Residents of Livingston County's Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation turned eight months of art workshops into a show and silent auction that raised $669 for future craft-club activities.
The county-run Mount Morris facility said its Resident Craft Club displayed the work along its “Main Street” hallway after a series of workshops that began in January. The show brought together art made by residents, participants in the Garden of Life Adult Day Care Program, staff and volunteers, according to a county news release.
The Arts Ignite Grant from the Genesee Valley Council on the Arts helped the club bring professional artisans to the center. Residents learned techniques including ceramics, fabric painting and LP spin art.
Pam Hill, the club's coordinator for 15 years and a receptionist and telephone operator at the facility, first pursued the grant eight years ago. She said the projects give residents opportunities to exercise skills, revisit memories and try forms of art that are new to them.
Art show adds an auction
The club held its first end-of-program art show last year. Hill said visitors showed an unexpected interest in buying residents' work, prompting organizers to ask this year's participants whether they wanted to auction their pieces at the August show. Residents welcomed the idea, the release said.
Sue Carpenter, the club's co-chair, said residents looked forward to the event and took pride in what they made. The $669 raised in the silent auction will go directly toward future club activities, according to the county.
Peter Donlon, the center's director of leisure time activities, said the workshops gave residents a chance to try art forms they may previously have lacked the time or confidence to pursue. The program is among the activities the facility offers throughout the year to engage residents.
Club prepares for a new coordinator
Carpenter is set to succeed Hill as the club's coordinator next year. Hill credited volunteers and community supporters with helping sustain the workshops.
One supporter, Leaning Tower Pizza, donated boxes to protect vinyl spin art while it dried, Hill said. Donlon, Hill and Carpenter presented custom spin-art pieces in thanks to Karen Canning, the arts council's interim director, and Ben Rudney of Leaning Tower Pizza.
The craft club plans to use the auction proceeds for its next activities as Carpenter takes over coordination.
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