She was a hit, a natural if eccentric personality with a gift for drama that made art accessible to the general public. Alexandra Kiely Sister Wendy Beckett (1930-2018) was probably the world's most unconventional art historian. You can find a full list of her works here. Postcards from God: The Sister Wendy Musical, created by Marcus Reeves, ran briefly and camply in a small West End venue. 2023 Smithsonian Magazine Beckett was born in South Africa and raised in Scotland. I think Mother called me Wendy because she thought I would be small and pretty. Interview with Clive Anderson, BBC Radio 2, 28 January 2007, Postcards from God: The Sister Wendy Musical, "World of Sister Wendy Beckett, nun and art historian", "Sister Wendy Beckett, Nun Who Became a BBC Star, Dies at 88", "Sister Wendy Beckett British nun and art critic", "Sister Wendy Beckett | British nun and art critic", "Sister Wendy At The Norton Simon Museum", "500 Years On, The Vatican Museums Go Digital", "Sister Wendy's American Collection About the Series Buy the Book", "BBC Four Churches: How to Read Them, Reformation: Chaos and Creation", "BBC Four Arena, Sister Wendy and the Art of the Gospel", "Arena Sister Wendy and the Art of the Gospel", "She May Not Get Out Much, but She Does Know a Lot About Art", "BBC Radio 4 Desert Island Discs, Sister Wendy Beckett", "Sister Wendy Beckett, TV art historian, dies at 88", "Wendy Beckett Books List of books by author Wendy Beckett", "Publication: The Christ Journey Sister Wendy Beckett reflects on the art of Greg Tricker", "Sister Wendy Contemplates Saint Paul in Art 9780854397525 by Beckett, Wendy- St Pauls Publishing of 0/11/2008", "Speaking to the Heart: 100 Favourite Poems by Wendy Beckett - Books", "Sister Wendy Beckett - British nun and art critic", "Inner Life: A Fellow Traveler's Guide to Prayer", "The Duke and the Peasant: Life in the Middle Ages (Adventures in Art Series)", "Nonfiction Book Review: Mystical Now C by Sister Wendy Beckett, Author, Wendy Beckett, Author Universe Publishing(NY) $25.95 (160p) ISBN 978-0-87663-647-3", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wendy_Beckett&oldid=1126090621, This page was last edited on 7 December 2022, at 13:18. Sister Wendy Beckett, the Roman Catholic nun who left her cloistered convent life to launch a television career in later life and became an unlikely small screen star, has died aged 88. Sister Wendy. We love art history and writing about it. As it so happened, her trip coincided with a . When asked once what she felt about God, she replied, sharply: I dont think anyone can feel God. But her unorthodox spiritual insights suggested otherwise. To see how comfortably and frankly she handled paintings of nudity, watch this video about BotticellisBirth of Venus and this one about PicassosLes Desmoiselles dAvignon. McFadden, Robert D. Sister Wendy Beckett, Nun Who Became a BBC Star, Dies at 88. She claimed to not really like either the travel or the attention involved in her endeavors, but she said she felt good when hearing from people who were positively impacted by her work. She was an effective and knowledgeable presenter, and people enjoyed her quirky style and insights. Even throughout her success, Beckett remained dedicated to the convent. The body is Gods creation, like a tree, only better designed, she once replied. . She and Michelangelo are no doubt having an in depth eternal discussion about the latters art work in the Sistine Chapel. The juxtaposition of this diminutive figure with articulate and enlightening commentary on fine art never grew old. Through this the two became good friends. 4) by Franz Schubert, her chosen book was "an enormous book of logical puzzles", and her luxury item was a "refrigerated tabernacle". From the time she appeared in her first art appreciation program on BBC in 1991, Becketts provocative and witty commentaries captured the attention of museum curators, book publishers and art critics as well as art lovers around the world. Sister Wendys American Collection. Pausing before the 16th century Italian painting Madonna and Child With Book, by Raphael, she zeroed in on the hefty baby Jesus. . The austerity and simplicity of this lifestyle was reflected when she was later briefly diverted into food writing for The Daily Telegraph in 1994: Make yourself a cup of tea and cut a nice slice of brown bread, she instructed. But persistent heart trouble and a history of epilepsy drained her strength. Sister Wendy Beckett, who has died aged 88, could be dismissive of the high-profile television work that made this hermit nun with owl-like glasses into an unlikely household name during the. In 1988 her first book, Contemporary Women Artists, was published. I think that her popular acclaim can inspire all of us at times when we feel like we dont fit the mold. Remembering Sister Wendy Beckett: beloved Nun, art historian and accidental TV phenomenon. But her insightful, unscripted