"St. John's River," the cover artwork featured on the 2009 "Art from the Heart" calendar is by 82-year old Helene Kereluk. Kereluk lives at The Cloisters independent and assisted living facility in DeLand and teaches a monthly class for residents.
A brief story about each calendar artist also accompanies their work. The calendars sold for $7 each, with the proceeds used to support the association's Quality Credentialing Foundation.
Artistic engagement
Wearing a turquoise-colored necklace and earrings, denim capri pants and coral Crocs clogs, she sat in a wheelchair beside her bed and painting desk. A work in progress — a moonlit nature scene — awaited her next decision. Beside the painting sat a carousel of 50 or so paints and as many clean brushes.
Engaging in creative work can be a godsend for seniors, as can socializing with others, said Louise Sloan, the activities director at Eden Springs, a place that 120 or so people call home (temporarily or permanently).
"It helps their minds," Sloan said. "It stimulates them. They seem to do rather well with the paintings because it is something they did at home, and it gives them some of their independence back."
Imperiale uses acrylic paints when working in her room and, more rarely, oil outside. She paints using guides from a workbook by artist Dorothy Dent and others, because it helps her determine what to paint and what colors to use.
"It's like having a teacher in the room with me," she said.
"Art from the Heart" exhibit of 35 paintings by residents, ages 32 to 101, in Florida's nursing homes and assisted living centers. Museum of Florida History. [rc]
Copyright ©2009 Tallahassee Democrat
July 7, 2009
USA: Love of art keeps this senior citizen going
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TALLAHASSEE, Florida / Tallahassee.com / July 7, 2009
Exhibit at Museum of Florida History shows work of nursing-home residents
By Kathleen Laufenberg, Democrat Staff Writer
A fall in her kitchen changed Hazel Imperiale's life. She broke her hip and moved from her Crawfordville home to Eden Springs Nursing & Rehab center near Medart.
It's the scenario that many seniors fear — a fall that lands you in a nursing home. But Imperiale has successfully managed this stressful transition with help from family, friends — and her art.
Yes, art. Her love of drawing and her dedication to painting focuses her energy and helps her look forward to what she will create next.
"It keeps me going," the 85-year-old said during a recent interview inside the small room she shares with another senior woman at Eden Springs. "It adds spark to my life."
Although her art is not among the 35 pictures on exhibit through Labor Day at the "Art from the Heart" show now at the Museum of Florida History, Imperiale said she hopes to enter it next year.
The exhibit does include the work of 35 other talented artists who live either in a Florida nursing home or an assisted living center, said Kristen Knapp, the communications director with the Florida Health Care Association. The show's artists range in age from 32 to 101, and some of the same work was also showcased in the association's 2009 "Art from the Heart" calendar.
"St. John's River," the cover artwork featured on the 2009 "Art from the Heart" calendar is by 82-year old Helene Kereluk. Kereluk lives at The Cloisters independent and assisted living facility in DeLand and teaches a monthly class for residents.
A brief story about each calendar artist also accompanies their work. The calendars sold for $7 each, with the proceeds used to support the association's Quality Credentialing Foundation.
Artistic engagement
Wearing a turquoise-colored necklace and earrings, denim capri pants and coral Crocs clogs, she sat in a wheelchair beside her bed and painting desk. A work in progress — a moonlit nature scene — awaited her next decision. Beside the painting sat a carousel of 50 or so paints and as many clean brushes.
Engaging in creative work can be a godsend for seniors, as can socializing with others, said Louise Sloan, the activities director at Eden Springs, a place that 120 or so people call home (temporarily or permanently).
"It helps their minds," Sloan said. "It stimulates them. They seem to do rather well with the paintings because it is something they did at home, and it gives them some of their independence back."
Imperiale uses acrylic paints when working in her room and, more rarely, oil outside. She paints using guides from a workbook by artist Dorothy Dent and others, because it helps her determine what to paint and what colors to use.
"It's like having a teacher in the room with me," she said.
"Art from the Heart" exhibit of 35 paintings by residents, ages 32 to 101, in Florida's nursing homes and assisted living centers. Museum of Florida History. [rc]
Copyright ©2009 Tallahassee Democrat
"St. John's River," the cover artwork featured on the 2009 "Art from the Heart" calendar is by 82-year old Helene Kereluk. Kereluk lives at The Cloisters independent and assisted living facility in DeLand and teaches a monthly class for residents.
A brief story about each calendar artist also accompanies their work. The calendars sold for $7 each, with the proceeds used to support the association's Quality Credentialing Foundation.
Artistic engagement
Wearing a turquoise-colored necklace and earrings, denim capri pants and coral Crocs clogs, she sat in a wheelchair beside her bed and painting desk. A work in progress — a moonlit nature scene — awaited her next decision. Beside the painting sat a carousel of 50 or so paints and as many clean brushes.
Engaging in creative work can be a godsend for seniors, as can socializing with others, said Louise Sloan, the activities director at Eden Springs, a place that 120 or so people call home (temporarily or permanently).
"It helps their minds," Sloan said. "It stimulates them. They seem to do rather well with the paintings because it is something they did at home, and it gives them some of their independence back."
Imperiale uses acrylic paints when working in her room and, more rarely, oil outside. She paints using guides from a workbook by artist Dorothy Dent and others, because it helps her determine what to paint and what colors to use.
"It's like having a teacher in the room with me," she said.
"Art from the Heart" exhibit of 35 paintings by residents, ages 32 to 101, in Florida's nursing homes and assisted living centers. Museum of Florida History. [rc]
Copyright ©2009 Tallahassee Democrat
