Residents in the Computer Class at Tavarua Senior Apartments in Carlsbad, CA, started 2017 with subscribing to the EngAGE Blog. They love to be able to find out what new things are happening with EngAGE. They feel a sense of unity and encouragement when they read about other properties like Tavarua where residents are actively pursuing new creative opportunities each day.
~ Tracy Freeburg, Program Coordinator
In early January, North Hollywood Senior Arts Colony hosted its first Art Room Social led by resident volunteer Larry Blecha. This was a very enjoyable, relaxing, and inspiring event with a great turnout. All the residents were excited to learn different techniques of oil painting in a stimulating environment. Larry Blecha is a wonderful and encouraging teacher, and we are extremely grateful that he is volunteering his time to inspire and share his knowledge with other residents. The audience was completely captivated by his words and love for art, and the general consensus was that this was to turn into a weekly gathering!
See the event photos below, and read the short interview to find out more about Larry Blecha and how he developed a love for painting.
What is your background and how did you discover your love for painting?
I grew up on a farm in Southwest Nebraska, and my first 9 grades I attended a small one-room country school without running water. While there ,we often did drawing and I enjoyed it, however did not pursue art further frankly until I broke my leg at work in 2008. While recuperating from the badly damaged leg, I needed something to do so I started painting with acrylic paints, I wasn’t very good but enjoyed learning and creating. I recovered from the leg injury after a few months and didn’t paint again until I had a hip replacement in 2012 or 13 when I discovered oil painting and found it much more suited to my interests and goals. I recovered from the hip surgery and again put aside my interest in painting until I retired to NOHO Senior Arts. Since then I was free to pursue my interest in painting with oils and it has become a passion.
How many hours do you spend in the art room and what keeps you motivated to work on a painting?
During most weeks, I am in the art room painting 6 days and 6 hours or more per day. My interest in painting in general is the complexity, depth, and challenge. Every painting provides a new challenge, a new color, task, skill, tool, personal discipline, and so on.
How did you teach yourself art and what advice would you give to others?
I’m not really sure that I taught myself in that I read a great deal both online and hard copy books. I’ve been fortunate to have been able to view great art from incredibly talented people who went boldly before us, at a number of museums including the National Archives in Washington, DC, and a number of others as I have traveled, and I try to attend as many art shows as I can find. All of these have provided me with interest and motivation, basic technical information, and knowledge. Then one must actually pick up the brush, mix some paints, and learn how the paints behave.
My advice to others would be to pursue your interests with reckless abandon. Allow yourself to fail repeatedly without giving up, and look for progress rather than perfection.
What is your favorite painting (of yours and of other artists)?
I have so many favorites it would be difficult to choose only one. There really are wonderful and talented people doing art in modern times as well as the past. I tend to be drawn to the works of Renoir, Bouguereau, and other masters, as well as more modern artists like Jeff Hein, Steve Hardy, and others. As far as my own paintings, I like “The Lady in the Lake” and “The Farmland” because of my personal efforts as well as their meaning to me.
~ Sara Debevic, Program Director
Pac Arts is the place to be on February 2nd for First Thursday.
Dive into the “Art Tank” at Pac Arts – our next resident artist group exhibition with the Opening Reception Party from 6-8 pm.
Following the Lilyan Fierman Walkway mural celebration (click here and scroll down for info), you are invited to meet and greet the artists who live and thrive at Pac Arts. Meet the magnificent mural creator Luis Sanchez and his assistant Regina Argentin. See their current works and eclectic work featuring Bejan Amini, Monica Belni, Pati Monge and Lisa Mosely.
“Art Tank” will run through April.
We look forward to seeing you on February 2nd at Pac Arts!
~ Helene Weinberg, Program Director
EngAGE thanks the S. Mark Taper Foundation for its generous grant of $25,000. This grant funding will support EngAGE programs in arts, wellness, creativity, and lifelong learning, as well as intergenerational programs and hunger relief efforts for seniors in need, all offered to low- and moderate-income seniors living in affordable housing communities. Our goal is to create healthy behaviors in the aging population most at risk, resulting in increased engagement, improved health, and greater independence.
