BACKGROUND

Ms. Widhalm was born and raised in McHenry, IL. She attended Marian Central Catholic High School which is where she first fell in love with making art. She recently earned my B.A. in Studio Art from Hillsdale College. Outside of teaching, she is a practicing artist and runs a small art business. She is also passionate about ministry and has served as a missionary for both Catholic Youth Expeditions and Totus Tuus. In her free time, she loves traveling, reading, playing tennis, camping and hiking, and spending time with her family and friends. 

 

WHY IS ART IMPORTANT TO THE EDUCATIONAL FORMATION OF YOUTH?

Art is an essential part of not only the intellectual but also the human formation of youth. It teaches students to see well: to look at something beautiful, try to understand it, and represent it truthfully with a pencil or a paintbrush. It fosters mental endurance in youth, encouraging them to lean into the process of creation rather than making the perfect painting on the first try. But most importantly, art opens the eyes of students of all ages to the human ache for beauty, pointing ultimately to a thirst for God. Art, though seemingly non-essential to our survival, enriches our existence, allowing us to participate in the creative work of God.

 

WHY ARCHANGELS ACADEMY

I am excited most of all to be joining a community of teachers, staff, students, and families who are committed to the work of glorifying God through education. I firmly believe that God's divine providence led me to Archangels, and I am excited to witness the miraculous work He accomplishes here!

 

WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO BRING TO THE STUDENTS OF ARCHANGELS ACADEMY?

My primary goal as an educator is to support and enrich the faith of my students through studying the creative work of God. I also hope to be able to send my students home with pieces of art that they are proud of, not because the painting turned out exactly as they envisioned, but because they poured themselves into the process of creating it. I hope that my students feel encouraged and excited to share with their families what they created, what challenges they overcame along the way, and what they learned from their hard work. 

 

HOW IS YOUR FAITH INTEGRATED INTO YOUR CLASSROOM AND ART?

All good things begin and end in prayer! My faith is the beginning and end of all that I do and my reason for creating and teaching. In my own art, this often looks like creating pieces which have the spiritual works of mercy as their goal: "to instruct the ignorant, to counsel the doubtful, to comfort the afflicted." In the classroom, I aim to pour into my students spiritual lives through art education while also encouraging them to share their gifts with others. We will dive into the rich artistic traditions of the Catholic Church and create art which encourages others, displays beauty, and brings greater glory to God.