human."

 Two other authors of books in the series were honored:  in Gender Issues,"Living a Spirituality of Action" by Joan Mueller took 3rd place and in the Family Life category, "Grieving With Grace," by Dolores Leckey, took 3rd place.

The series is published by St. Anthony Messenger Press. For more information

visit www.calledtoholiness.org.

In the Gallery: "Twig Field IV" by Amelia de Neergaard

Presently, in the Marie Louise Trichet Gallery are works which comprise the second of our three retrospectives to celebrate the 15th Anniversary of the gallery. Each of the artists have had a solo show in the gallery since it opened in April, 1994. In the upcoming weeks, we will feature on our blog one of the pieces in the show and a brief reflection by the artist who created it.

Gallery hours are Monday - Saturday 10 am - 4 pm. The present show will run
until August 22, 2009.

"Twig Field IV" by Amelia de Neergaard

I am drawn to the linear peculiarities of twigs and branches and their similatities to calligraphic markings when viewed individually. When massed they created texture and form. By connecting them with man-made elements and structuring volumes and shapes, I seek to emphasize their naturalness and individuality. I have been influenced by the woods around me - the somethimes chaotic arrangements but consistently ordered patterns and textures of plants and trees; the endless decay and regeneration. By focusing on the details, I hope to bring attention to the whole.

Rabbi Rami Shapiro on Wisdom: The Divine Feminine