It has been 200 years since Seton's passing, and her selfless contribution left behind to flourish into the legacy we now know today.
"The first end I propose in our daily work is to do the will of God; secondly, to do it in the manner he wills it; and thirdly to do it because it is his will."
These words by Elizabeth Ann Seton describe her life. It has been 200 years since Seton's passing, and her selfless contribution left behind to flourish into the legacy we now know today. The Studio San Giuseppe Art Gallery here at the Mount decided to honor her life and legacy for the 200th anniversary of her death, on January 4, 1821.
Gallery director, Velma Dailey, said, "Sister Karen Elliot and Michelle Arnold approached me for an idea they had. They were asking for a few artworks in the gallery when they were going to do the celebration week in November." Dailey loved their idea and wanted to expand it into an exhibition.
What seems to be a popular piece is the mural that says, "Hazard yet forward." It is a piece that you can't miss and will soon be well known. It is eye-catching due to its bright colors, geometric shapes, and eye-catching details. The Mater Dei Chapel inspired Dailey. She and Michelle Arnold took a walk to the chapel, then Dailey started taking photos of the symbols in the stained glass windows.
"I looked at them on my computer. I started getting ideas. So I printed them out and started to cut them out, creating a paper collage," she said.
Dailey called Arnold over, and she helped with the finer details. That's when Dailey gave the layout to Kurt Grannan, Associate Professor of Graphic Design. After that, 24 Art Guild students hand-painted it. Of course, a masterpiece like the mural does not happen overnight. It was a team effort and took countless hours from everyone who contributed.
The "Elizabeth Ann Seton: Life and Legacy" exhibition is open until Nov. 7, 2021. You can see the mural and pieces by Sisters of Charity and high school students from Seton and DePaul Cristo Rey high schools. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays 1 to 5 p.m. Masks are required inside the art gallery.
I highly encourage you to see Seton's life and legacy through beautiful artworks and photos.
Photo credit: Art executed students in The Art Guild