Artists Behind Ariston
The professors of Art at St. Catherine throughout the latter half of the last century were renowned for their own skill as well as for the quality of education that they provided. Even by looking at the handful of names on the staff list for the 50 Ariston journals in this collection it is apparent that many students continued a life long relationship with the arts.
Here you will find a sampling of artists who had their start working on the Ariston journal.
Jan Geisen
Cover Artist, May 1972
As an artist Jan Geisen began her career interested in photography and in silk screen media. This Ariston cover from May 1972 was her one cover art piece while working on the Ariston journal. In the cover photograph the skill of her photography is evident in the thoughtful way she explores the contrast between curves, roughness, light, and dark.
Today she still enjoys photography, especially working with digital images which can be adapted and edited. Her main outlet as an artist, however, is polymer clay. Geisen creates striking clay jewelry pieces whose qualities are not dissimilar to the visual contrast seen in her photography. She sells her works at local art shows and online.
Sister Celine Charpentier '70
Art Advisor, 1976 - 79
Sister Celine Charpentier graduated from St. Catherine in 1970 and by the mid-1970s was working at the school as an art and drawing professor. She also joined the team of the Ariston journal and served as the Art Advisor from 1976 onward through the end of our collection's scope. Over the course of her career she was beloved by students who expressed that she was one of the best teachers that they had encountered.
In the Summer 1976 issue of The Ark, a publication by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, she spoke on the topic of "the artist in religious life" and whether those terms were dissociated to one another. She expressed her thoughts on her relationship to art and her religious life:
"I came into the community when I was 35 and I thought the community would hold the same values as I, as an artist. Individuality and personal vision and doing your own thing were not anti-establishment or reactionary but were rather needing the community to have that vision fed and supported and hassled and nurtured. [...] I was lucky, I think. I hear the history of people who shared something different. I've been in for about 10 years. I came in when "spirituality" and "theology" were changing to "person" and "the mission of Christ" thing- modes of praying and reading scripture that were unheard of before- that you say what it says to you and that personal vision was flowering and coming into religious life in a way quite different than what it had been. It was a complete accident that I happened to come in at this time. I know people who as artists have not experienced community the way I did, but I find it correlated now- my work, with the direction the community is taking."
Nancy Hanily-Dolan '77
Cover Artist, Fall 1975
Art Editor, 1976 - 1977
Nancy Hanily-Dolan was involved with the Ariston journal most of the time that she studied at St. Catherine. Her singular credited cover piece is one of the more visually attention-grabbing works of covers in our collection. In a bright, sunshine-y yellow and with concentric circles drawing your eye to "Ariston" it's a hard sight to miss.
Though skilled at print design, Hanily-Dolan's main love in art is pottery. In additon to being involved with many local pottery organizations and exhibitions she also teaches the craft. A pottery teacher at Wayzata High School, she has been honored by her district with a "Career Teacher Award".
Jane Tilka '79
Cover Artist, Fall 1977 & Spring 1978
Associate Art Editor, 1977
Jane Tilka graduated from St. Catherine in 1979 and within four years opened her own design studio, Tilka Designs, which now is celebrating its 40th year. Hired by corporations, educational institutions, and other organizations her studio is "focused on brand development and the creation of comprehensive visual systems" according to her business' online advertising.
As well as being a highly skilled designer, Tilka is also well known for being excellent at marketing. In an interview for Communication Arts Magazine the Minenapolis business owner described her thoughts on design and advertising:
“Designers can really learn from the advertising industry. Ads are not directly tied to getting work, but they build awareness and get you noticed. The design community shouldn’t shy away from advertising. You have to have a multifaceted strategy that covers all the bases.”