Art Exhibit Brochure

Journey of

Beauty

Art by the Sylvania Franciscan Sisters

Art Exhibition June 14-August 2, 2025 Main Library - Toledo Lucas County Public Library

Cover August, 14, 1950 Sylvania Francisan Sisters in Santa Barbara workshop, working on designs for the ceiling tiles later installed in Duns Scotus Library.

Displayed for the first time in a public gallery, this body of work highlights the deep connection between faith, community, and artistic expression.

Bowl of Red Roses,

Oil on canvas, Mother M. Adelaide, c. 1905

The Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania, Ohio, founded in 1916 by Mother M. Adelaide Sandusky, live in community as vowed religious women inspired by the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi. Mother Adelaide believed that beauty reveals the Creator, and this belief continues to shape the Sisters’ way of life and creativity.

A talented artist herself, Mother Adelaide began a diverse collection of thousands of pieces of art from around the world that fill the hallways, corridors and landscape of the Sisters’ Motherhouse and Lourdes University campus.

1 Sister Margaret Hall, OSF 100th Anniversary Quilt 2016 Fiber 65” x 30”

2 Sister Helen Chmura, OSF Dove 1964 Ceramic on black walnut 40” x 19” x 11 1/2”

3

Sister Roselynn Humbert, OSF Welcome

c. 1990 Chipboard print on paper 12 1/4” x 12 1/4”

4

Sister Magdala, Davlin, OSF Annunciation 2016 Linocut print on paper 12” x 12”

5

Sister Ursula Jay, OSF Lillies c. 1990 Watercolor on paper 26 1/4” x 19 1/4”

6

Sister Magdala Davlin, OSF St. Francis 2023 Ceramic and wood 24” x 8” x 7”

7

Sister Agneta Ganzel, OSF Mosque c. 1985 Watercolor on paper 24 1/2” x 28 1/2”

8

Janet Snyder, OSF Assisi

c. 2000 Acrylic on paper diorama 21” x 28 1/4”

9 Sister Jane Mary Sorosiak, OSF Portiuncula

c. 2005 Watercolor on paper 20” x 24 1/2”

10 Sister Rosine Sobczak, OSF Oriental Crane c. 2000 Embroidery 23” x 15”

11 Sister Name, OSF OSF Sister Eileen Ripsin, Title Within: Interior Chamber MediaShell of Date, a Nautilus 2008 Photograph 12” x 14”

12 Sister Sheila Shea, OSF Bird in Hand c. 1980 Photograph 17” x 14”

13

Sister Roselynn Humbert, OSF Nativity

c. 1990 Chipboard print on paper 14” x 16 1/2”

14 Sister Sheila Shea, OSF Succulent c. 1980 Photograph 12 1/4” x 15 1/4”

15 Sister Michaeline Lesiak, OSF Alleluia c. 1970 Illustration on paper 35” x 25”

16

Sister Eileen Ripsin, OSF Nautilas 2020 Oxidized copper & mixed media sculpture 20” x 20” x 5”

17 Sister Rosine Sobczak, Sister Name, OSF OSF A Winter’s Title Night 2000 Date,c. Media Crewel embroidery 18” x 14”

18

Sister Roselynn Humbert, OSF Springshine

c. 1990 Screenprint on paper 9 1/2” x 11 1/2”

19

Sister Josephine Dybza, OSF Haiti 2024 Acrylic on canvas 14” x 12”

20

Sister Sharon Havelak, OSF Radiant Glow: Cosmic Mandala Series 2025 Colored pencil on paper 14” x 14”

21

Sister Sharon Havelak, OSF Quiet Stillness: Cosmic Mandala Series 2025 Colored pencil on paper 14” x 14”

22

Sister Sharon Havelak, OSF Ever Expanding: Cosmic Mandala Series 2025 Colored pencil on paper 14” x 14”

23

Sister Magdala Davlin, OSF Hemingway’s Backyard 2017 Oil on canvas 24” x 18”

24

Sister Carol Hoffman, OSF The Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi c. 1990, Cross-stitch 14” x 11”

25 Sister Sharon Havelak, OSF Three Deep 1990 Screenprint on paper 12” x 12”

26 Sister Jane Mary Sorosiak, OSF Mother M. Adelaide Sandusky 1994 Acrylic on paper 69 3/4” x 27 1/2”

27 Sister Ruth Marie Kachelek, OSF San Damiano Design c. 1960 Egg tempura on wood 20 1/2” x 14 1/2”

28 Sister Mary Peter Kaminski, OSF Kyanite & Quartz Jewelry c. 2010 Kyanite stone & quartz

29 Sister Sharon Havelak, OSF Blessings 1986 Screenprint on glass 15” x 12”

30

Sister Agneta Ganzel, OSF St. Francis in Ecstasy c. 1975 Ceramic 12” x 10” x 7”

