On January 25, Sister Jeanne Dueber died at age 88 at Loretto Motherhouse. While her name may be unfamiliar, her art isn’t. She created significant art pieces that grace our campus and connect us to the Loretto Community.

In 2001, Sister Jeanne created a three-dimensional piece for the then-new Middle School building that now hangs in the south stairwell. It features abstract individuals whose movements intertwine in dramatic and fascinating ways. The piece was not only a one-of-a-kind commission, but also a new medium for her: Styrofoam overlaid with fiberglass. Untitled, the piece offers viewers a chance to bring their own meaning to the work.

Sister Jeanne also created “Fiat,” the metal figure of Mary near the High School patio, which is Latin for “Let it be done.” It depicts a passage from Luke 1:26-38, in which God sends the Angel Gabriel to announce to Mary that she will bear a child who will be the Messiah. Mary’s fiat, or wholehearted “yes” to God, is beautifully portrayed with her upturned face and outstretched arms. Sister Jeanne's religious art at SMA also includes two metal crucifixes.

As artist-in-residence at the Loretto Motherhouse for many years, Sister Jeanne often worked with the High School students during annual Motherhouse service trips. They quickly learned that this diminutive, quiet person was a visionary who could wield heavy power tools to transform discarded metal pieces and fallen tree limbs (even an oak stump 20 ft tall) into serious, thoughtful works of art.

We are grateful that Sister Jeanne’s art will continue to inspire the SMA community. Her work can also  be found in 16 corporate collections with 400 pieces housed in private collections in the United States, Canada, and England. Sister Jeanne exhibited in over 100 shows, of which 26 featured only her work. She was the subject of a documentary produced by the Kentucky affiliate of the Public Broadcasting System.