“Beauty is not an accessory…”

A collection of the work of artist Mandy Hain (+2023), longtime friend of our Community and sister of Sister Benedicta Marie, is now available online to view (or purchase in book form).

Best known for her sacred art and classes for children, this book is a compilation of Mandy’s work over the years, including sacred art, chapel work, decorative work, portraits, sketches, studies in oil, and her classes with children. Featuring many of her finished works, this collection also includes many of her studies, giving an idea of her artistic process. Quotations for her websites and interviews are also included, communicating Mandy’s approach to art and beauty in her own words.

Mandy explained her philosophy of a child’s capacity for beauty, “I believe that beauty is not an accessory to our lives, but a necessity through which we are exposed to the truth, and without it we cannot live fully in the image of the First Artist and Creator, or enjoy life in a fully human way. It is my joy to participate in exposing my students to images of light so that they may continue to recognize true beauty as they grow. I want to share with them the experience of creating beautiful images so that they know that they are able to create beautiful environments wherever they may be. I am always in amazement to see how well they understand what they see, and how creatively they are able to apply what they learn in class to make wonderful works of art. I believe that every child is an artist, because I think that art is a gift with which every person is endowed through their human nature, though it may be expressed in different ways!” 

After suffering with cancer for several years, Mandy entered eternal life on February 7, 2023. Her last big project was the new Christendom College Chapel of Christ the King in Front Royal, Virginia, dedicated two months after her death. Below is a short ‘Artisan Highlights’ video about this project.

photo on left: Mandy shows Sister Benedicta Marie her progress during the chapel’s construction (November 2020)