EngAGE changes lives by transforming affordable senior and multigenerational apartment communities into vibrant centers of learning, wellness, and creativity.
Program Director/Art Instructor Alma Wright led residents in the Artists Roundtable in an exciting new project: creating 3D photos on glass. She reports: “It is a very cool process where you glue your photo to the glass, then spray it with water and rub it off with your finger until you have a translucent image. Once that’s done, you can let your creative juices flow and come up with a background for your photo. The students were given the option to paint a background with watercolors, rip a page out of a magazine, or print an image or sentiment to add to the back of the photo.”
Alma also quoted famed photographer Ansel Adams: “You don’t take a photograph, you make it.” The artists at Magnolia@Highland certainly did a fine job making these distinctive photographs!
EngAGE Websites/Social Media Manager Cynthia Friedlob says skip the bucket list of extreme adventures and appreciate the joys of the creative smaller life!
In her new book, she shares memories of her childhood along with musings about how she lives a satisfying smaller life now. Her personal essays about art, music, gardening, cooking, staycations, and more, are followed by blank pages for readers to draw or write about their own smaller lives.
This interactive journal was inspired by an essay of the same name that Cynthia wrote for the EngAGE Blog.
Program Director Laura Spidell reports from Patton Home in Portland, OR:
The community garden has been a wonderful amenity for our residents, many of whom have never had a garden of their own before. Twelve residents have assigned beds and are growing a bounty of tomatoes, peppers, squash, beans, flowers, and more.
Excess produce is distributed throughout the community at the weekly EngAGE food pantry.
But the garden is special because it is growing more than just produce; it is growing community. The garden is an inviting space for residents to gather to talk, work on art projects, or just sit and relax. The Patton Home gardeners have built camaraderie with the gardeners at the adjacent City community garden, creating connections with the broader neighborhood.
The garden has sparked creative projects as well. Some gardeners created signs to decorate their plots or added colorful touches of whimsy. The weekly EngAGE art class decorated butterflies that were laminated and placed around the garden along with a hand-painted “Butterfly Garden” sign by resident artist Beverly Tuttle, who also made shrunken heads using fallen apples from the tree in the garden!
We are exploring ideas to decorate the plots in the Winter when the plants are dormant to keep the artistic harvest and community building thriving.
Program Director Arnold Schmidt reports, “Here you go, fresh off the grill (or fresh out of the cauldron), Halloween pictures! Yesterday, I went through the building and put little goodie bags for the residents on all 198 doors. A great workout, lol!”
Thank you for the effort and for all of the great photos posted below, Arnold! We also want to share some of the emailed praise you received from delighted residents:
Thank you for the Halloween candy. Not only have you organized activities for us in a masterful way–you are also very kind and thoughtful. Again, thank you for the candy and for all that you do, and for doing it so well. You are deeply appreciated by all!! Happy Halloween. Love and blessings, Pam
Hi Arnold! I just arrived home and found a very thoughtful Halloween surprise on my door!!! Thank you so very much!! So nice to be remembered! ?Candace
Dear Arnold, THANK YOU! I just got home and saw the bag of Halloween goodies and ATE THEM!! Haha! You are the BEST. So attentive, and involved, and kind-hearted, and funny. ADJUST YOUR HALO. Thank you again for being YOU. Best, Karen
Teaching Artist Nancy Georgini and the Piedmont Acting Group were undaunted by COVID. They presented a virtual showcase of their talents in “The Covid Show’Vid Summer Series” on Zoom. Copyright considerations prevent us from posting a video, but if you scroll down the images below (provided by Piedmont Program Director Arnold Schmidt), you can get a glimpse of the performance. Well done, everyone!
When Kyle, an LBSAC resident, found out about our recent NAMM Foundation grant, she sent an enthusiastic email:
This is great news! I know how important music has been to our EngAGE community here at the Long Beach Senior Arts Colony. From piano lessons with Lauren Wright to recording songs for the upcoming Ageism: The Musical, music is one of the highlights of my week! Thank you EngAGE and NAMM for making this girl a happy camper and extending the thrill to our compadres in Carson.
Kyle performing at a Storytelling event at LBSAC
She also shared her feelings about Program Director Helene Weinberg and the creative programming offer by EngAGE:
Program Director Helene Weinberg
After two years in a building of residents who used computers to play solitaire only and sat around waiting to die, moving into the Long Beach Arts Senior Arts Colony really resuscitated my creativity and desire to get out and enjoy people and life in general. Our fearless leader, Helene, gets us all involved and leads spirited conversations. It is such a joy to see her at the opening of every Zoom class and at our weekly Coffee Talk. She genuinely cares about us. Life is fantastic with EngAGE. I wish every senior everywhere could take part in this type of programming.
Thank you, Kyle! We’re delighted that you’re enjoying life in an EngAGE arts colony.
Jennifer Fallon, EngAGE Administrative Assistant, was formerly the Program Director at Cotton’s Point in San Clemente, CA, for seven years. Although she’s not been there for quite some time, she’s still in touch with Nora, a resident who became a dear friend. Nora is committed to making art in spite of her physical challenges. Jennifer explained that Nora has severe arthritis and has to use her palms with one or two fingers for a little grip on her art tools. In addition to making her own work, Nora loves Paint by Numbers.
Nora, who is 91, is very bright and can understand English. While her spoken and written language skills are limited, she is able to convey perfectly how she feels about making art and about EngAGE. Here’s a recent email exchange between Nora and Jennifer:
Nora: This is painting by number “Tower House,” after finished let me so happy feelings.
Jennifer: Nora, This is absolutely beautiful. You are a very talented, committed artist. I miss you so much. Love, Jennifer
Nora: Thank you so much for the nice comments, I just worked hard to do my best to finished my painting, that is the most joyful moments. My appreciations come to me to the “Engage” let me enjoying every day at “Cotton Point.” I want enjoying everyday here to my last minit.
An update from Jennifer: Nora just shared her latest piece with me (see below). Wow! She continues to overcome her physical challenges each time she sits down to create. Her fine motor skills are hindered due to severe arthritis, yet her love for art is expressed through her perseverance and creativity.
And a comment from Meloney Morse, current Program Director at Cotton’s Point and Nora’s art teacher: What a positive and engaged lady! It took her a little longer to complete but she’s so dedicated and has told me that art brings her happiness and comfort. So excited to see her completed work!
Nora: I finished the painting, I’m so happy I can finished the painting before next project. Thank you for let me enjoyed my life here, because of you let us had the opportunity to do so many things. So many people here felt same about you.
