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Artists Corita Kent and Lisa Congdon ‘91 are sparking wonder and awe at the Saint Mary’s College Museum of Art.  Image c/o author By Eleni Kvochak American Journalism Student The exhibition Hold It Lightly is currently open at the Saint Mary’s College Museum of Art (SMCMoA), featuring original printed work by artist Lisa Congdon ’91. Displayed from September 13 through December 10, 2023, the exhibition signifies Congdon’s first solo museum showcase. Hold it Lightly features fifty-seven original serigraphs alongside the 1960s pop artistry of Corita Kent. Exhibited in conversation, both Congdon and Kent utilize unique graphics and vibrant colors to convey powerful messages. This union is sparking wonder and awe at the Saint Mary’s College Museum of Art.
Corita Kent (B.1918-D.1986) was an American artist with an innovative approach to design and education. Within the heroes & sheroes series, her work highlights what was really going on from the year 1968 to 1969. Whether it was political turmoil, the Vietnam War, assassinations or the Civil Rights Movement, she managed to cover it all in some capacity. Instead of creating art full of displeasure, Corita transformed everyday material into sources of inspiration. “Corita shifts the narrative, bringing in messages of hope and joy,” Museum curator Brit Roye explains. By utilizing silk screen technology, Kent takes to news media, like magazine clippings or presidential imagery to showcase exactly how entities were talking about current social events. Her art acts as a vehicle and outlet for expressing larger messages of hope. For example, a large sector of the series includes Martin Luther King Jr. from his peak to his untimely end. Expanding further, this body of work did not require museum display. It was created to be multiplied, shared across the nation, and conjure feelings of hopefulness. There is no question that this twenty-nine-serigraph exhibition still resonates with the current political and social climate. Corita Kent’s revolutionary work stands up to the test of time and continues to influence artists today. Thus bringing forth, the delightful Lisa Congdon. Initially, the museum curators reached out to Congdon because she is an alumna of the college. Philip Goodwin, a representative from the Alumni Engagement Office speaks to the specialness of this exhibition saying, “Lisa is not only an alum, but she is also the first alumna to have her work exhibited in the Museum of Art.” One room of the exhibit is dedicated solely to her Saint Mary’s College experience. Connecting with Lisa it was evident there is a deep connection between Kent and Congdon. More specifically, Royer states, “There is a thread of connection between one artist in the 21st century to another artist in the 21st century.” Congdon’s body of work is greatly influenced by Corita. Especially, when it comes to curating and embracing joy in all things. Through the use of serigraph and digital practice, Congdon has developed her own vocabulary. When taking a close look at her work, one might notice the same evil eye, heart, or bubbled lettering from one piece to another. Rather than using mundane and moody imagery, she employs vibrant colors and playful graphics to convey powerful messages. Much of this stems from the concept of, “Joyous Revolutionary.” Simply put, discussing the political climate in a spirited manner has the ability to spark a true revolution. For instance, one print depicts a tiger and reads, “Protect the Vulnerable.” At first glance, viewers see a powerful tiger, delivering a strong message. Yet, when diving deeper, one notices the animal shedding a tear. In conversation about the piece, it was revealed that this print was intended to respond to the 2017 Trump election. Royer observes, this piece brings ”visibility to human rights not being acknowledged in our country.” Congdon creates art with intention. She beautifully delivers compelling messages with the genuine hope to generate themes of joy, liberation, and radical inclusion. In addition to gifting the MoA with this original series, she donated a small selection of prints for auction. All proceeds are in support of the Museum. Years later, the revolutionary wit and style of Kent carries on through the artistry of Congdon. Together, the exhibitions combine pieces of historical relevance, present day topics, and a lust for Saint Mary’s College. A current senior at Saint Mary’s proclaims, “The Saint Mary’s Museum of Art is special to me because it serves as a space filled with inspiration and nostalgia. Each time I walk through the museum, I am overwhelmed with all of the beautiful and powerful pieces of art.” Kent and Congdon are revolutionaries in every way. They express important social issues through the modality of art with playful images, funky fonts, and bold colorings. Further, they aim to cultivate change and pave the way for others to dabble in their own artistic expression. Kent and Congdon create a space for conversation and hopeful thinking. They simply long to produce joy in all things, especially in times of turmoil. The title, Hold It Lightly, means just that; do not take anything so seriously, instead think and hold dialogue about events in a light and joyful manner. By doing so, a radical revolution of joy, love, and liberation might occur, just as Kent and Congdon set out to do. The museum is free to students and visitors. Additionally, daily Tours of the Exhibition are offered daily. For more information, please visit, https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/museum-art.
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