SMA

Sister Mary Agnetis Memorial photos posted 20 months after installation. 

SMA Memorial: Concept to Installation

SMA memorial on track for NDA Dedication Sunday, October 28, 2018.

Marble arrived yesterday. Plinth is turned. To do: patina, etching, assembly, install.
Stay tuned for progress pics, and updates on list of people to thank:

• Seana Dahlenburg Hue NDA '81 - Inkind Graphic Design
• Christine Dickman Huskisson '81 - Marble Donor
• Janet VonHandorf Schmidt '81 - Wood Donor
• Sr. Mary Dolores Giblin - SND Archivist
• Sr. Mary Reina Arlinghaus,  In Memory of our Beloved Art Teacher
• Dr. Laura Dickman Koehl '75 - logistics
• Carol Rekow '61 - Archivist
• Gary Bassett, Fine Woodworker, Rockler
• John Cline, Casting Arts & Technology Foundry
• Scott and Brendan Lewin, Lewin Monuments
• Adam Schmidt, Fine Woodworker
• Jacob Swindal, Alabama Marble 

Sr. Mary Agnetis Memorial is a step closer to completion

John Cline at Casting Arts and Technology never fails to deliver exceptional casting expertise. Could not be happier with the bronze cast of Sr. Mary Agnetis. Thanks, John and crew!

You can see more of their casting and restoration work HERE and the inspiration for this project in an earlier blog post (Oct. 30, 2013) HERE.

Next steps for Sr.MA:

• Patina,
• Base Design and Fabrication, and
• Installation at NDA.

Polytek Workshop

In mid October, I returned to Polytek-- four years after my last visit. This trip to Easton, PA produced a silicone mold and a resin cast of Sr. Agnetis, a revered principal of Notre Dame Academy in Park Hills, KY.

After the workshop, I took a quick trip to Westfield NJ before turning back with a van full of casting material from Polytek.

Half Century Ago...

The Legendary, Sr. Mary Agnetis  

Notre Dame Academy's 50th year in Park Hills (October 28, 1963) prompted my latest project.  I didn't know Sr. Mary Agnetis personally but as a 4th generation NDA student, I heard so much about her. My cousins, aunts, sister, mother, grandmothers, and even a great grandfather who attended the original elementary school, benefited from the many religious who have and still devote their lives to teaching young woman at the Academy.  This work is dedicated to the Sisters of Notre Dame, particularly my inspirational teachers-- nine of them still grace the halls. 

Principal Sr. Mary Agnetis administered to the spiritual needs of faculty and students. She is legendary  for raising funds to construct the new building through the power of her pen that caught the attention of NDA benefactor,  Conrad Hilton.  Aiming to capture in the model Sr. A's "sweet" spirit, that was lacking in formal photos, I am indebted to Sisters Reina and Dolores, and Carol Rekow, for their archives, discerning eyes, and personal memories of their mentor.  
More about her legacy HERE. 

Influential as my memorable teachers who carried on the life-force of Sr. A, are the life-long friendships formed at Notre Dame over 30 years ago.  Grounded in faith, our steadfast bonds make us stronger individuals today.  Thank you for your unconditional and unending support.   You know who you are.  Happy 50th, classmates of '81.

This year is also a special year for one of my earliest mentors, NDA's beloved and semi-retired art teacher, who taught many art fundamentals and other life lessons to my mother, sister, me, and thousands of other students.  Happy 70th jubilee, Sr. Mary Reina!