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Kathleen Holmberg has been a member
of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet
in St Paul, Minnesota since 1951. She's been attracted to icons
for many years. In 1989 circumstances presented themselves that
encouraged her to paint her first icon. Shortly after, she had
the opportunity to begin learning from masters of iconography
(the art of writing icons), as well as the spirituality, history,
philosophy and symbolism of icons. When not taking work shops
and writing icons, she continues to learn about this sacred art
through reading and study.
Her first teacher was Philip Zimmerman,
master iconographer whose studio is in New Florence,
Pennsylvania. He taught the Byzantine style of writing an icon
using acrylic paints. Sister Clairvaux McFarland, a member of
the Order of St. Francis at Assissi Heights, Rochester, Minnesota,
introduced Kathleen to writing in egg tempera and to the Russian
Byzantine style. Clairvaux studied under master iconographer Vladislav
Andreyev. Kathleen participated in four of Clairvaux's icon-retreat
workshops and then had the opportunity to participate in a number
of workshops conducted by Mr. Andreyev, his sons Nikita and Dimitri
and also Nicholas Markell, sacred artist from Hugo, Minnesota.
Mr. Andreyev is the founder of the Prosopon School of Iconology.
An icon pilgrimage to Russia in 1997 is a highlight of her journey
with sacred icons.
Kathleen, born in St. Paul, Minnesota,
attended the Academy of St. Joseph in St. Paul and majored in
English and elementary education at the College of St. Catherine.
She has a master's degree in theology from Notre Dame University
in Indiana. Several of her past ministries include that of teacher
in elementary schools, director of religious education in several
parishes, and pastoral minister. Presently, besides writing sacred
icons, she teaches English to immigrants and refugees to the United
States at Learning in style school in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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About Sister Kate