commentaries a blend of history, criticism and observations on Leonardo da Vinci, van Gogh, Botticelli, Rembrandt, Monet and other Western masters connected emotionally with millions in Britain and America. Until she was 61, she had been a model of worldly renunciation: a hermit living in a windowless trailer on the grounds of the Carmelite Monastery in East Anglia, subsisting mainly on skim milk and rarely speaking to anyone. At lunchtime, her waiter sang to her on bended knee beside her chair. BBC director of arts Jonty Claypole paid tribute, saying Sister Wendy had "a unique presentation style, a deep knowledge of and passion for the arts". Video, Isabel Oakeshott: Why I leaked minister's messages, Harry and Meghan told to 'vacate' Frogmore Cottage, Whiskey fungus forces Jack Daniels to stop construction, Explosive found in check-in luggage at US airport, Messages reveal battle over Covid school policy, Covid messages leak a massive betrayal - Hancock, Rare Jurassic-era bug found at Arkansas Walmart, India PM Modi urges G20 to overcome divisions, Aboriginal spears taken in 1770 to return to Sydney. That is too final a word. It launched her television career. She taught in Cape Town, South Africa, and Liverpool in northern England. people, women and others in the Catholic Church, Motherhood is not a hobby: A Catholic mom responds to comedian Chelsea Handler, Pope Benedict XVI on the relationship between Christianity and politics, Pope Francis says Vatican II was a visit of God to his church in new interview, Vice Provost for Continuing, Professional and Executive Education Stony Brook University, Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology, Bergoglio Lecture Series at Sacred Heart University, Contemplation can be scarybut its worth the risk, Cardinal Gregory: Pope Francis makes Americans in both parties uncomfortable, For Catholics, Lent 2023 is a time to act against antisemitism, New asteroids named for 3 Jesuits and pope of Gregorian calendar fame. She has since written 15 art books, as well as a series of articles for magazines and art journals. Your Privacy Rights Sister Wendy Beckett and Robert Ellsberg in 2017. The Republican. Sister Wendy, a clever and perceptive woman, was herself aware of the contradiction and struggled to square the circle, some times more successfully than others. [easyazon_image align=none height=110 identifier=0789446030 locale=US src=https://www.dailyartmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/51J28BR7K1L.SL110.jpg tag=dailyartdaily-20 width=92][easyazon_image align=none height=110 identifier=B000GIXLTS locale=US src=https://www.dailyartmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/51V86dbUPwL.SL110.jpg tag=dailyartdaily-20 width=77][easyazon_image align=none height=110 identifier=0789468050 locale=US src=https://www.dailyartmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/51sRg6KfHyL.SL110.jpg tag=dailyartdaily-20 width=84]. I spend a lot of time looking at and reading about art, but I still came away with a new appreciation and perspective after watching videos like this one. The series followed a simple format: Sister Wendy stood next to an artwork and gave her reaction to the piece. DailyArt Magazine needs your support. Time Magazine. When she was a child, her family moved to Edinburgh, Scotland, where her father attended medical school before they returned to South Africa. sister wendy beckett by TIM - YouTube thoughts about sister Wendy Beckett who died on 26th December thoughts about sister Wendy Beckett who died on 26th December. She was received by the local bishop as a consecrated virgin, an ancient ceremony, revived in Catholicism in the 1970s, in which she pledged her perpetual virginity and was betrothed mystically to Christ. But, she added: Nothing is more humiliating than being on television. Find the obituary of Wendy Ann Romanowski (1957 - 2023) from Kamloops, BC. When you register, youll get unlimited access to our website and a free subscription to our email newsletter for daily updates with a smart, Catholic take on faith and culture from, In this 1997 file photo, Sister Wendy Beckett, a Roman Catholic nun of the Sisters of Notre Dame, who lives in Colinton, England, and is a well-known art critic, stands near an unidentified sarcophagus at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. She had regular contact with just one other person: the nun who brought her milk and the mail. She obtained papal permission to leave her congregation and to become a consecrated virgin and hermit. We can't do it without youAmerica Media relies on generous support from our readers. What Sister Wendy Beckett, the Late Nun and Popular Art Historian, Taught Me About Being a Curator She made me want to study art history. So, dont ever think that you cant enjoy and understand art if you dont have an art history degree. In December 2012 Sister Wendy was the guest for BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs. In 1950 Sister Wendy's order sent her to Oxford University, where she lodged in a convent, and was awarded a Congratulatory First Class degree in English literature. I do not use the word died, as someone with Sister Wendy's warmth, faith and devotion to share her knowledge does not die. Its because of you that Im here today.. December 26, 2018. The Guardian. Her next book, published in 2011, The Christ Journey, consists of her commentaries on the artwork of Greg Tricker. Through her television appearances, Sister Wendy endeavored to make their genius accessible. From then on, she was not a member of any religious order but continued to wear a homemade black habit, a variation on the one she wore as a Sister of Notre Dame. But far from it! Wendy's family welcomes you to join a mass service at 11:00 on Thursday February 23, 2023 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help (OLPH) in Kamloops BC, followed by a Celebration of . She graduated from Oxford with high honors in English literature, and one of her original jobs in her monastery was translating Medieval Latin texts. this helps us promote a safe and accountable online community, and allows us to update you when other commenters reply to your posts. I thought it was just a weekend here or there.. She was wonderful! Wendy is greatly missed by her husband Eugene, daughters Amanda (Jay) and Nicole (Tyler), sister Cheri, grandchildren Lochlan, Beckett, Evera, Nessaya and extended family. Her death was confirmed by the Carmelite Monastery in Quidenham, England, where she had lived in a trailer for decades, though not as a member of the Carmelite order. Articles by The Associated Press, The AP. In the late 1990s, Sister Wendy Beckett visited the Los Angeles County Museum of Art for her series on U.S. museums. This unlikely celebrity eventually traveled the world, recording documentaries for British and U.S. television and writing numerous books. As Catholics enter into Lent, a season that we mark by acts of both repentance and service, it is worth considering how we might move from alarm at antisemitism to action. I have an electric kettle, fridge, warming oven and night storage heater, so my life is as comfortable as it needs to be., Sister Wendy Beckett, Nun Who Became a BBC Star, Dies at 88, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/26/obituaries/sister-wendy-beckett-dead.html. In a gentle-but-enthusiastic tone, Sister Wendy delivered her commentary straight into the eye of the camera without the help of a script or autocue. Her father was a physician. Sympathy Ideas . December 26, 2018. She soared to international stardom with her BBC documentaries on the history of art. Our Diocesan Mission & Ministry Committee exists to help each congregation to grow in their mission and ministry under this vision, and wishes to appoint to a new post to support its work. Her health was never good she had suffered from a weak heart since childhood and could very quickly run out of energy in mid-take. Frank Bruni, in The Times, said, The incongruity of such passionate and often sensuous statements coming from a hunched, bespectacled, 67-year-old nun is the secret to much of Sister Wendys charm and success.. Star Wendy Beckett See production, box office & company info Search on Amazon search for Blu-ray and DVD Add to Watchlist Behind her gentle, toothy smile, though, Sister Wendy could be fierce. BBC. Her steel could also be glimpsed in relation to what she insisted was her own very minor celebrity. Updates? Beckett is survived by her sister, Barbara. It was only a feeling: it was not reality., Death is the climax of our life, when we pass into the presence of God, Sister Wendy observed in 2012. Reminding viewers that this child was the son of God in Christian theology, she offered her unconventional best advice. Emerging from her hermit-like . Wendy Mary Beckett[1] (25 February 1930 26 December 2018), better known as Sister Wendy, was a British religious sister and art historian[2] who became known internationally during the 1990s when she presented a series of BBC television documentaries on the history of art. Sister Wendy Beckett (1930 - 2018) was the unlikely star of art history documentary programs on the BBC. It was as she wanted it. They might think a nun had church-y designs on them, she admitted. She also suggested that she only said yes to the BBC because she felt the need to make a small financial contribution to the monastery for her keep and had been forced by ill health to give up her work as a translator of medieval Latin manuscripts in the late 70s. She died at the Carmelite Monastery in Quidenham at the age of 88. Adams sprawled there in his naked male glory, but hes not alive, she told viewers in 1996. Sprinkle some salt on the dish, and, if you want to be really fancy, some chopped chives. Soon enough, you will be saying with Peter, Lord, it is good that we are here., Cardinal Wilton Gregory said that Pope Francis has made it difficult for Americans to be comfortable with just one aspect of Catholic Social Teachingyouve got to have them all.. Wendy Mary Beckett [1] (25 February 1930 - 26 December 2018), better known as Sister Wendy, was a British religious sister and art historian [2] who became known internationally during the 1990s when she presented a series of BBC television documentaries on the history of art. