What's Happening

April 8, 2022, Adrian, Michigan – As organizations throughout the world are starting to open as the COVID-19 pandemic seemingly fades, a special exhibit that explores life during the pandemic through the artwork of eight Adrian Dominican Sisters, Associates, and friends is opening at INAI: A Space Apart's art gallery.
 
Art in the Time of COVID opens on Sunday, May 1, 2022, and remains on exhibit through Sunday, August 28, 2022. An artists’ reception is from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Sunday, May 1, 2022. The public is invited to both the exhibit and the reception.
 
All guests will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms at an outdoor tent before entering the INAI Gallery. Masks and social distancing are required. 
 
The exhibit features the artwork of Sisters Barbara Cervenka, OP, Mary J. Hickey, OP, Aneesah McNamee, OP, Suzanne Schreiber, OP, and Nancyann Turner, OP; Adrian Dominican Associate Judith Engel; and friends Debra Henning and Mame Jackson.
 
During the early months of the pandemic, Sister Barbara called together this group of friends to respond to the unique time through their art. They gathered monthly on Zoom to share their work and gave expression to their thoughts, feelings, and observations through a variety of media, including drawing, painting, collage, journaling, quilting, graphic arts, photography, and video production. “We wanted to recognize the singularity of [the pandemic], how unusual and how difficult this time is,” Sister Barbara said.
 
Art in the Time of COVID is dedicated to the memory of 14 Adrian Dominican Sisters who died of COVID-19 in the winter of 2021. Their names will be posted in the exhibit. Visitors are invited to write the names of loved ones whom they lost to the pandemic so that they can be remembered as well.
 
INAI (in-EYE), a Japanese word meaning within, is a place for quiet reflection and art and is open to the public. The INAI Gallery is adjacent to the north entrance of Weber Retreat and Conference Center on the Adrian Dominican Sisters’ Motherhouse Campus. Enter the Eastern-most driveway to the complex and follow the signs to Weber Center.
 
Gallery hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and by appointment by calling 313-608-9181. 

August 24, 2021, Adrian, Michigan – Photography as “visual poetry” and seeing with the “eyes of the heart” are two themes in the artistic works of Sister Suzanne Schreiber, OP, and Rev. Cathy Johnson. These works will be shown at INAI Gallery.

The exhibits – Quiet Places, Sacred Spaces by Sister Suzanne and Glimpses of Grace: Reflections on our Shared Life by Cathy – are on display from Tuesday, September 7, 2021, through Sunday, October 31, 2021. An artists’ reception is from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday, September 12, 2021, at the INAI Gallery. The public is cordially invited to both the exhibit and the reception.

Due to COVID-19 protocols, guests will be screened outside at the tent before entering the INAI Gallery. Masks and social distancing are required. Refreshments will be served outside.

Quiet Places, Sacred Spaces is a retrospective of black and white photographs, originally made on film and then digitized and toned to a soft brown, giving them the feel of endurance that transcends time. “Removing the distraction of color enhances the aspects of the photo that may not be noticed,” Sister Suzanne explained. Each image invites the viewer to step into a quiet place where the subject may be stillness, light, shadow, openings, textures, or movement.

Sister Suzanne Schreiber, OP

Sister Suzanne holds an undergraduate degree in art from Siena Heights College (now University) in Adrian; a master’s degree in art education from Wayne State University, Detroit; and a master of religious studies degree from Mundelein College, Chicago. She is the Coordinator of INAI: A Space Apart.

Glimpses of Grace, a collection of images and words, invites viewers to see with the eyes of their hearts to notice more closely the presence of the Holy One in our shared life. Inspired by the course “Eyes of the Heart: Photography as a Contemplative Practice,” Cathy shifted from “taking photos” to “receiving images.” In her years as Chaplain for the Adrian Dominican Sisters, she created a Glimpse for each Sister who died. 

Rev. Cathy Johnson

Cathy received her Master of Divinity Degree from McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago, and has taken several courses through the Abbey of the Arts, an online global monastery. She finds great inspiration in the natural world, especially at her family’s cottage on a small island located on Grand Lake, Michigan.

Both photographer-poets can be called “contemplative artists” as they approach their work with reverence and intention. Both use photography as a spiritual practice.

INAI: A Space Apart is adjacent to Weber Retreat and Conference Center, 1257 E. Siena Heights Drive, on the campus of the Adrian Dominican Sisters’ Motherhouse. Enter the Eastern-most driveway of the complex and follow the signs to Weber Center. Gallery hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily. INAI (in-EYE) is a Japanese word meaning within. INAI is a place for quiet reflection and art and is open to the public.

For information, contact Sister Suzanne at 517-266-4090 or [email protected].