Meaningful Messages in Self Portraits

TRUTH! "Just because I'm a senior citizen doesn't mean I am not young at heart and enjoy laughing and having a very good time."

TRUTH! "Friends bring me great joy."

TRUTH! "Just because I'm a senior doesn't mean I don't like to try new things."

TRUTH! "Still like to have fun 65."

These are statements made on self portraits of older artists at the Upper Adams Senior Center. They created the thoughtful and expressive self portraits after a writing exercise that prompted the messages in their artworks.

Meaningful messages in self portraits by older artists.

This was the last session of a 10-week artist residency through the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, Adams County Office for Aging, Inc., Startsomething Arts In Education / Cultural Alliance of York County. As a teaching artist I learned as much from them (probably more!) as they did from me.

Creating a self portrait inspired by a writing exercise.

An art class participant "trying something new".

Self portraits created by senior citizens filled with messages.

The artist appreciates friends and family in this self portrait.

Details of a self portrait.

The self-portrait project is inspired by a similar class by TA Lisa Hazinag that I participated in as a student of Lincoln Center Education Summer Forum this past July.

Colorful Yukon-inspired Art by Senior Adult Club

Would you like to create art in the Canadian Yukon?

This week the artists from the Senior Adult Club in my 10-week artist residency at the Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg learned about the colorful and charming yet sophisticated art of Canadian artist Ted Harrison. They also learned about 1-3 month art residency opportunities at Ted's beloved cabin at Crag Lake in the Yukon.

Inspired by his colorful work the class then got busy creating their own oil pastels on black paper using photo references of the Yukon as guides. The outcomes are beautiful!

The artist residency is an Arts in Education program of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, Jump Street, and The Foundation for Enhancing Communities.

Art that "Extends the Scene" of Postage Stamps

Using postage stamps, artists from the Senior Adult Club in my 10-week artist residency at the Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg came up with clever ways to "extend the scene". Take a peek at the fun they had letting their creativity lead the way.

The artist residency is an Arts in Education program of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, Jump Street, and The Foundation for Enhancing Communities.

'Senior Adult Club' Creates Tea Bag Art.

Ever heard of the book "363 Days of Tea: A Visual Journal on Used Tea Bags" by Ruby Silvious?

An older artist's high school sketchbook serves as inspiration for tea bag art.

The artist from the Senior Adult Club participating in my 10-week artist residency at the Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg were inspired this week by Silvious' tea bag art. Using week-long daily creative exercises in their class sketchbooks they set to work being creative. One participant used drawings from her high school sketchbook as inspiration.

Using tea bags as stamps.

Stamping on coffee filters.

Tea bags with the tea removed serve as miniature canvases.

The artist used the tea bags (and a few coffee filters) as their canvas. They painted on, stamped on, colored on and sketched on tea bags. They mushed them in paint and used them as the stamp on paper. And, they created a collaborative collage with them. The outcomes were steeped in creativity.

Artists add their tea bags to a collaborative piece.

The artist residency is an Arts in Education program of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, Jump Street, and The Foundation for Enhancing Communities.

Painting miniature beads on a tea bag.

Colorful tea bags and colorful art.

Older Artists Create "Nine Squares", A Nod to Kinetic Artist

Colorful collaborative art! Inspired by Israeli sculptor and experimental artists Yaacov Agam and in celebration of Israel's 70th anniversary, artists in my 10-week artist residency at the Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg created "Nine Squares". Their artful squares are a nod to Agam's kinetic artwork titled, "Nines".

A collaborative piece created by the Senior Adult Club.

Once finished with their individual 9-inch by 9-ince squares the artists added them to a collaborative piece that will be shown during an art exhibit featuring the work from this residency. The exhibit will open June 13 in the federation's Spector Room.

Piecing together "Nine Squares" during a senior's art class.

An completed "Nine Square" ready to be added to the collaborative project.

Working through the geometric steps of a "Nines Square".

The artist residency is an Arts in Education program of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, Jump Street and The Foundation for Enhancing Communities.