Pennsylvania Leaders Visit "Creative Aging" Art Class in Harrisburg.

Thrilled to have a visit from Karl Blischke the executive director of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and Robert Torres the secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Aging at my "creative aging" artist residency with the Senior Adult Club at the Jewish Community Center in Harrisburg.

As the art-making began they joined in with pastels and paper, then talked with class participants and heard their stories of artistic experiences during the grant-funded art residencies.

They also created this amazing video to promote the benefits of taking art classes at senior centers statewide:

https://www.facebook.com/PennsylvaniaAging/videos/594852094335574/

Left to right:
Jamie Dunlap, program director of Arts in Education
Karl Blischke, executive director of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts
Cheryl Kuger, "creative aging" teaching artist
Robert Torres, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Aging

The artist residency is through the arts in education program of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and The Foundation for Enhancing Communities.

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.

Reminisce leads to artists' "Hand of Life".

An artist works meticulously on her "hand of life" project inspired by a reminisce exercise.

Artists in my 10-week artist residency at the Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg concentrate on a "Hand of Life" project during this week's class. 

Artwork in the fingers, thumb and palm represent important events and feelings of various life phases identified through a reminisce exercise.

Working on a "hand of life" project inspired by a reminisce exercise.

Symbols drawn in the "hand of life" project represent important life events.

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

Symbols drawn in the "hand of life" project represent important life events.