For the past 12 years, St. Paul’s Monastery has been blessed to have the work of a wide variety of Minnesota artists gracing our gallery walls during the annual exhibit of Seeing God: A Juried Exhibit of Sacred Art. The submissions are always heartfelt and unique, created in all types of media and forms of expression. The artists share deeply personal ways that they have seen and experienced God in nature, through other people, and the circumstances of daily life. Each year it is a thrill to see what comes in the door, and when the exhibit is hung and everything is in place, it is a breathtaking display of how God is visualized and working in our lives.
History of the Annual Juried Exhibit
In 2012, the Benedictine Center of St. Paul’s Monastery embarked on a journey to continue the pioneering work of Nick and Rosemary Heille, who founded and organized The Annual Northeast Minneapolis Spiritual Art Show for eleven years. In 2012, the exhibit was on tour at Cross Lutheran Church in Minneapolis as well as the Basilica of Saint Mary, before coming to St. Paul’s Monastery gallery in 2013.
From 2001 to 2012, the Heilles curated a spiritual art exhibit, finding a different church or venue to host it each year, until it spun off to the Benedictine Center. The new exhibit title was changed in 2012 to Seeing God: A Juried Exhibit of Sacred Art. The promotional materials stated: “Artists speak to us in a language that takes us out of the ordinary. It is a dialect that expands how we image the mystery of God revealing itself to us each day in the world around, in the encounters that come our way.”
Sister Virginia Matter and Sister Carol Rennie were instrumental in bringing the exhibit to the Monastery gallery in 2013, with Benedictine Center Director Samuel Rahberg, OblSB. Sister Virginia shared her pottery and Sister Carol Rennie, Prioress when the gallery was designed and built in 2009, shared her deep Benedictine appreciation for art. Both Sisters helped to administer the show in the first years and greeted artists and their work with care. Former Benedictine Center Director Victor Klimoski originally chaired the Arts and Spirituality committee to oversee the annual juried show, as well as the selection process for artists of other group and solo exhibits.
Oblate and artist Kathy Fleming won the First Place award in 2013 and began her stewardship of the exhibit, serving on the Arts and Spirituality Committee and curating the show until 2021. In 2022, Oblate Mary Elizabeth Ilg took over responsibility for the art gallery as part of her former role as Co-Director of the Benedictine Center and continues to manage the gallery presently. Her husband, artist John Ilg, has participated in the show consistently over the years and also served as a juror.
Through Kathy Fleming’s engagement with many artists in the Twin Cities community and fine artistic sensibility, exhibit participation increased each year. Kathy recalls feeling the divine presence guiding her as she hung the shows faithfully each year: “Being the porter or gatekeeper as the Rule of Benedict says, I know that the Holy Spirit was moving through the Monastery hallways as we worked…we never had anyone who exhibited anything but happiness.”
In 2025, Kathy Dhaemers was added to the group of exhibit jurors. She will continue to assist in this volunteer role in 2026. Kathy served as Curator of the Art Collections at the Basilica of Saint Mary for many years and brings with her great expertise and knowledge of fine art.
Artists’ Reception
On a cold dark night in the deepest of January winter, we host our annual Seeing God Artists’ reception, typically on the third Wednesday evening of the month. Warmth and light fill the gallery as participating artists gather for wine, hors d’oeuvres and conversation; old friends and new come together to share their love of art. The Awards Ceremony takes place that evening, where three winners receive First, Second and Third Place ribbons along with cash prizes. Three Honorable Mention awards are also given. Past jurors have included Kirsten Malcolm Berry, Kathy Fleming, John Ilg, Sister Jacqueline Leiter, Sister Virginia Matter and Margaret Thompson.
Please join us again this year on January 21, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. for another festive evening of celebration, where we will honor this year’s artists and gather to view their current work in the 14th annual exhibit. The Sisters of St. Paul’s Monastery are pleased to host this event and share the Benedictine value of appreciation of art, so that in all things, God may be glorified.
