Sister Corita Kent
Corita Kent (1918–1986) was a groundbreaking artist and educator whose work continues to influence, inspire, and uplift. Corita spent much of her life at Immaculate Heart College in Los Angeles, where she not only created art but also nurtured and guided generations of students. She was known for her unique approach to teaching, which combined her deep faith, a love of art, and a commitment to self-exploration. Her work blurred the boundaries between fine art, graphic design, and pop culture, merging spiritual themes with the visual language of advertising and mass media.
As an educator, Corita developed teaching methods that encouraged students to explore the world around them with both curiosity and creativity. Her prompts were designed to help students look deeply at themselves and the world, challenging them to notice the subtle details and meanings.
Corita designed a simple tool called the finder: a cardboard frame with a 1-inch square cut out. This viewfinder allowed students to shift their perspective, helping them zoom in on small details while also considering the broader expanse of their surroundings. This practice helped students develop the ability to focus on the minutiae, a lesson that mirrored Corita’s approach to art.
Corita wrote a series of steps for creativity that became central to her teaching approach and her own artistic practice. These rules were designed to inspire freedom, experimentation, and exploration. They helped students break free from self-doubt and embrace the spontaneity and joy of the creative process. Corita’s steps were not just technical, but philosophical, promoting an openness to discovery and a willingness to explore new ideas.
Corita collaborated with influential artists, designers, and thinkers, blending their ideas with her own creative approach. She worked closely with experimental composer John Cage, graphic designer Saul Bass, and designers Ray and Charles Eames.
Through these collaborations, Corita’s belief in process and experimentation helped shape a creative environment where artists from various disciplines came together to push boundaries. Her partnerships were a testament to her ability to unite different artistic perspectives and create work that resonated across a wide range of mediums.
“the word pitched his tent” (1962)
30"h x 36"w serigraph
“i can handle it” (1966)
21"h x 29"w serigraph
text: Get it - Do you think I can handle it
“the best to you each morning” (1964)
29.75"h x 39"w serigraph
text: the best to you each morning
“immortality promised by the moon” (1975)
20.5"h x 24.75"w serigraph
text: The immortality promised by the moon is not a continuation in a state of perfection, but is an ever-renewed life like the moon's own, in which diminishing and dying are as essential as becoming.
Esther Harding in Woman's Mysteries
Corita Day at the Philosophical Research Society hosted several events. I attended their evening finale which featured three short film documentaries, a poetry reading, and art installations.
Films:
“Mary’s Day” (1964) 24min, dir. Baylis Glascock
“Alleluia” (1967) 23min, dir. Thomas Conrad
“We Have No Art” (1967) 26min, dir. Baylis Glascock
Poetry:
Mandy Kahn, creator of Peace Class, developed a piece inspired by one of Corita’s prompts which involved studying objects for a set time. Mandy observed two leaves for thirty minutes each, noting their qualities, gifts, and how they are in concert with life around them. The reading developed into a concert of its own with multiple voices, turning her observations into a collective experience.
Multimedia Artists:
Local artists contributed works inspired by Corita, each sharing how her message, teachings, and art influenced their lives. They reflected on how her work, grounded in spirit, shaped them as artists, thinkers, and professionals.
David Rager’s art installation combined Corita’s environmental graphics with LA's film crew vernacular. The photo of the installation layers in symbolism, culminating in a visual representation of heaven.
Throughout the event, I took note of many inspiring perspectives, concepts, and quotes that left a lasting impression, including Corita's thought-provoking exercises. One such exercise involved creating a grid of repeated images, encouraging students to reflect on how their perception of an image shifted after seeing it multiple times. Corita also shared how poets and artists notice the commonplace, that their delight is so powerful that it forms the commonplace into the uncommon, and that even the colors of the marketplace have a vibrancy.
Inspired by these concepts, I applied her exercise to capture the event, moments around me, and the city of angels.
Corita believed that art was a powerful way to connect with both the world and oneself on a deeper, more meaningful level. This philosophy made her teaching as transformative as her artwork.
Throughout her career, Corita Kent’s impact on art and education created a lasting legacy. She inspired her students to see the world with fresh eyes, find beauty in the every day, and embrace the joy and surprise of personal discovery. Widely respected and admired, Corita’s influence is especially strong in Los Angeles, where her work and teaching continue to resonate. There is a Corita Art Center in the downtown arts district where I’ll soon learn more.
Corita Day is celebrated on November 20th to honor her contributions, grace, and legacy. Thank you Corita.
November 24th, 2024
