Art is Ageless® exhibit and reception features senior artists

The annual Art is Ageless® event was celebrated throughout the Aberdeen Heights community on April 30 with a cocktail reception from 4-6 p.m. Residents, guests and community members were invited.

Beautiful art was created and placed for all to see. The Glen skilled care, memory care, and assisted living participated in this annual event in several ways. By showcasing art that residents have made in the last year, created in their lifetime, or have collected throughout the years, art appreciation was in the air! Especially fun for all to view was this year’s special exhibit, “The 100 Dresses Project.”

As with last year’s 2018 special exhibit, this year’s exhibit was a multigenerational art display involving residents from the ages of 65-100 and school children from the age of 2-18. The “100 Dresses Project” was inspired by a program last fall by resident Marjorie Weisenfels Greene about women during the Great Depression. In the presentation she shared a wall hanging created of a paper doll cut out and vintage fabric.

Taking that image and combining it with the popular children’s book “100 Dresses” by Eleanor Estes created the idea for Aberdeen to invite local students and clubs to work with residents to make 100 dresses. Over the course of four months, students from Robinson, Keysor and Tilman elementary schools, Kirkwood Middle School, Ursuline Academy and various scout and other groups came to Aberdeen Heights to work with residents in both skilled and assisted.

Also included at our show was arts and crafts from the collections of Dot Ebeling, Joan Beck and Betty Spence. Don Otto shared with us a special piece from a well-known folk artist Jesse Howard, who has works displayed at The Smithsonian Institute.

Also included were: Eugene Bruckers’ photography, Dotty Mill’s pottery, Joan Murphy’s pottery, baskets and wood carvings, needlework by Joyce Ellis, Ellen Umlauf, Faye Prince, Marianne Spiegelhalter, and Janice Hovda Grant, bronze

sculptures from Dr. Donald Berhrens, painted Christmas ornaments and decorations from Carol McSweeney, painted miniature porcelains from Connie Josse, paintings from Dr. Richard Kloecker and Richard Burr, Betty Schmitt’s extensive craft collection, Mary Alice Lynch’s children’s book “Puffy the Cloud,” and knitting projects created by Sit and Knit with Cindy, where residents make baby sacks and hats for newborns. Also displayed were works from all of our activities throughout the year and the creative inspirations from David and friends in memory care.

The Art Is Ageless cocktail reception was a two-hour event. Harp music was played for the “100 Dresses Project” and live painting to music was in our assisted living by Vesna and Aaron. Hors d’oeuvres, spirits, and refreshments were served to residents, staff and guests.

After reading about the art show in the local newspaper, The Kirkwood Webster Groves Times, the Kirkwood Public Library inquired about displaying “The 100 Dresses Project” at their art gallery local showcase. The 100 Dresses Project will be displayed September 1-October 30th at the Kirkwood Library.

PHOTOS: At the very top, displayed were pictures of the “original” dress in the middle, and pictures of children and residents creating the dresses and the article in local paper. In the top collage, Vesna Delevska paints to live music by Aaron Burlbaw. Starting with a blank canvas, she starts and finishes her painting while music moves her to choose colors and strokes. Guests entered the Glen hearing the sounds of Danielle Williams on harp.

In the middle collage, left, are Joan Murphy, assisted living resident, and Rick Cumberland, executive director, in front of Joan’s pottery and baskets. The wood carving is named “Rebecca,” also made by Joan. Rebecca has been the official mascot and greeter of Art Is Ageless for four years. Right are Connie and Frank Josse with Bob Sextro and Dot Ebeling, having a good time with old friends. Located behind them are Connie’s painted porcelain collectibles, which she made of St. Louis Landmarks. They were sold to locals and tourists alike, and we are sure they are around the world in glass cases and bookshelves as well.

In the bottom collage, at the top, is Marjorie Weisenfels Green, the inspiration for the 100 Dresses Project, with her daughter-in-law Sally Weisenfels and niece Kathy, all posed in front of the 100 Dresses Project. At the bottom, Marianne Spiegelhalter posed with her “best son in the world,” Tom. Tom and his wife Jean traveled from Chicago for their mom’s showcase which had more than 18 of her beautiful embroideries, never before displayed in public. We were honored to showcase them for our art show.

Also shown is the finished painting by Vesna Delevska, created during the reception.