When beginning her SCAD American Academy in Rome Affiliated Fellowship in the spring of 2016, Liberal Arts professor Dr. Nicol Nixon Augusté’s original intent wasn’t to research Rome’s female saints.
On Friday, Oct. 13, Augusté read selections from her new book, “Rome’s Female Saints: A poetic Pilgrimage to the Eternal City,” explaining her shift in focus.
“I had wanted to study gender narratives in early Jewish and Christian women and I had research set up and then I said, ‘Wait a second. I’m going to Rome and, if you’re talking about saints, there’s no place like Rome . . . I’ve got to study female saints.’”
Her work took yet another unexpected turn when it progressed from academic to creative.
Instead of writing and researching a text that academics would read, the book became a multi-disciplinary work, comprised of biography, prayer and poetry. “What I learned from this is follow your voice to creativity because if you listen . . . it will be fuller and it will be engaging. I personally call that voice the Holy Spirit,” said Augusté.
When she visited archeological sites, catacombs and basilicas, the voice would give her a word. These words became an inspiration for the poetry she created that celebrated each of the saints she studied.
Augusté wanted to experience each saint as closely as possible which meant dealing with the inconsistent opening times of basilicas, some of which were open four hours one day and then closed four months the next. However, in navigating the city’s changing schedule, she stumbled upon a Mithraeum, befriended a married couple who had met through an accidental text and flagged down a Father to take her to St. Theresa of Avila’s foot.
She concluded the reading by advising, “If you have an opportunity to go on a fellowship, whatever the topic . . . do it and engage fully with it. Become the artist you’re supposed to be and whatever voice it is that speaks to you . . . allow it to speak to you to inform your process and grow.”
After the lecture, Augusté signed copies of her book, drawing a heart and writing “BE SALT” after her signature. She tells her students that, “by being salt, their art should not only flavor the world but it should heal it as well.”
“Rome’s Female Saints: A Poetic Pilgrimage to the Eternal City” is available for purchase at Ex Libris and more stories and photos from Augusté’s fellowship can be found on the Facebook page, “Rome’s Female Saints.”
Written by Elena Burnett.
Elena Burnett is the Editor-in-Chief of District. She’s a writing major who will graduate in 2019.
