PDX All Ages Radio Story Hour Video

We’re delighted with this excellent video of our special “PDX All Ages Radio Story Hour,” the culminating performance of a unique storytelling collaboration between EngAGE, Community Development Partners, Friendly House, the Multnomah Arts Center, and AARP Oregon. The show was recorded live with a studio audience in Portland, OR, and broadcast on our Experience Talks radio show on 90.7 KPFK-FM on 11/22/17. Please see our Flickr album for more photos.

Storytellers: Liam Eldridge, Monica Erwin, Linda Gary, Kate Lambert
Robbyn Myers, Eric Twigger, Steve Vertal

Musicians : Zoe Carpenter, Alyssia Menezes, Ronnie Robins

Teaching Artist & Director: Will Hornyak

Host: Tim Carpenter, EngAGE CEO/Founder

 

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News from ACE/121: CPR Workshop

Residents at ACE/121, our multigenerational Arts Colony in Glendale, CA, participated in a CPR Workshop provided by USC Verdugo Hills Hospital and the American Heart Association.

~ Marshall Ayers, Program Director

 

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News from Magnolia @ Highland: Creativity with Clay and Decoupage

At the EngAGE Community Cup in September, The Artists’ Round Table from Magnolia@Highland in San Bernardino, CA, brought home a Gold Medal for their lovely work, “Magnolia Centerpieces” (polymer clay flowers, fabric vases). Recently, the class finished more polymer clay magnolias to complete all nine vases for each table in their community room.

The group was excited to move on to the next project: glass plates with a Thanksgiving motif, applying napkins with Mod Podge for a very nice decoupage technique. The plates were used as chargers for all the tables in the community room.

~ Alma Wright, Regional Program Director

 

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Lubaina Himid Wins Turner Prize

“Lubaina Himid, an artist who makes theatrical, witty and challenging works that address colonial history, racism and institutional invisibility, has won the 2017 Turner prize. Himid is both the first woman of color to win and, at 63, the oldest winner in the prize’s 33-year history, after it dropped its upper age limit of 50. . .  . [2017] was the first full year of a rule change abandoning the upper age limit of 50 for artists, a restriction introduced in 1991. Some critics said it gave the Turner prize a more mature feel.” Read more about Himid in an article from The Guardian.

The prize was first awarded in 1984. It’s given to a British artist — an artist working primarily in Britain or an artist born in Britain working anywhere — but the winner becomes well known internationally.

Also read a related article from The Guardian about famous older artists: “There’s a magic elixir than can keep you for ever young. It’s called being an artist.”

 

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News from Magnolia@9th: PEARLS Program

EngAGE sponsored a presentation by El Sol Neighborhood Educational Center regarding PEARLS, a Program to Encourage Active,
Rewarding Lives for Seniors. This program is an individual, home-based, participant driven service for older adults designed to reduce symptoms of depression and improve health-related quality of life by learning to recognize symptoms of depression and using problem solving treatment.  Counseling is offered free of charge on individual basis to those requesting the service.

~ Alma Wright, Regional Program Director

 

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News from Portofino: Crochet Class

The popular Crochet Class at Portfino Villas in Pomona, CA, offers residents an opportunity for both creative expression and community building. In addition, knitting and crocheting offer other benefits, including increased emotional well-being through:

  • stress relief
  • improved self esteem
  • sense of accomplishment and personal growth
  • renewed creative passion
  • socialization
  • sense of purpose

The rhythmic and repetitive movements are among the meditative and stress relieving qualities of knit and crochet and have been shown to calm and focus the mind while easing anxiety (Crochet Saved My Life, 2012). Other benefits include improved self esteem from the accomplishment of learning a new skill and completing a project. Crochet and knitting can also be a wonderful form of self-expression for older adults who may find a renewed creative passion and sense of freedom in choosing a project and colors.

In addition, crochet and knitting groups can increase seniors’ overall well-being by providing a social outlet that can combat feelings of isolation and sadness by fostering a sense of community, an opportunity for growing friendships, and building a support network. This socialization is especially helpful for those those living alone or without family nearby.

And did we mention that it’s fun creating something beautiful and handmade?!

Photo Credit: Alma Wright

~ Jennifer Fallon, Regional Program Director

 

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News from Magnolia@9th: Quilling

Sometimes crafting requires tuning your fine motor skills in order to show your creativity. At Magnolia at 9th Senior Apartments in San Bernardino, CA, crafters have taken up quilling, an art form that involves the use of strips of paper that are rolled, shaped, and glued together to create decorative designs for use on greetings cards, pictures, boxes, eggs, and to make models, jewelry, mobiles, and more. The crafters are becoming familiar with the technique and are developing their skills. They look forward to the weekly class with excitement.

~ Alma Wright, Regional Program Director

 

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