Grünewald Guild

As an artist working primarily within the fluid mediums of silk painting and watercolor, Kristen’s work expresses the mystery and magnificence of the natural world. She challenges stories within the Christian tradition to find their place in today’s world, contextualizing ancient stories for a new world. At the Guild, her design of butterflies and labyrinths graces the entry doors of Centrum – cast in glass by the late Joe Hester – welcoming everyone in for vespers, matins, and meals.

Kristen’s teaching is both playful and patient – encouraging her students to respond to what is calling within them. This trait is borne of her own attentiveness to the movements of her own creative calling Her struggle with familiar stories and images of the sacred gives permission for others to explore outside their comfort zones. She radiates enthusiasm and possibility, and her work exemplifies a full, rich, and diverse life.

Kristen’s impact is felt well beyond the doors of her studio and well beyond the Grunewald Guild. Working with congregations all over the country, she challenges notions of what stories to tell, and how to tell them.

In addition to her many years of teaching at the Guild, Kristen has also served as both member and president of the Guild’s Board of Directors.

Jean Tudor has been enameling for 55+ years, and is “beginning to have a glimmer of what it is all about.” She has taught in the past for the Newport News Adult Education program, the Indianapolis Art Center, currently teaches for the Tacoma Metal Arts Center and workshops here and abroad. Jean and her husband Bill live in Edgewood, WA. after having resided in Medellín, Colombia, SA, Virginia, Michigan, and Indiana – back home again at last! She is past president of The Enamelist Society, member of the Washington State Enamelists, and a juried member of the Northwest Designer/Craftsmen.

Jean has taught at the Grünewald Guild since 2000. Her work, The Benedicite (The Song of the Three Young Men) was on display at the Guild in Fall 2017 and was a part of the Traveling Art Exhibit in Tacoma, Seattle, and Wenatchee in 2018.

An expert with the rare medium of clay paper sculpture, Ruthie has taught at the Guild every summer since its inception. Ruthie demonstrates the grace, skill and humble spirit of the Guild mission wherever she goes.

Sandy exemplified a level of excellence in liturgical art that helps bridge the gap between the Church and the arts, with a rare quality that is uniquely her own.

A scholarship fund was established in her honor in 2015.

An excerpt from Sandy’s obituary:   Sandra Zeiset Richardson of Seattle, Washington passed away on December 27, 2014 surrounded in love by her husband, family and friends.  Sandra was born April 30, 1957 and was raised in Bechtelsville, PA. Sandra met her husband Stan while living in Colorado. They were married in Seattle in 1981.

Sandra attended Eastern Mennonite College and the University of Washington, graduating in 1985 with a BA in Art Education. In 1988, she and her husband Stan became the directors of Camp Camrec, a Mennonite retreat center near Leavenworth, WA. During that time Sandra became associated with the Grunewald Guild, an art/faith community nearby. For the three years she lived at Camp Camrec, Sandra worked on her art in the Guild studio and made many long-term connections with that community. She later returned and both attended and taught classes during the Guild summer program. In 2005 she was named a “Guild Master” – persons whose work and life have become a ministry and inspiration.

In 1990, while still living at Camp Camrec, Sandra was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. This began her long journey living with a chronic disease but it did not break her spirit. Though the disease would ultimately limit her abilities and end her life, she lived fully during her time. Her roots as a Mennonite contributed to her love of community, and of peace and social justice. This also informed her artwork in many ways.

Sandra was an artist at heart and saw the world in a different way. Her artwork was narrative and figurative, covering many subjects from humor to political justice, personal introspection to social commentary. She worked primarily in ceramics but also printmaking, painting, and metal sculpture. Her distinctive figurative style is immediately recognizable. Her artwork has been shown in several Seattle and national galleries over her more than thirty-year career and is in numerous private collections, museums, and institutions.

A truly unique painter and illustrator, particularly of the rich history of saints, Brother Mickey brings beauty and mirth to everything he touches. Mickey has been a popular faculty member of the Guild for many years.

Brother Mickey O’Neill McGrath, Oblate of St. Francis de Sales, is an artist, writer, and speaker who loves to explore the relationship between art and faith. His work and ministry have been featured in St. Anthony Messenger, USA Today, and many Catholic newspaper articles around the country. Several of his covers for American Magazine have been given awards by the Catholic Press Association. He creates art for many of today’s leading Catholic publishers, including the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.  Brother Mickey has published several popular and award-winning books.

A rare spirit, both in the art of calligraphy and in his life, Alan has demonstrated the wonderful balance of being a master of his craft and a warm, nutty and accessible spirit that we hope to maintain forever at the Guild.

Scottie’s first love is ceramics, and he has taught ceramics and exhibited his artwork internationally. His other passions include bread-making, beer brewing, and traditional Asian teas.

Watanabe was famous for his biblical prints rendered in the mingei (folk art) tradition of Japan.  He lived a life of humble excellence, bringing together fine craftsmanship and a unique expression of story that serves as an inspiration to what we hope the Guild to be.

Early in the life of the Guild, founders Richard and Liz Caemmerer became aware of the international significance of the art of Sadao Watanabe.  Rich and Liz had received calendars and prints with his woodblock art from friends living in Tokyo.

The creative-edge spirit of Watanabe’s work resonated with the Guild’s mission.  To honor this connection, Watanabe was named an Honorary Guild Artist.  Rich and Liz presented a small stained glass piece to him in Japan. It was a life-changing experience for them to see his humble studio and meet his wife who packed and mailed his work all over the world.

Of Watanabe, Richard Caemmerer said: “We saw the work of an artist who, largely on his own, was connecting the Gospel to his culture.”

Liz and Rich founded the Guild, and infused it with their vision, warmth, mirth and love for history and culture.

Liz graduated from the Shalem Institute’s program in Spiritual Direction in 2006 in Baltimore, Maryland – a two-year study in contemplative spirituality with an interfaith faculty and community. Liz was a member of Spiritual Directors International. Family life and studies gave her a strong background in biblical studies and prayer and interfaith communities. She was a studio weaver since the 70’s and a popular weaving instructor for the Grünewald Guild and in the Plain community. As co-founder of the Grünewald Guild she had the privilege of growing with this community of creativity and faith for 37 years, enriched by the environment of seekers in creativity and spirituality and surrounded by the presence of Love in all creation.

Liz passed away in the loving hands of her family on February 17, 2021. At her request, a small service was held at Finisterre the following weekend. Memories of her were shared often thoughout summer programming that year. Her spirit continues to enliven the Guild and all those who were graced to know her in this life.

Rich and Liz founded the Guild, and infused it with their vision, warmth, mirth and love for history and culture that continues to pervade the Guild as we move into the future.

As a visual artist, Caemmerer had commissions in stained glass, sculpture, fresco, sgraftito, and tapestry from approximately 600 churches throughout the United States, as well as in Canada, Central America, Germany, Africa, and Yugoslavia, representing all denominations.  His paintings hang in museums and private collections around the world. He mounted fifteen one-man shows and won numerous awards.

After he retired, Richard continued to paint with abandon and consult, lecture and teach to the delight of audiences worldwide.

Richard passed from this life peacefully, surrounded by his family, on February 18, 2016.  A moving Memorial Service was conducted at Grace Lutheran Church in Wenatchee, WA on February 27.  Some excerpts of that special day, and a retrospective of Richard’s prolific works of art are available on his website, rrcstudios.com.