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). [3] 2023 BBC. As a frequent reader of our website, you know how important Americas voice is in the conversation about the church and the world. Sister Wendy Beckett passed away on Boxing Day 2018. One of her last programs was Sister Wendy at the Norton Simon Museum, which aired in October 2002. ), London conservatives look for support from breakaway Anglicans, Six cathedrals to join programme that promotes singing opportunitiesat state schools, Putins attack on C of E is simply wrong, spokesman says, Secretary-general apologises for rainbow-flag hack on Synod livestream, Crosier missing for six decades discovered on internet auction site, Fourteen bishops publish a defence of traditional marriage, General Synod: same-sex debate goes into overtime, Archbishop of Canterbury no longer our leader after Synod vote, say GSFA Primates, Bishops proposals to bless same-sex couples carried by Synod, despite sustained opposition, Why I have not lost my faith in the C of E. Wendy Mary Beckett was born in Johannesburg on Feb. 25, 1930, to Aubrey and Dorothy (Sheehan) Beckett. So in her honor, lets learn a few important things from Sister Wendy. Her most ambitious series, Sister Wendys Story of Painting, took her 30,000 miles through Europe, the Middle East and the United States, to survey works ranging from prehistoric cave paintings in France to the masterpieces of Picasso and the Pop Art of Andy Warhol. Climb the mountain. From an early age she wanted to be a nun, and at age 16 she joined the Sisters of Notre Dame. In her passion for self-denial, she had not seen a movie since 1945, visited a museum or even seen a great painting, only reproductions in books. Heres what to know, From Chris Rock to the SAG Awards. HEATHER KING. She died on December 26, 2018. It seemed to her a modest venture. This recording, from the translation by M. L. Del Mastro and adapted for Sister Wendy by Donna K. Triggs, was finally released as a CD in 2021, entitled Revelations of Divine Love by Julian of Norwich read by Sister Wendy Beckett. She died at 14:30 GMT at the Carmelite monastery in Quidenham. [32], In 1993, Sister Wendy recorded an abridged audio version of Revelations of Divine Love by Julian of Norwich. Sister Wendy Beckett, a Roman Catholic nun who interrupted a cloistered life of prayer in England in 1991 and soared to international stardom with lyrical BBC documentaries that made her one of. Sister Wendy Beckett the Roman Catholic nun who became an unconventional television star died on Wednesday at the age of 88, the Carmelite Monastery in Quidenham, England confirmed to. Sister Wendy Beckett, the cloistered nun who ventured out of seclusion to become a celebrity art critic and historian, died Wednesday at Englands Carmelite Monastery Quidenham in Norfolk, according to the BBC. I will always be a nun. She had spent more than 20 years in a convent, perfecting the ways of religious life. The television chef Delia Smith, a Roman Catholic convert, volunteered to drive her there each week. It drew 3.5 million viewers, and it secured her stardom. All rights reserved. For many people, including . When approached, during a trip to a London gallery, by a fan who wanted to get into contact with her about a personal problem, Sister Wendy smiled kindly but, once the woman had gone, remarked, I hope that woman doesnt write to me. After attending a teachers college in Liverpool, England, she returned to South Africa, where she taught for 15 years. Read reports from issues stretching back to 1863, search for your parish or see if any of the clergy you know get a mention. Could you be called to shape the future of Mission and Ministry across the Diocese of Worcester? You have a cold heart.. Logging in will also give you access to commenting features on our website. (Read Sister Wendys Britannica essay on art.). A surprising rise to fame catapulted her into television stardom, where she used her platform to share artistic masterpieces with the public. Obituaries Section. Sister Wendys Story of Painting. Dont think, fat little bloke, she said. The programs like Sister Wendys Odyssey, Sister Wendys Grand Tour, and Sister Wendys Story of a Painting were immediate hits, often drawing a 25 percent share of the British viewing audience, according to The New York Times. At Oxford University, as a student in her early 20s, Beckett lived in a nuns hostel and soon after graduation moved back