Exhibit showcases creative side of senior citizens

People of all ages gathered around to watch Norma Clare's art demonstration Sunday at the reception for Presbyterian Manor of the Plains’ 28th annual Art is Ageless exhibit at the Carnegie Center of the Arts.
    With just a few pastel colors and marks on the paper, Clare created two sunflowers. She then took a few minutes to add color, detail, depth and a dynamic background to her drawing.
    "She was one of my first teachers," said Patricia Bird, an artist in the exhibit. "I get so fascinated by what she does. She is a great teacher, and she knows what she's doing."
    Clare, who was a winner in the show last year, was one of three judges for this year's contest. In addition to judging, Clare teaches at Youthville and for other organizations and said she has learned the most about art from her students.
    Before and after Clare's demonstration, people walked around the Carnegie, admiring the works in seven categories from artists living in the area who are 65 and older. 
     Paintings, portraits, drawings, baby blankets, quilts, photographs and more filled the building. The talent showcased by the artists showed that artists can be any age.
    Bird, of Deerfield, had several entries in the exhibit and won a third-place ribbon for her sculpture of a Native American woman, titled "Long Journey."
    Bird also had an oil and acrylic painting of a Kansas sunset, as well as a painting of a young zebra titled "Who's Next?" This painting incorporated colors beyond the stereotypical black and white stripes of a zebra to make a vibrant portrait of youth in the wild. 
    All of the artwork harmonized color beautifully, said judge Patricia Herndon of Dighton.
    "I'm impressed by the way the artists used color, no matter what medium they worked with," Herndon said.
    "The Reef" by Jerry Erickson won first place in the drawing division. The color she used captured the feel of being in the depths of the ocean in the midst of coral and tropical fish.
    In the crafts category, Sandra Hastings' attention to detail and intricate beading designs helped her capture first and second place for "Dream Catchers Spirit" and "Spirit Wolf."
    Kathleen Foster of Dodge City used her creativity to paint a farm house and a colorful landscape on a saw.
    The room was crowded as people wandered through, stopping to admire a creative painting or a beautiful quilt.
    "It's an excellent turn-out," said Connie Penick, operations manager of the Depot Theater Company. Penick came to see the artwork of her mother, Patricia Bird, as well as the other artists and works on display.
    "The show is bigger than what we've had in the past, and we have a lot of variety this year," said Patty McGee, director of marketing and development for Manor of the Plains.
    The Art is Ageless juried exhibit is the preliminary judging round for the Art is Ageless calendar contest, which is an annual event for all 17 retirement communities throughout Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America.
    The winners of each category and the best of show from each retirement community will be submitted to compete to appear in the 2009 calendar.
    The 12 winners will be announced in late September.
    The artworks in the Art is Ageless exhibit will be on display through Sept. 6 at the Carnegie Center.
    For more information about the exhibit, contact McGee at (620) 225-1928.

Reach Cherise Forno at (620) 408-9931 or e-mail her at cherise.forno@dodgeglobe.com.