The first ever Atria Community Art Exhibition showcasing the talents of residents, friends and family at the senior living facility Atria Kew Gardens is open.
Atria engage life director Martin Ingber said that, for some time now, there had been suggestions to have an art show. The commitment to hold it was made at the end of 2008 with the show being worked on following during the beginning of this year.
“There’s been a lot of enthusiasm about it,” Ingber said.
The exhibit, which kicked off with an opening reception on Wednesday, February 25, features the work of 17 individuals. They are Martin Bleiweiss, Fortunee Forti, Laura Kahn, Virginia Lucas, Sue Mittel, Seymour Pearlstein, Edith Reinstein, Ken Sonnenberg, Frieda Wolsk, Helen Greenwood, Shirley Kofsky, Helen Meier, Ruth Morris, Mara Pilatsky, Sylvia Shaw, Bertha Winitz and Jacques Zuccaire.
Reinstein, 94, began doing needlepoints in 1980 and has not previously displayed her works. The show includes a large piece of hers called “Wisdom of Solomon” that took her an estimated nine months to complete back in the ‘80s.
“I was very happy,” she said of being in the show. “[There’s] beautiful art here.”
Wolsk has one of her paintings in the show. A resident of the Atria for about a year and a half, Wolsk takes part in many of the facility’s on-site art programs. She said that she loves having the chance to see art and discuss it.
“I was thrilled,” the 85-year-old said. “I think it’s wonderful to have all the residents’ work up.”
The recently opened show also includes the works of Atria resident Seymour Kofsky’s deceased wife Shirley. He said she always painted because she loved it and that all of her works have remained in the family.
Kofsky said that some of his wife’s paintings were already hanging in the Atria before there was an exhibition. He added that it felt good to see not only his wife’s work on display but all the works of the other artists, describing them as “terrific.”
“I’m very, very proud of them,” Ingber said of the exhibitors.
The Atria Community Art Exhibition will be on display through March. Atria Kew Gardens is located at 117-01 84th Avenue.
