Local seniors getting in touch
Published on October 8th, 2003
STONEHAM, MA - A great idea can often germinate from some spur-of-the-moment inspiration, a little enthusiasm, and...well...a great idea.
Those magic ingredients have cooked up a special mixture that is transforming the Stoneham Senior Center lobby into a full-scale art center and gallery.
Each month a different artist connected with the senior center, be they employee, senior, or artist willing to showcase their work, will have their work featured in the Senior Center lobby. According to Lavender, each exhibit will feature six pieces of artwork and each will be available for sale.
The showcase started in September when Stoneham resident Mary Saja inquired about displaying her artwork in the lobby of the Stoneham senior center.
"We're really turning into a cultural center in addition to a senior center," said Director of the Stoneham Council on Aging Jane Lavender in her Elm Street office. "We have pottery classes, we're starting up piano lessons and wood-working classes. This has really become a cultural center for the people of Stoneham."
According to Lavender, many of the aspiring artists are fulfilling lifelong desires to create that were lost in the shuffle of their day-to-day lives. The results are Stoneham seniors "living out their creative sides."
"I think most people get caught up in full time jobs and raising children, and their artistic talent gets pushed to the back," said Lavender, who is also trying her hand at stained-glass work, and joked that 'maybe they'll hire me to do any new glasswork at St. Pat's'. "I think it's also a very relaxing activity for those involved...sort of similar to meditation."
Gayle Lerman, who has taught painting and art classes at the senior center for three years, agrees that art can be therapeutic in times of stress and strain.
"Just this weekend, I was boarding a flight out of Boston and I hate to fly," said Lerman. "I had brought my paint with me, and I began to work after I boarded the plane. I didn't even realize that an hour and a half had gone by. That's the kind of thing that art can do for you."
Lerman was excited about the popularity of the monthly art gallery showings at the senior center, and planned on having her own exhibit in the coming months.
Her excitement was matched, however, by the pride she has for many of the art students regularly splashing color onto page at the center.
"Most of the people that come in here don't have any real art training or experience, and some are even scared to pick up the brush at first," laughed Lerman. "But once they start and get comfortable, they get hooked. They feel great satisfaction from the finished product."
The perfect example of the late-blooming art student is Larry Cross of Stoneham, the featured senior center artist for the month of October.
Cross' art adorns the front lobby, and displays a versatile ability to capture beautiful landscapes, as well as the nuanced mysteries of the human face and form. One of the many impressive paintings in his collection, The Ballerina, displays a young ballerina perhaps taking a break from dancing, seated with her arms atop her knees, casually looking outside the painting.
Cross took up the art classes "about two years ago", but shows a remarkable proficiency in such a short time.
"People have said nice things but I don't know if they're really sincere, or they're just being nice," said the thoroughly modest Cross. "Eighty percent of a good painting is picking good subject matter."
Cross, a resident of Stoneham for the last 50 years, added that he now paints every day, and that "it provides him with a nice place to relax in" in retirement.
Cross has requested that any money used to purchase his work be donated to the Feral Cat Society of Stoneham.
Anyone interested in getting involved in the Stoneham Senior Center Art Classes, or showcasing their work at the senior center can call (781) 438-1157 for details.
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