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Artist Once Known 

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“Artist Once Known.” I glanced down to see who had created the piece and was startled to read this attribution, “’Artist once known’ recognizes highly skilled individuals who were once known to their families and communities but whose names are no longer known to us today.”

“Artist unknown” is what I’d expected. I was, after all, viewing an exhibit with many artifacts made by indigenous peoples more than a century ago. The notation went on to say, “Historically, information about Native American artists and women of color was often not recorded by collectors and museums that acquired their artworks. Further research and conversations with community members may someday recover this knowledge."

I felt a kind of leap within me. I was more than familiar with this kind of oversight. My ongoing work with the women of Scripture is a constant foray into the lives of those who are overlooked, who live in the margins of the story. But the difference between Unknown and Once Known opened the door to that story and invited me in.

I leaned in closely to the serape before me, as close as the marking on the floor would allow. The overall impact was stunning with brilliant, bold color, but viewed closely, I could see the warp and woof of countless rows, the tight, compact structure built by repeated shuttling. The placard revealed more:

“This serape is a testament to the unwavering persistence of both the individual weaver and Dine saanii (Navajo women) in general. The Dine Bahane (Navajo creation story) tells us that Na’ashjeii Asdzaaa (Spider Woman) gifted the knowledge of spinning, dyeing, and weaving wool to the Dine, She did this so they could weave their own textiles and wear them to survive harsh winters.”

Next, I noticed a beaded piece with colorful triangles that looked strikingly like an embroidery project of my own. Just that morning, when sleep eluded me in the predawn hours, I had taken up needle and thread. I knew the hours this work before me represented. I wondered if this woman had backed up and redone stitches as often as I had. But the precision before me showed no sign of imperfection. She had logged, no doubt, many more hours than I.

Again, I thought of the women I study, of names never recorded, names forgotten, and names erased. In my book, WHY THESE WOMEN, one of those is Bathsheba. She alone, of the women studied, is not celebrated or remembered with honor by Israel. She is remembered as the one who caused David to fall, even though Scripture clearly lays the blame on David, “the Lord was not pleased with what David had done.” Instead, the infamous story of David’s viewing her from the rooftop and taking her is recast with her as temptress rather than the victim she was.

In my book, WHY THESE WOMEN, I tell the story of my father mowing grass at the cemetery and noting tombstones that read only, "Wife of..." He, this father of seven daughters, then sadly remarked, "It's like whoever else she was just got erased."

This erasure whether in scriptures, cemeteries, or museums is not in keeping with the heart of God. "Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget you, I will never forget you." (Is 49:15)

Certainly, Jesus, in his ministry, modeled an entirely different way of encountering others. He consistently noticed and dignified women and all those not noticed by others. "He called out to any who were deemed inconsequential, beneath the radar of human recognition, and probably, even, unknown to God. 'Unknown to God' was not an option in the world Jesus created...in Jesus, nothing is wasted. He holds our stories even when we have forgotten them." (Why These Women, p. 150)

Unknown...once known...always remembered.

In the world Jesus created. In the heart of God. We really are that beloved. Amen. Amen. May it be so.

To learn more about this exhibit at the art gallery, Crystal Bridges, visit: Knowing the West

To learn more about my book, WHY THESE WOMEN, visit: WHY THESE WOMEN

The Carmelite Priory at Boar's Hill, Oxford, England

has invited me to present a Zoom

Advent Series based on my book, WHY THESE WOMEN

"An Advent Journey" with the Women in Jesus' Lineage

Matthew chooses to begin his Nativity narrative with a genealogy of Jesus Christ. There in the middle of all those begats are four women: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba. Why these women? Join us for an Advent Journey while we ask this question, Why are these women included? What do their stories reveal to us about the Story that follows? Let “Mary of whom Jesus was born” be our guide as we journey through Advent and prepare our hearts for the birth of Christ.

You will be led on this retreat by the Carmelite Friars Retreat Team along with Kathleen, author of WHY THESE WOMEN

Four Sundays of Advent

December 1 - Tamar, Gen.38 / December 8 - Rahab, Josh.2 / December 15 - Ruth, Ruth 1-4 / December 22 - Bathsheba, 2 Sam. 11

  • 8 - 9:30 pm Central European Time
  • 7 - 8:30 pm Greenwich Mean Time, UK
  • 2 - 3:30 pm Eastern Time, US/Canada
  • 1 - 2:30 pm Central Time, US/Canada
  • Noon - 1:30 pm Mountain Time, US/Canada
  • 11:00 - 12:30 pm Pacific Time, US/Canada

Can't make it for the live sessions? No worries. We've got you covered! Recording Available with Registration. Click here

An Advent Journey - Sundays

Registration is now OPEN for our ADVENT RETREAT

Once Upon a Time in a Town Called Nazareth

Fresh packaging this year for our annual Advent Retreat, ONCE UPON A TIME IN A TOWN CALLED NAZARETH. I will be offering a series of three 2-hour Zoom sessions on Wednesdays mornings in December. I am delighted to be partnering with RETREAT, REFLECT, RENEW, an on-line and in-person retreat ministry, that offers a variety of resources for spiritual growth and community faith-sharing.

SESSION ONE (Wed, Dec 4th, 9-11 am PST)

We set the scene. The place, Nazareth, the Galilean home of a young Jewish girl. The time, 2000 years ago, 12 hours, B.C., the night before the angel Gabriel is sent to Miriam. With story, song, and the Jewish prayers of Shabbat, we prepare our own imagination or the in-breaking of the divine into human existence.

SESSION TWO (Wed, Dec 11th, 9-11 am PST)

The Annunciation event comes alive as we experience images of the Annunciation created by artists through the centuries. Conversation and reflection follow as we consider how the encounter with an angel informs our own call to gestate and give birth to the holy. The invitation is ours in the week ahead to use at-home prompts giving our own expression to the annunciation using whatever modality is ours: art, poetry, movement, etc.

SESSION THREE (Wed, Dec 18th 9-11 am PST)

A time for theological reflection as we ponder the idea that God's choice to become human and Mary's yes change all things. We close our time together with the reflective, sensual prayer of Havdalah, the ending ritual of Shabbat. Enriched by our time together, we turn our hearts toward the season of Advent and the coming Christ-event of Christmas. Amen. May it be so.

Two options will be offered: The Wednesday morning live, online option and/or a recorded at-your-own-pace version. Sliding scale cost: you choose what works for you. Click here:

Once Upon a Time - Wednesdays 

Responses from Readers...

Responses received from Oct 30th Scribbles

  • Delightful! What a beautiful way to encourage truth to allow a good look at discouragement - or any other feeling for that matter. - Alice
  • I just love (and admire) your acute and attuned consciousness. - Lucinda
  • I find what I read to be so real, so right, so honest and true. Thank you Kathleen for this share. Miss you, love you and I praise God for this message. - Marissa
  • This is the most encouraging--and cutest piece! - Janice
  • I was touched by both your engagement with your discouragement and your open vulnerability in sharing it with others. - Ellen
  • Thanks for revisiting discouragement. It came on a day when I really needed to see that, my friend. - Sue 
  • As always, I love what you have to say. - Elizabeth
  • Loved this Scribbles. It described some of my days, but gave me pause for a laugh and put everything into perspective. - Kathleen S.

As always, I love to hear from you; contact me at Contact Kathleen. If you are new to Sisters in Scripture, I would love for us to stay in touch. To receive regular emails, sign up here.

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