THE JOY OF THE SPIRIT: CORITA KENT’S LEGACY SHARED AT HOLY CROSS

“Always Be Around: Corita Kent, Community, and Pedagogy,” on view at the Cantor Gallery in the Prior Performing Arts Center at the College of the Holy Cross, is a rare exhibition in which viewers are encouraged to become part of the presentation. While the artwork of Corita Kent is the main attraction, it’s the example she sets in encouraging everyone to make art, the creations of numerous artists who took that challenge as inspirationand the various participatory installations at the gallery that will hopefully leave a lasting impression.

Corita Kent (1918-1986), also known as Sister Corita Kent during her time at Immaculate Heart College, is best known as “a pop artist, educator and social justice advocate” who created serigraph prints “combining imagery from advertising and newspapers with text ranging from bible verses to slogans, song lyrics and literature” according to the press release for a show that could have as many descriptions and interpretations as viewers. And that’s a very good thing.

Kent’s work in the show features her prints that focused on activism and social justice and ephemera used to show how she built community through her artwork and teaching. Visitors to the show can leave with the start of their own personal collection of Corita Kent-inspired artwork.

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