The Beginning of Miracles: XVI 1953

Corita Kent created "The Beginning of Miracles: XVI" with serigraphy, a printmaking technique, sometime in the mid-20th century. Kent was a Roman Catholic nun, and her art often blurred the lines between religious and pop imagery, a reflection of the social and cultural upheavals of the 1960s. The print's title evokes a sense of spiritual possibility, whilst the imagery is suggestive of mass media, protest, and counterculture. We should consider Kent's position within the Catholic Church, and the way that institutions mediated the relationship between art, faith, and social activism. Was her work embraced or resisted by the Church hierarchy? Did it align with or challenge dominant interpretations of Catholic doctrine? To understand Kent's art, we might explore archival sources such as Church documents, exhibition reviews, and her own writings. These would provide a richer understanding of her art's role in the religious and political dialogues of her time.