The Work of Our Hands

Sister Magdalen Schimanski was a well-established painter and poet who taught at the College of St. Catherine for many years. For the past few years she had been making original, one of a kind greeting cards using cut and torn rice paper. She displayed them each year at Bethany Convent, where she lived, for one month in the fall before giving them all away. Several of her paintings hang at Carondelet Center and at St. Kate's, and she had exhibitions at various galleries and museums as well.

She was always interested in my various artistic endeavors, asking me what I was working on and encouraging me to continue, and we enjoyed some very satisfying conversations over the years. Sister Magdalen died last week at the age of 89. Here is her obituary.

In her memory, I'd like to share four of her leaf cards, which she made in 2005.

Let the beauty of God be upon us,

and establish the work of our hands...

Psalm 90

All photographs by Baya Clare, CSJ unless otherwise noted.