Sinsinawa
Spectrum
A Congregation News Magazine
An Artist and Her Work
by Priscilla Wood, OP
Sr. Stephanie Stauder The fifth annual Heritage art show, now on display in the Mound Gallery through Aug. 8, features a retrospective of the work of Stephanie Stauder, OP (1918–2010).
What makes this exhibit special? I believe it is in seeing a collection like this (and this is only a portion of her work) that Stephanie’s artistic vision and breadth is revealed. From a few of her early works (she called them “studies”) to the large-sized abstracts of her later years, her paintings reveal not only a willingness to take on new challenges in technique and subject, but demonstrate the depth of her spirituality and her inner life. I am most grateful to all who worked to bring a multitude of paintings from Edgewood College and to those individual Sisters and friends who shared theirs as well.
Bob Tarrell, a friend and fellow art teacher at Edgewood College, said this about Stephanie: “She was one of those special artists comfortable with both realism and abstraction . . . she was inspired by Romanesque architecture, Italian windows and doors, the landscape of New Mexico and Wisconsin, aerial views from airplanes, angels, light and shadows, and patterns. She loved her work and was dedicated to it.”
As she honored us with her gift of seeing and creating, so we honor her memory with this glimpse into her life’s work as a master teacher; a master painter; and a wonderful friend, aunt, mentor, and Dominican who preached to all through the gift she shared so generously.