Aug 18, 2015 Corita Kent retrospective at the Pasadena Museum of California Art
I have to admit that I didn’t know much about Corita Kent when I entered her career-spanning retrospective at the PCMA last week. But the collection of works has something for anyone who is interested in silk screening, graphic art, or the intersection of art and activism.
Kent had a most unusual trajectory. The nun taught art at the Immaculate Heart College and her earlier works took corporate slogans and package design and gave them contrary, uplifting, and vaguely spiritual messages. The playful tone and vibrant colors are timeless, and her classroom rules for creativity look like something from a zine from the ’90s.
It’s interesting to see the influential Pop Art screen printer turn her attention from spiritual themes to social issues. The application of a nun’s graphic eye to King, Chavez, Kennedy, and the Vietnamese is eye popping and mind blowing–especially for a free-thinker like me.
Eventually, the Archbishop of Los Angeles had enough of Kent’s muckraking and rather than fight back she chose to leave the school, the Church, and even Los Angeles. She relocated to Boston to focus on her personal work. Unburdened from teaching, she was very prolific. The black-and-white tree piece is practically dark metal!
With bold graphics, humble spirit, and true heart, the retrospective is practically impossible to dislike. Someday Is Now: The Art of Corita Kent shows at PCMA (not far from Old Town, Pasadena) until November 1. The catalog and mugs are pretty nice, too!
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