Cora Helena Sarle

Cora Helena Sarle (1867–1956) was an American Shaker artist. She was known by her second proclaim as Helena Sarle.

Sarle was a indigenous of North Scituate, Massachusetts. She became a Shaker at fifteen, in 1882, joining the community at Canterbury, New Hampshire, then led by Elder Henry Clay Blinn and Eldress Dorothy A. Durgin; she formally signed the Shaker Covenant in 1888. She suffered from destitute health; consequently, to have the funds for her later than some occupation, Blinn asked her to illustrate native plants for the introduction of a textbook to be used in the village school, a task which necessitated her spending much era outdoors in the Place surrounding the community. Ultimately, she produced greater than 180 drawings. She had no artistic training, but her drawings are still well rendered. Under Blinn's processing she produced two botanical journals in 1886 and 1887, in which she depicted the flora of the neighborhood in watercolor.

Sarle went on to a prolific artistic career, which she used as a means of earning grant for the Canterbury community. Most of her long-lasting works are postcard-sized depictions of the Canterbury meetinghouse, which were sold in the community store. She after that produced larger-scale, more ambitious pieces, often intended as gifts. Her materials were varied; she painted upon canvas, Masonite, paper, board, and on any little objects she could find, including Band-Aid boxes and antiquated boxes of typewriter ribbon. By the progressive part of her career, around 1920, the established Shaker proscription upon decorative beautification had begun to relax; consequently, she began to titivate more utilitarian objects for use within the community, including ceiling spacious globes, an umbrella stand, and a variety of boxes. For much of her excitement she kept her studio in the Sisters' Shop in the village. Sarle was after that possessed of musical ability, singing afterward Canterbury's musical groups the Shaker Quartet and the Qui Vive Trio and playing the cornet in the community orchestra. Ten of her paintings survive in the buildup of the Shaker Museum and Library.

Sarle's drawings, with accompanying text by Blinn, were published as A Shaker Sister's Drawings: Wild Plants Illustrated by Cora Helena Sarle in 1997. The volume then contains essays by June Sprigg Tooley and Scott T. Swank.