Creative Respite with the Sisters of Life
Erin McAtee’s project is an ongoing collaboration with the Sisters of Life, a community of religious sisters who support families and single mothers in Manhattan. In Fall 2022 McAtee is hosting ongoing, monthly creative respite evenings with the sisters in their home for single mothers. The women who live in this home are dealing with trauma from past domestic or sexual abuse, difficult family disputes, or, quite simply, the day-to-day challenges of pregnancy and motherhood. In her work with this community, McAtee has found that offering space for fellowship, leisure, and creative activities can be vital sources of respite and rejuvenation.
For one of the creative respite evenings earlier this fall, we meditated on scripture passages along the theme of renewal, allowing this time of prayer to inspire our artwork.
One of the mothers, Ellie, shares a reflection about her book “Heart of Flesh”, inspired by Ezekiel 11:19: “And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them.
I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh.”
“I collaged layers of texture, drawing, and watercolor to create this book. The painted metallic watercolor on the book ends show flesh like movement and mystical shine – curtains of beauty peeling back to the soul. As you turn the page into the shadow of a mother gazing at her child, you can see ‘H of F’ engraved in her crown, which stands for ‘Heart of Flesh’.
My daughter’s middle name is Naya, meaning renewal and beauty of God. There are parts of my life, from relationships to daily habits, that thirst for renewal and will receive it in its time. Incorporating this into her name has meant claiming renewal for both of our futures.
Motherhood is renewing my soul and this little baby girl is turning my heart into flesh. Jesus has allowed me to be here, no matter the painful road behind or ahead, He is worth it. And so is she.”
Video: Ellie’s book inspired by Ezekiel 11:19: “And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh.”
SPCUNY Artist
Erin K. McAtee
Collaborators
Sisters of Life: a community of religious sisters who support families and single mothers in Manhattan.
