Sister Wendy s Story of Painting

This BBC series consists of five one-hour cassettes featuring 10 episodes of a masterful odyssey through early art, the Renaissance, and baroque art to romanticism, the age of revolution, and modernism. Lumpy, likable Sister Wendy Beckett guides us on a spirited tour of art through the ages that the entire family can savor and repeatedly enjoy. This woman is a scream--acerbic, astute, and surprisingly earthy. Oh yes, and very, very knowledgeable. Within each 30-minute program are several segments covering much canvas, but always in easily digestible amounts. This is perfect for the artistically deprived, the artfully minded, or anyone with a brain and a sense of humor. --Rochelle O Gorman

All the World Loves a Lover - Prior to encountering Sr. Wendy, I liked art. Through Sr. Wendy, I have come to love it. One might first be struck by her rather odd appearance -- she is a rather frumpy nun. But the second thing one notices, and what one is ultimately swept up by, is her passion for art.She approaches art as a lover, rather than as a critic. Yes, she is willing to make judgments about what she likes and what she doesn t like. But one has the impression that she approaches all art expecting to be pleased. That attitude makes her willing to *look* at the art with her whole being. And in that open act of looking, she sees a lot. She has the further gift of being able to clearly articulate what she has seen.In this series of videos, Sr. Wendy takes us through the history of art, from the pre-historical art of the caves in France to the modern art galleries in New York today. She allows us to see how art developed, and she sets these developments in their historical context. Nonetheless, the heart of these videos and the secret to Sr. Wendy s success is her ability to see these great works afresh, almost with the eyes of a child. Some of the paintings evoke her delight, others her reverent awe. She has thought about why the paintings elicit these responses, but without losing that primary response. We can t help but be swept up in her enthusiasm.I ve watched these videos several times, and they never get stale. If only they d be re-issued as DVD s! If you want to know why some people make such a fuss about fine art - these videos are a great place to start. But be warned, you might find yourself suddenly planning your vacations around art museums!

wow? - Who d ve thought that a nun, a woman dedicated to a life of religion and chastity and serving the church would have such an insight on the sexual content of works of art? Well, that sounds a bit ignorant on my part, but Sister Wendy does do an excellent job at giving us a guided tour and commentary of some of history s most beloved and admired works of art. Some works are not included in art history books used by educational institutes and some are so discussed that the viewer can almost take pride in hearing that Sister Wendy shares their opinion. This is a great collection to add to any art education/art history curriculum (high school/college and edited versions for middle school).

For the faint of art - I use this set as part of my beginning art history classes. People like to make fun of Sister Wendy and they are less likely to make fun of the art. The fact that she is not a bit shy about pointing out the sexual nature of many of the pieces gets students on her side after awhile. Sister Wendy gives a good comprehensive overview and, although I don t always agree with her, she sets up great conversations in class. Video is a great way to get students to enjoy art--far better in my opinion than the endless parade of slides we had to endure.