Edith Stein

Edith Stein: Jew, Philosopher, Sister, Saint

About the Art:

This is a mixed media fiber art piece, layer hand dyed, printed, and painted fabric combined withcommercial fabric. The face, hands and legs are painted photographs, scanned, manipulated and printed on cotton sateen. The body and garments are applique with stitch for accent. The deep blue background is hand dyed indigo fabric with these words stitched repeatedly behind the figures: Jewish, daughter, sister, student, seeker, atheist, philosopher, writer, healer, teacher, Christian, nun, Saint. The words are there to acknowledge and remind the viewer of the complexity and layered nature of life experience and identity. I chose to use the exact same face in each Edith panel to convey the idea that this is the same person throughout. In both earthly forms she carries a book(s) to symbolize her studious, thoughtful, writer self. The saint form is cloaked in a loose weave cotton as she floats away from the earthly bonds. 42×35″ in three separate panels. Created Fall 2023

Why make art about Edith?

There are complicated questions and heated conversations about who Edith Stein – Sister Teresa Benedicta of the Cross was? Jewish? Catholic? Neither? Both? Some feel that to martyr Edith is to Christianize the Holocaust, what about all the others murdered by the Nazi’s? Why is this one woman a saint? What box does she tick off, who can claim her as their own.

I was drawn to the story of Edith Stein/Sister Teresa Benedicta of the Cross for just this complicated mess of identities. In this piece I try to make it clear that in the three identities shown she is the same person throughout. She is all the aspects of her experience. She is Jewish, daughter, sister, student, seeker, atheist, philosopher, writer, healer, teacher, Christian, nun, Saint. She is all these things at once. It seems important to highlight the messiness of identity in this time when society is pushing for labels and boxes to be checked about race, gender, and religious identity. Is there a way to move from narrowness to expansiveness? One way is by letting all aspects of our identities flourish and coexist.

Blessed Edith Stein – Sister Teresa Benedicta of the Cross showed us a way.