Michaela Bulkley
Staff Writer
Hillcrest Retirement Community collaborated with the dA Center for the Arts to present the art created by Hillcrest residents May 1 in the gallery of the retirement community.
The reception was to celebrate the first Resident Art Show “Voices and Visions” which featured portraits of residents and various medias of art created by them.
Jackie MacDonald, a former teacher, was asked to volunteer to pose for one of the five portraits that were featured in the exhibit.
“It took three hours. It was an interesting experience but I like the way mine turned out.” MacDonald said.
Her portrait was displayed next to a portrait of her husband. These portraits were not painted by volunteers but the portraits featured residents.
Paintings, sculptures, photographs and crocheting were presented at the exhibit, all created by the residents.
Beryl Fordyce, another Hillcrest resident, crocheted a six-foot blanket that hung on the wall next to some beaded bags.
“When the exhibit is over I’m donating it to the Margret and David House for a fundraiser,” Fordyce said.
“We make afghans and hats for cancer patients and the homeless.”
The main exhibit is displayed on the second floor of the gallery, but the reception was on the first floor, where more portraits were being painted and refreshments were served.
“Normally it takes three hours to get a likeness, and a fine detailed portrait takes about six hours,” volunteer teacher at the dA and San Dimas resident Charles Fogg said.
He painted two of the portraits upstairs and was painting another one at the reception.
“I’m not a professional, I’m retired, but I want to be an artist. I teach painting and drawing. I love it,” Fogg said.
When the exhibit is over, the portraits will be returned to those that were painted.
While this is a temporary exhibit at Hillcrest, there is another exhibit with the dA that is touring to different locations, Fogg said.
The dA Center for the Arts offered art classes to the residents and asked Fogg to come out and paint some of the residents for the gallery opening.
This exhibit was to start the eighth annual Celebration of the Arts, hosted by the La Verne Church of the Brethren.
This celebration includes choir performances, concerts, live painting exhibitions and dance performances from local bands, students and performers.
The events run through the end of May and many are performed at the Hillcrest Art Center.
“It’s amazing to see the community participating in art. My son is an artist, so he got all his art talent from me,” retired Pomona unified teacher Gwen Carr said.
Some of this art brings tears to my eyes, it’s so beautiful.”
For more information visit www.arts-laverne.org.
Michaela Bulkley can be reached at michaela.bulkley@laverne.edu.
Michaela Bulkley