My undergraduate degree was in Art History and I love visiting galleries so you might think I was a fan of Sister Wendy Beckett during her heyday in the 1990's. Sister Wendy, who died this week at 88, became an unlikely media star, inviting both television watchers and readers of her books into the fascinating world of painting and sculpture through the centuries. She was an unusual looking soul and I must admit that I found her rhapsodic descriptions of works of art rather off-putting, but she developed a huge fan base.
Sister Wendy was a "consecrated virgin" (wow) and a hermit, living in a secluded trailer. While she made lots of money from her success she gave most of it to charitable and religious causes. I do admire her personal commitment to simplicity and solitude, coupled with a deep love for beauty as expressed through art. She was spot-on in her awareness that the church, with all its flaws, had a profound influence on Western culture and she helped others understand how this was so.
It seems somehow fitting that Sister Wendy died the day after Christmas, given her great love for Mary, the mother of Jesus. And while she adored art, she assured us that it was nothing compared to her passion for God.
Take a look at the interview she did with Charlie Rose years ago.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQFNeRV_nGY&app=desktop
My Groundling blog today muses about Charles Darwin and the voyage of the Beagle
https://groundlingearthyheavenly.blogspot.com/2018/12/a-voyage-of-discovery.html
No comments:
Post a Comment