31

Sister Rosine Sobczak, OSF Iris with Butterfly 2000 Needlepoint 23 1/4” x 26 1/2”

32

Sister Agneta Ganzel, OSF Maumee Shore c. 1980 Watercolor on paper 27” x 21”

33 Sister Josephine Dybza, OSF Bittersweet c. 2000 Graphite on paper 30” x 24”

34 Sister Barb Vano, OSF Hope c. 2019 Photography 20” x 16”

35 Sister Magdala Davlin, OSF Dorothy Day 2023 Intaglio on paper 21” x 17”

36

Sister Agneta Ganzel, OSF St. Francis & Gubbio c. 1975 Watercolor on paper 20 1/4” x 26 1/4”

37 Sister Josephine Dybza, OSF Depression 2024 Acrylic on canvas 14” x 12”

38

Sister Barb Vano, OSF Streets of Assisi, Italy 2019 Photograph 18 1/4” x 21 1/4”

39 Sister Sharon Havelak, OSF Convergence 1983 Watercolor on paper 28 1/2” x 22 1/4”

40 Sister Mary Jane Sorosiak, OSF

Portrait of Mother M. Adelaide, 1990 Graphite on paper 17” x 14”

41

Sister Barb Vano, OSF St. Francis Basilica in Assisi, Italy 2019 Photograph 11 3/4” x 35 1/4”

42 Sister Agneta Ganzel, OSF Sister Faith 1978 Watercolor on paper 21” x 17”

43 Sister Ruth Marie Kachelek, OSF Sante Fe c. 1970 Ceramic vase

44 Sister Magdala Davlin, OSF Our Lady of Perpetual Help 2025 Ceramic mural on cement board 29 1/2” x 25 1/2”

45

Sister Michaeline Lesiak, OSF Fall Leaves c. 1960 Mixed media 24” x 18”

46 Sister Janet Snyder, OSF Nesting c. 2000 Oil on canvas 16” x 20”

47

Sister Helen Chmura, OSF St. Francis in Ecstasy with Birds c. 1970 Oil on canvas 27” x 23”

48 Sister Sharon Havelak, OSF Ascension 1979 Oil on canvas 29” x 29”

49

Sister Michaeline Lesiak, OSF

Lord, Make me an Instrument of Your Peace 1950 Photograph of original stained glass 31 1/2” x 26 1/2”

50

Sister Michaeline Lesiak, OSF Forgiving

1950 Photograph of original stained glass 31 1/2” x 26 1/2”

51 Sister Magdala Davlin, OSF First Violin 2016 Watercolor on paper 27” x 23”

52

Mother M. Adelaide Sandusky, OSF Red Roses in Brass Bowl c. 1905 Oil on canvas 27” x 38 1/2”

53

Sister Jane Mary Sorosiak, OSF Arches & Chandeliers c. 1974 Oil on canvas 36” x 24”

54

Sister Name, OSF Sister Jane Mary Title Sorosiak, OSF Date, Media Stigmata c. 1971 Oil on canvas 56” x 36”

55 Sister Janet Snyder, OSF Arches c. 2000 Oil on canvas 37 1/2” x 25 1/2 “

56

Sister Janet Snyder, OSF Inquisitive Cat c. 2000 Oil on canvas 27” x 33”

57 Sister Magdala Davlin, OSF Mother M. Adelaide Sandusky 2018 Ceramic bust 17” x 14” x 12”

58 Sister Judy Zielinski, OSF Of Evergreens and Excellence 2024 Film 6:02 min.

59

Sister Eileen Ripsin, OSF Emerging 2024 Mixed media (on pedestal at center)

In Thanks

This exhibit came together with the help of many, beginning with our Chief People and Culture Officer Mechelle Zarou who had the vision to see the potential collaboration between the Sylvania Franciscan Artists and the Toledo Public Library.

We’re grateful to the library staff for sharing their beautiful space, and their prompt and efficient support as we brought the exhibit together.

A very special thanks to the Sylvania Franciscan Campus Art Committee for jurying the pieces, including: Sister Shannon Schrein, Sister Magdala Davlin, Sister Sharon Havelak, Patrick DuBreuil, Dr. Elizabeth Wise, and Christine Deemer.

And profound gratitude to Mother M. Adelaide Sandusky, whose love of God helped her create a culture of faith, kindness, joy, and love of beauty in NW Ohio.

With much thanks, Christine Deemer Art & Rare Book Curator Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania, OH Maegen Anders Cataloguing and Communications Assistant Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania, OH

www.sistersosf.org