One of my deepest pleasures in life is connecting people. Recognizing the range of beautiful humans I have the privilege of knowing and being in relationship with, I hold dear the opportunity to introduce friends from different parts of my world to one another. This past month, a series of these opportunities presented themselves, when my Ghanaian artist friend Dorothy Amenuke came to town, and we had a slumber party of sorts at St. Jane House in North Minneapolis. While I no longer own my own home for hosting such international friends, I do have access to a delightful spot that is increasingly growing in popularity for such cultural exchange opportunities. St. Jane House, so named after Jane de Chantal, co-foundress of the Visitation Monastery, is the lovely retreat and dialogue space run by the Vis Sisters of North Minneapolis and their lay companion, Brian Mogren. The following are images made possible through the St. Jane House affiliation and the 36 hour whirlwind of connection and conversation that ensued.
Big Thanks go out to:Brian Mogren
The Visitation Sisters of North Minneapolis
The Centering Prayer Group
Janet Hagberg, Redeemer Center for Life, (member of the Centering Prayer Group, who had this idea to connect Dorothy with other women who work with fabric).
Harriet Oyera, The Living Room, Redeemer Center for Life (Member of the Centering Prayer Group.)
The Colonial and Redeemer Lutheran Quilting Groups (who convened and shared work with Dorothy)
Pastor Kelly, Redeemer Lutheran Church
Trish Kloeckl, Friend of the Visitation Sisters (who stopped to meet Dorothy and help select a piece of her batik for the wall at St. Jane House.)
Ann Dillard, Project Safety Nets, Senegal, West Africa, (who stopped by St. Jane House to connect with another woman in leadership around such life, sustainability, creative arts education issues.)
Barbara Cox, Multicultural Voices Initiative, Perpich Center for Arts Education (who introduced me to Dorothy)
Pat Black, Fiber Artist, St. Paul Host for Dorothy
Dorothy Amenuke, Fiber Artist, Sculptor, Kumasi, Ghana
Dorothy Amenuke warmly greeted by Harriet Oyera at the
Redeemer Church BBQ in North Minneapolis
Redeemer and Colonial Quilters Connecting with Batik Artist, Dorothy Amenuke
Janet Hagberg, Redeemer Lutheran, in line for the community meal with Dorothy
Introducing Pastor Kelly to Dorothy
A warm welcome from Harriet Oyera to the Living Room at the Redeemer Center for Life
Quilters admiring Dorothy's work
So many fabrics
Harriet shares her quilting work with Dorothy
Trish Kloeckl and Dorothy Amenuke chilling at St. Jane House
Ann Dillard, from North Minneapolis, presents her work in Senegal, West Africa
The juxtaposition of Ann and Dorothy underneath the Visitation
Painting of Elizabeth and Mary makes me smile.
1 comment:
My Dear Melissa,
You do make some excellent connections as if you are a conduit of destiny and fate, purpose and faith. Wishes of a blessed and peaceful day to you.
With love, Ann
Ann Dillard K.I.P. Consulting Services, LLC Phone: (763)521-4825 Fax: (763)521-4830 Email: KIPConsult@msn.com Sharing Knowledge and Strategies that emPower You to Reach Your Goals!
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