Want to be a show biz star? Helene Weinberg, Program Director at Long Beach Senior Arts Colony, reports that recently she’s been in touch with the casting director of NBC’s new spinoff show hosted by Steve Harvey called, “Little Big Shots – Forever Young.” They are seeking seniors 65 + with BIG personalities and special skills/talent. Helene told the casting director that LBSAC has a talent show scheduled in their theater on Thursday, February 16th @ 7pm, and they will video the performers that evening for audition submissions for the show.
If you don’t have a handy local talent show coming up, you can still make your own video and submit it from wherever you are. You don’t have to live in the LA area! Here are the instructions:
We are excited to pitch your act to the network for consideration on Little Big Shots – Forever Young! We look forward to receiving your home video submission to get to know your personality and hear a little of your backstory. We want to give you the best possible chance of making the show, so have a lot of energy and enthusiasm – really let yourself shine! It is also important to have the best quality video possible, so please tape in a quiet location with great lighting and a nice background. If you need technical support, please ask a friend or family member to help you! A great cameraman can make all the difference in the world.
Here are a few of the questions we would like you to answer during your video:
Please give us a lively introduction with your name, age and where you live.
Tell us about your special talent, how long you’ve been doing it, and how you started.
What did you do for a living when you were still working (if you are retired)?
Tell us about your family.
Do you have special hobbies and interests that make you uniquely you?
Give a “shout out” to Steve Harvey! Let him know you’re looking forward to being on Little Big Shots – Forever Young.
Tell Mr. Harvey what skill or life lesson you’d like to teach him when you come on the show, since he’s just a youngster at 59!
Do one more great introduction at the end since you’re all warmed up now.
Say “Goodbye” to Mr. Harvey and let him know you look forward to seeing him in LA!
Be sure to turn your phone long ways if you’re using your camera phone to tape your video. We want full landscape view, not the skinny strip of video!
Please upload videos to You Tube or Vimeo and send us the links. Do not edit or add effects – we have a pro in LA that will select clips and polish them for the presentation! You can also send via large file transfer service like Hightail, We Transfer or Dropbox.
Please send recent photos of you displaying your talent, as well as a nice individual shot of your face. If your act is a group, please send group photos. If you have additional performance videos, please send us those video links as well.
Thank you again for your interest in participating in the show! Let us know if you have any questions, and please send your videos in the next two weeks. If you need additional time, please let us know ASAP. We look forward to seeing your video!
Best of Luck!! Send submissions to:
Kim Clevenger
Senior Casting Producer
Little Big Shots – Forever Young
kimclevengercasting@gmail.com
Camp Pendleton continutes to reach out to local residents at Cottons Point Senior Apartments in San Clemente, CA. Every year the students San Onofre Elementary school at Camp Pendleton come to Cotton’s Point to sing holiday songs and read to the residents. (Aren’t they a great group of kids?) Local service members also enjoy celebrating the holidays with our veterans at our property.
They extended their graciousness by sending cards to our local resident, Retired Gunnery Sgt. John Duffy, who is in the hospital. Over 30 cards were made expressing their appreciation for his service and get well wishes. Mr. Duffy has always enjoyed listening to the kids sing and read.
~ Jennifer Fallon, Program Director
The stage was adorned with a festive holiday tree and fifty residents gathered to enjoy the annual Holiday Show at LBSAC. “LOVE is the best Decoration” was written and produced by resident Dr. Gwendolyn Philips-Coates with musical direction by professional Long Beach musician, Charles Fearing. The group enjoyed the special guest performance by Charles’ son, Alex, and professional musician Larry Ball. The show included traditional and popular holiday songs, original poetry, and the audience adorned the tree with specially created “LOVE” ornaments.
~ Helene Weinberg, Program Director