to South Africa to teach in a religious school. The nun passed away on Boxing Day 2018 at the age of 88 - here's everything you need to know about her. Hoping to earn some money for the Carmelite order, Sister Wendy began writing about art for British Journals, and in 1988 published her first book, Contemporary Women Artists. I guess Im not the only one she was writing to.. Do you have a vision for how to proclaim the Gospel afresh for this generation? She knew many of these artworks only from reproductions, and the part of the shows magic was capturing the moment she encountered these works for the first time in person. (Jay) and Nicole (Tyler); her sister Cheri; and her grandchildren, Lochlan, Beckett, Evera and Nessaya. She died at the Carmelite Monastery in Quidenham at the age of 88. She dressed not as a Carmelite, but in a traditional black and white habit that she designed herself, merging features from several orders. Her novelty may have also worn off for commissioners in Britain, for her subsequent attempt to return to our screens to present a short series on Orthodox icons, a great passion, failed to find a taker. She died at the Carmelite Monastery in Quidenham at the age of 88. Odyssey was the most successful BBC art program since Kenneth Clarks Civilisation, which aired in the United States 23 years earlier. [8], Outside her academic work, she lived in a convent which maintained the strict code of silence typical in convents prior to the changes following the Second Vatican Council (19621965). Surely, most people would be deeply moved by this programme, and drawn to the conclusion that there might be more to this Christianity stuff than they had ever thought., SISTER MARGARET DEWEY SSM, who died on 8 June, aged 94, belonged to an upstate New York family, whose ancestors arrived from England in the 17th century. In view of her religious state, this came as a surprise to some viewers. He spoke with her in late 2000, shortly after they had completed their visit. (AP Photo/Victoria Arocho, File), Were sorry registration isn't working smoothly for you. When Sister Wendy Beckett took a rare break from her life of solitude to visit an art gallery, the hermetic nun didn't expect to end up a celebrity. In 1954 Sister Wendy completed her teaching diploma in Liverpool and returned to South . She died at the Carmelite Monastery in Quidenham at the age of 88. We ask our visitors to confirm their email to keep your account secure and make sure you're able to receive email from us. . Visit her at A Scholarly Skater and The Art Museum Insider. Beckett's death was a huge loss for the art world. She began living in a caravan on the grounds of a Carmelite monastery at Quidenham, Norfolk, and her caravan was later replaced by a mobile home. Fryer, Jane. She basically taught herself everything she knew about art, and then she taught it to lots of other people. At funeral, pope remembers Benedict's 'wisdom, tenderness, devotion' by . In the 1990s she became one of the most unlikely television stars. The Guardian. I dread being someone wholl fritter it away., Her profound expositions of the paintings are deceptively simple, wrote our TV reviewer in 2013, of Sister Wendy and the Art of the Gospel. Mobile Register and Baldwin County. Sister Wendy began. Omissions? As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. She would find time for a couple of hours of work, writing the occasional article and a series of well-received books on prayer, St Paul and the religious festivals. Ive no time for gardening and letter-writing, the usual let-outs for those who are alone.. VideoIsabel Oakeshott: Why I leaked minister's messages, How 10% of Nigerian registered voters delivered victory, Sake brewers toast big rise in global sales, The Indian-American CEO who wants to be US president, Blackpink lead top stars back on the road in Asia, Exploring the rigging claims in Nigeria's elections, 'Wales is in England' gaffe sparks TikToker's trip. She called her television debut at the Norfolk gallery the fatal moment, in her interview with the Times. She was a brilliant art critic. A person can pray and read at the same time., Often in frail health, she spent most of her public life in a wheelchair and only stood up to deliver her light, witty comments before the camera. If you dont know about God, art is the only thing that can set you free., After Sister Wendys appearance in the National Gallery documentary, the Controller of BBC2 rang the films director with the instruction: Give that nun a series.. She was 88.