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What a story this is! My mother, Iva, was an artist who studied with Sister Mary Corita at Immaculate Heart College in Los Angeles in the fifties and sixties. Corita was a prolific artist who produced serigraphs which reflected her religious background as well as the political and social issues of that time. Her art is still relevant today and there is a renewed interest in her work.

Corita left the order in the late sixties. She continued to create art and went by her family name, Corita Kent. She made Boston her home and passed on in 1986.

Iva became one of Corita’s apprentices and ultimately her de facto secretary. She helped her with her correspondence and the planning of her exhibits. I remember going to Immaculate Heart and meeting Corita as a young girl. It was a vibrant and stimulating place.

I am so grateful to discover all the Corita art and memorabilia that Iva had collected over the years. I have many original signed pieces. And especially meaningful are the prints that mom had signed to myself and my sisters.

Sister Maria Art_6809Iva was an artist in her own right — extraordinarily creative and prolific. (Of course, she IS my mom and I think that she was pretty terrific!) Up until her death, at 93, she was expressing her talent.

I had an exceptionally close relationship with her. She was my muse, my inspiration, and champion. I loved and adored her. I tell my friends that my mother was ‘the husband and daughter I never had.’ We had a special bond.

Iva worked in every possible medium. She would say that she did ‘everything except macrame!’ I hope that you enjoy her art as much as I do!

Photos by Lee Peterson