By Maryangela Layman Román, of the Catholic Herald Staff

Daughter of Charity Sr. Angele Hinkey works on an oil painting at Creation Station, an art gallery located across the street from St. Francis of Assisi Church in Milwaukee. (Catholic Herald photo by Sam Lucero)

Geraldine Brown recently came across her first grade report card from Carter School in Chicago. In it, the teacher wrote, “Geraldine loves to color.”

Nearly a half century later, Geraldine still loves to color and she’s been able to hone her talents through an art program that combines art and spirituality in a healing environment.

Brown, like the other artists who attend the sessions held Mondays through Thursdays in a building across from St. Francis of Assisi Church, Milwaukee, would not likely be able to afford the typical cost of art classes and supplies which can run into hundreds of dollars.

But through Creation Station, funded by a grant from the Daughters of Charity, Milwaukee’s poor can express their artistic talents in a safe environment.

Run by two Daughters of Charity, Srs. Mary Polutanovich and Angele Hinkey and Mary Klotz, a former teacher and staff member at the Dwelling Place retreat center, Creation Station has been operating in a building rented from the Capuchins of St. Francis of Assisi Parish for about 18 months.

Doing art full time and maintaining an art studio for the poor in an older home has been a dream of Sr. Mary and Sr. Angele’s for years. Over the years, the two — whose ministry has been primarily outside of Wisconsin — discussed their dream. Sr. Mary, a native of Michigan and a registered nurse, grew up in an artistic family. At times, she incorporated art therapy into her work with the sick, but her primary focus was nursing. She later spent time working in a retreat house and six years in Indiana as a member of her provincial team.

Meanwhile, Sr. Angele, a Daughter of Charity for 47 years, worked primarily with children in day care, a foster care program and for Catholic Charities. Art for her was primarily a hobby she did through photography, cake decorating, cooking and setting pretty tables.

Enter Klotz. She had been formally introduced to art through the former LaFarge Lifelong Learning Program, classes for adults over 50 through the School Sisters of St. Francis. In 1999, she began offering classes for the poor through the Dwelling Place Retreat Center. While the center no longer exists, its programming remains.

Klotz and Sr. Mary connected through the Dwelling Place where Sr. Mary offered retreats. Their dreams materialized and Creation Station at its present location came to be after they outgrew donated space in the House of Peace and Dwelling Place.

Sr. Angele joined the Creation Station staff last fall and they are also assisted by a third Daughter of Charity, Sr. Theresa Marie Gresko, who occasionally teaches card making.

The building housing Creation Station is non-descript and, in fact, would be easy to miss were it not for the small sign on the heavy metal door proclaiming its name, Creation Station.

But inside, visitors are greeted by the welcoming feel an older building exudes with its hardwood floors, high ceilings and freshly painted cream colored walls. More noticeably, however, are the many colors and kinds of art displayed on shelves, walls and easels. A patchwork quilt is in progress on the floor near the entrance, a finished quilt hangs on a table to the right; oil paintings are in various stages on easels set up on tables in the center of the room. Finished pieces, including brightly painted flowers, intricate crosses and still lifes, line several shelves.

The creativity is evident, acknowledge Srs. Mary and Angele. What’s not so evident is the healing that takes place when the artists gather and begin their work.

Many of the 12 or so artists — all women at this point, but men are also welcome — have faced challenges in their life including poverty, mental illness, loss of homes or jobs. For them, according to Klotz, “art is a safe haven.

“They’re not just creating pretty pictures, it is a challenge, a reflective kind of thing to do,” she said. “Art is also a way of dealing with our emotions. It is an antidote to violence. People who go into art don’t focus on a lot of other things that are generally not good for them.”

Amzie Franklin works on an oil painting March 15 at Creation Station, an art gallery located across the street from St. Francis of Assisi Church, Milwaukee. (Catholic Herald photo by Sam Lucero)

The dual mission of Creation Station, art and healing are entwined, according to Sr. Mary.

“Art and spirituality are deeply connected. Art is a way of touching God’s hand,” she explained. “When we work here, we are working in a deep place and it comes out. When we access the creative we are actually being inspired by God.”

The artists have learned not only to tap into talents they may not have known they had, but they also have formed strong friendships, according to Sr. Mary.

“It’s been really good to be a part of this,” explained Cheryl (Cyndaar) Banks. “Some of the people here I would not have met if I hadn’t been coming and I can’t imagine my life being as rich as it is without them in my life.”

Banks, who started with the art courses in 1999 at Dwelling Place, has struggled in life.

Several years ago, she lost her home and she was forced to live in a shelter. Her mother died and mental illness caused her to cut off her ties with many of the people in her life. Describing that as a real low point, Banks said she is back on her feet, living by herself in a small apartment on the east side. Money is tight. Because of her disability, she cannot work.

“I get a lot of spiritual support by being here,” she said. “A lot of times when we do craft things or just our own work, it’s a spiritual joining, not just our skills.”

Banks recently completed a series of three sea scapes in pastels. She may keep one herself, she said, but she hopes to sell one to help generate income for Creation Station.

Brown, whose teacher recognized her interest in art in first grade, said she pretty much shelved her artistic talents while earning a bachelor’s degree in human services and a master’s degree in organized management and leadership. She also raised two sons and has three grandchildren. She rediscovered her artistic interest through Klotz and the Dwelling Place about six years ago.

“I’m playing here. I’m having fun,” she said of Creation Station. “I used to get in trouble sometimes for being creative, but Creation Station is a place where I can be creative. It is a gift. It helps me to dream and to know there is a whole new world out there for me.”

Currently unemployed, Brown regrets that she’ll have to give up her mornings of art when she finds a job, but she’s hoping perhaps a second shift position will allow her to do both.

For Amzie Franklin, the healing at Creation Station has been physical as well as emotional. About a year ago, Franklin had a stroke which has affected the mobility in her right arm. Prior to the stroke, Franklin made a quilt at the art studio, but after the stroke she was hesitant to return. When she returned, she had to paint with her left hand. She’s gotten well enough to go back to her right and had moved her work from an easel to the table to make it easier on herself.

Being with the group, said Franklin, a mother of 10 and grandmother of more than 20, has helped her recovery.

Creation Station welcomes donations, either financial or arts and craft supplies. To donate or for information on classes, call (414) 961-1280.

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