Residents at Good Samaritan Society – Waconia and Westview Acres in Waconia, MN, recently enjoyed a 10-week long Introduction to Acrylic Painting class. At the conclusion of the class, members enthusiastically shared their work in the exhibit, Imagination and Memories with Acrylic Paint, on April 12, 2018.
~ Chuck Leer, Consultant & Kate Houston, Regional Program Director, EngAGE Heartland
Congratulations to everyone involved in this important show at ACE/121 in Glendale, CA, with special thanks to Margarita Simonian, resident artist curator, and Ben Evans, EngAGE Program Director/Gallery Curator at ACE/121.
“Risen” presents work in various mediums that collectively address the theme of the Armenian genocide of 1915. Rather than focus on the hardship of this dark history, Simonian has chosen instead to propose a show that offers an alternative look into this darkness – one of survival and hope.
Overlapping with the day of remembrance, April 24th, Risen asks the question: How, through a persistence to accept and acknowledge horrific pasts, do we rise from these shadows?
Photos: Nancy Goodhart, Margarita Simonian, Valerie Douroux Schultz
California Arts Council
Tune in to Experience Talks, our weekly “Radio Magazine for the Experienced Listener,” on Sundays at 5:30 PM PT on KPFK 90.7 FM Los Angeles, 98.7 FM Santa Barbara, 99.5 China Lake, 93.7 N. San Diego, streaming live online, and now syndicated on up to 100 Pacifica Network stations! Experience Talks is produced by the non-profit EngAGE, Inc.
Miss the show? You can always hear it as a podcast on our website! You’ll also find an archive-in-progress of all of our previous shows there for you to enjoy. New shows are usually posted within 48 hours after broadcast.
Mitchell Danton was born in Burbank, California and grew up in the Hollywood Hills. He’s the son of the late actor/director Ray Danton and actress Julie Adams (best remembered as the lovely Kay in the Universal feature film classic, Creature From The Black Lagoon).
Mitchell spent much of his childhood observing the editing process on television shows and movies that his father directed. This inspired an early interest in film editing that led him to attend the USC School of Cinema/Television, where he graduated magna cum laude in 1990 and earned Phi Beta Kappa honors.
Since his graduation, Mitchell has gone on to edit more than 200 hours of episodic television, including the Fox hit, Beverly Hills, 90210; the Western, Christy; and the WB critical darling, Dawson’s Creek. He was nominated for four Primetime Emmy Awards for outstanding picture editing for his work on the hit reality show, Survivor. In 2007, he won an ACE Eddie Award and a Primetime Emmy Award for the controversial ABC miniseries, The Path to 9/11.
Mitchell continues to work as an editor, but is now also an author. His fascinating book, Cutting It in Hollywood, takes you inside the trenches of post-production where professional film editors share the lessons they’ve learned cutting blockbuster movies and hit TV shows. Readers will experience the real world situations these highly skilled editors face on a daily basis, learn how they navigate the sometimes treacherous political waters of the editing room, and discover the secrets of how they turned their passion for filmmaking into lucrative careers in one of the most creative and sought after fields in the entertainment industry. You can purchase the book here.
Click here to purchase The Lucky Southern Star: Reflections from the Black Lagoon, the autobiography of Julie Adams, written with her son, Mitchell Danton.
Residents of BSAC in Burbank, CA, had the privilege to be the pilot program for former “Oprah” segmentproducer Bob Bates’ new film project, “The You Studio.” Residents were given the opportunity to record interviews about their lives, tastes, funny stories, childhoods and so much more to share with their children, grandchildren and friends. Over 15 residents received a flash drive and YouTube link to their 30 minute interview to
send out. Everyone had such a great time and were thrilled to have this oral history of themselves that will last forever.
Links to a handful of interviews:
Dolly Brittan
Buster Susan
Dorian Best
Sue Mavro
Love was in the air at BSAC’s Valentine’s Day Party. Residents filled the room and enjoyed sweet treats and savory snacks while singing along and dancing with the wonderful performer Dan Olivo, who crooned the afternoon away singing Rat Pack songs.
Instructor Katrina showed off some of the digital art projects students made in her class during the culminating event where residents were able to enjoy some refreshments and view the video projects made by the Digital Photography and Multimedia Art Class.
~ Megan Hocking, Program Director
Vrezh is a pianist and singer who comes out to Park Plaza Senior Apartments in North Hollywood, CA, every few months to entertain and energize the residents. They really do love him. He speaks some of their languages, plays games with them, and dances with them. He is a bright light of positivity and joy.
Valentine’s Day Concert
Timeslips Storytelling Event/Resident Spotlight
From Tanya Kutukdjian, Programs Assistant:
This month I’d like to share some great progress with our resident, Clara.
Clara is a very sweet woman who is always greeting me with a smile. However, she has isolated herself for some time since her husband passed away. She used to participate in bingo once in a while, but she hadn’t come around for over a year. She also never joined in on the fun events we had.
Recently I noticed she gradually began sitting nearby during our bingo games and eventually, with some coaxing from her fellow residents, has started to participate again!
But even more exciting is her participation in the TimeSlips group. This is something that is very difficult for many of our residents, as they are required to step out of their comfort zones. This can be particularly challenging for a quiet and withdrawn individual like Clara. She began as an observer, and I’m happy to share that she participated fully during our last TimeSlips group.
Clara had many wonderful ideas and stories to share about the story picture prompt instructor Sarah Jacobus presented. She even had the courage to present different scenarios and engage the other group members to think outside the box.
Clara is only one of quite a few residents who have been stepping out of their comfort zones to participate in TimeSlips. We see the interest growing as residents gather more and more to become part of the group, as active participants and enthusiastic observers.
Clara at left, instructor Sarah at far right.
~ Elizabeth Sampson, Program Director
Craig Gibson teaches the Knitting Class at Cantabria-Asturias in Panorama City, CA, but it is so much more than a Knitting Class. All the residents make things to wear, things to give as gifts. We recently had a Presentation Potluck Party of the work they had done over the last three months.
The ladies line up and Craig hands out the yarn.
Work in progress.
Wearable items.
More wearable items.
Sarah makes lap blankets that she takes to the Vet Hospital up the street. They are perfect blankets for people in wheel chairs. She has a hard time finding yarn colors that will work for both men and women.
Lap blankets for Veterans at the Vet Hospital. That is Sarah holding them up with Craig.
~ Elizabeth Sampson, Program Director
At the Vermont Family Apartments in Los Angeles, CA, gardening is a fun family project.
You can’t find a better teacher than Living Legend drummer Clarence Johnston!
Residents meet once a month to celebrate birthdays of the month. They enjoy a delicious slice of cake, light refreshments, and raffles with prizes, all provided by EngAGE.
~ Sandra Vargas, Regional Program Director
Thanks to the Eisner Foundation for their generous support of our intergenerational programs.
