Dear Friends,

Thanks to the efforts of the newly revived Arts Program and the long-standing involvement of many art lovers, creativity has blossomed this year at Friends House. Active artists – including professional painters, sculptors, photographers, and collectors – have always been part of our community. This year, we have seen a burst of new creativity as residents from all parts of our campus have been drawn to art programs. A weekly painting class gathers in the small art room at Homes on Quaker Lane under the guidance of a long-time resident artist. And some of us participate in art classes and workshops in the surrounding community. We like to bring the skills we gain home to share with other residents.

Lately, we have focused on making art accessible to ‘non artists’ who have always believed creativity requires a mysterious gift. We seek to dispel that perception and give all residents chances to explore their hidden talents.

We are especially excited about this year’s diverse program of workshops, showcases, and exhibitions led by the arts program – ArtSpace – that have brought residents from all over campus together. We emphasize group workshops where residents actively make connections and make new friends. Participants learn new skills and encourage each other, share their artworks, and discuss their own aesthetics. We set out to provide art activities; we ended up enriching lives in the community.

This year, we were pleased to receive a $25,000 grant from the Friends Foundation for the Aging. The funds will be used for the creation of a dedicated ArtSpace where workshops can be offered on a regular basis, individual artists can work on personal art projects, and materials can be stored and made available. This fulfills a long-awaited vision first conceived by those residents who founded the Arts Program nearly two decades ago.

Nancy Lark, For the Arts Program