Sacred Waters is a contemplative body of work by Sister Isabel Rafferty, inviting viewers into the quiet, transformative space found at the water’s edge.

Opening Reception
Friday, March 20 4:30 – 6:30pm
Artist Talk: 5:30

Artist Statement

My most recent body of work, Sacred Waters, is a visual meditation on the quietude and interconnectedness found at the water’s edge. Whether navigating the Spider Lake Chain in Northern Wisconsin or the familiar reaches of Lake Wingra in Madison, these paintings began as moments experienced from the seat of my kayak. For me, the act of slipping away from the shore is a spiritual transition. As I pull away from the land, the noise of the world recedes, settling my soul and allowing me to experience my place as a small part of a vast, living whole. These twelve water-soluble oil paintings are an attempt to capture that profound gift of solitude.

In this series, I focus on the interplay of elements: the ever-changing sky, the wind’s conversation with the clouds and waves, and the vibrant life growing along the margins. Using a medium that mirrors the fluidity of my subjects, I seek to translate the reflective surfaces and shifting light of the lake into a permanent record of a fleeting moment. To be on the water is to witness a world in constant motion; through these works, I invite the viewer to share in that stillness and reconsider the sacred beauty of our natural landscapes.

Artist Biography: Sister Isabel Rafferty, OP

Sister Isabel Rafferty is a Dominican Sister of Sinsinawa and the current Artist in Residence at Sinsinawa Mound, WI. With an academic background including a BS, MAAT, and MFA, Sister Isabel has spent her career exploring the intersection of creativity, healing, and education. Her diverse professional journey ranges from elementary education and clinical Art Therapy to her recent retirement from Edgewood College, where she taught Digital Art and Design to undergraduates.

Though her teaching spanned the digital realm, her personal practice is anchored in the luminous depth of water-soluble oils. Her work moves fluidly between the intimate detail of portraiture and the expansive serenity of Lakescapes, reflecting a lifelong dedication to finding the extraordinary within the natural world and the human spirit.