[34]. Why am I being asked to create an account? Her later art-related works include Joy Lasts: On the Spiritual in Art (2006), Real Presence: In Search of the Earliest Icons (2010), and Sister Wendy on the Art of Mary (2013). She was a sister of the Catholic Church who became prominent in the 1990s presenting BBC shows about art history. She had also written 15 books on art and religion, and was a celebrity on both sides of the Atlantic, featured in articles and mobbed by fans. In order to earn money for her convent, she agreed to do a television series about fine art for the BBC, and she quickly became famous. When asked once what the other Quidenham nuns thought about her going round the world with a camera crew, she replied, they feel sorry for me. Submit an Obituary . Its going to happen, whether you try to put it off or not; so why not see it as a crowning?. Sister Wendy began stud. Many are available at local libraries, and you can also see clips of her documentaries on YouTube. Faced with poor health, Sister Wendy asked to pursue a life of solitude. Her work has appeared in a number of publications, including NYmag.com, Flavorwire and Tina Brown Media's Women in the World. In fact, being unusual might have even helped her. It is most common to talk about paintings or sculptures inspired by a piece of literature. Sister Wendy Beckett in 1997. With humour and a gift for storytelling, she brought life and drama to the work. 2. According to the Guardians Aamna Mohdin, Sister Wendys father worried that she was too young to make such a commitment, but her mother supported the decision. Traveling from museum to museum, filmed by the BBC, she shared her immense knowledge about painting and painters, her contemplative insights, and her unorthodox enthusiasm. In moments of candour, though, she would admit that she liked to share knowledge she had originally joined a teaching order, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, in 1947, but had to give up the classroom after having epileptic seizures brought on by stress. (You will need to register. She studied literature at Oxford in the early 1950s, living in a convent and observing its strict code of silence for four years. Known for her witty and eye-opening commentary on art, all made while dressed in her black nun habit, Beckett led a series of documentary programs for the BBC in the 1990s and early 2000s. She also penned books that focused solely on religion, notably Sister Wendy on Prayer (2010) and Spiritual Letters (2013). She was first discovered by a BBC television crew in Norfolk in the late 80s, when she was asked to comment on an art exhibit about feminist author Germaine Greer, The Los Angeles Times reported. She was, the Church Times TV critic at that time, David Johnson, observed, an unself-conscious natural for television. Church Times 2023. Asked how she managed to read so many crime novels, Beckett had a quick answer. Sister Wendy began stud Health problems combined with the dream of a contemplative life, which she had abandoned when she entered her order of teaching nuns, led Beckett back to England. This article was amended on 31 December 2018. December 27, 2018. Smith also drove her around the country to meet the artists when Beckett was writing her book about contemporary women artists. Alexandra believes that enjoying the art of the past is the closest she can get to time travel, only much safer. # x27 ; s most unconventional art historian and accidental TV phenomenon account secure and make sure you 're to... To keep your account secure and make sure you 're able to receive email from.... About art history documentary programs on the history of epilepsy drained her strength work in the 1990s... Articulate and enlightening commentary on fine art never grew old might have even her! They might think a nun had church-y designs on them, she:. Observing its strict code of silence for four years D. Sister Wendy Beckett ( 1930 - 2018 was. Raphael, she said. ) 're able to receive email from us was own..., BC 26, 2018 you dont have an art history degree each. Poor health, Sister Wendy on Prayer ( 2010 ) and Spiritual Letters ( 2013 ) the unlikely Star art. Or not ; so why not see it as a crowning? County Museum of art. ) television. 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Ask our visitors to confirm their email to keep your account secure and make sure you 're to..., published in 2011, the Christ Journey, consists of her last programs was Sister Wendy passed! Might have even helped her do it without youAmerica Media relies on generous support from our readers South! Her BBC documentaries on YouTube, published in 2011, the Christ Journey, consists her! December 26, 2018 for magazines and art journals learn a few important things from Sister Wendy Beckett Evera..., lets learn a few important things from Sister Wendy on Prayer ( )... Poor health, Sister Wendy Beckett visited the Los Angeles County Museum of art for series! Tree, only better designed, she zeroed in on the dish, at... A weekend here or there.. she was a Sister of the Catholic Church who became prominent in conversation... She offered her unconventional best advice, living in a number of publications, including NYmag.com, Flavorwire and Brown. 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