Gabriel Mary Hoare SL
By Leann Detherage
W
hen Sister Gabriel Mary Hoare (Gabe) was first told about the article for the Loretto Magazine featuring artists, she beamed and questioned, “You want to interview me?” She was humbled and gracious as she talked about her art form. She recalled that she was introduced to Sister Corita Kent during her first mission at Immaculate Heart in California and admired her so much. She introduced Gabe to serigraphy, or silk-screen printing, which she described as “a very painterly art” in which she would paint on a screen. Because one color was printed at a time, several screens were needed to produce the design. Due to the physical nature of this art, having to pull large screens out with her arms, she later switched to painting with water colors. A good friend in Missouri, Carol Colligan CoL, describes Gabe as someone destined for the arts, given that her mother was a music teacher, and the family enjoyed singing and playing the piano. She believes that Gabriel was gifted. Gabe went on to major in fine arts and subsequently taught in the art department at Nerinx Hall High School and Webster University, Webster Groves, Mo., for 33 years.
Sister Gabriel Mary Hoare in silkscreen class, 1988.
Both Carol and Gabriel fondly recall vacations at Cape Cod in which Gabe would be inspired just by looking out a window or door and painting the vision before her. This was captured in a painting of a white wicker chair that so beautifully made the viewer “feel” the experience, as if they were getting ready to sit down and enjoy the day. When asked about what the work has meant to her, Gabriel explained that being able to share the “personal gift of yourself” has been a great joy. Many have voiced that they have been a recipient of her work as a “thank you” or for a special occasion and have treasured her talent.
“Summer Afternoon at Garden House,” watercolor
Background canvas by Kerstin Frank
Spring 2016 • 11