Senior citizens exhibit work

What started out as recreational painting class for the elderly at the Margaret Tietz Center transformed itself into a full-blown art show for eight artists at Queensborough Community College (QCC).
Sponsored by the Margaret Tietz Adult Day Health Care Program and Rehabilitation Center, the now monthly community art exhibit at QCC began this June with artists mainly from Russia and China who made paintings from recyclable materials.
“I’m very excited about this opportunity, and if given the chance again, I would like to participate again,” an enthusiastic Shuyun Bi, a 78-year-old woman originally from Shanghai, China, said through a translator. Bi, a Flushing resident, displayed two paintings, “Spring Trip” and “Baby,” both of which represented her favorite places to visit in China.
Tina Antonucci, the center’s art coordinator and curator for this first ever exhibit, explained that people like Bi have helped her explore different cultures through art.
“So much culture and very interesting,” said Antonucci. Initially developed as a challenge, Antonucci expressed her enthusiasm about the accomplishments of these seniors.
Margaret Tietz Center, a non-profit organization located in Flushing that provides care to the elderly for long-term care and short-term rehabilitation, wanted to provide a place for the work of these artists for a long time. A partnership with QCC made sense.
The secretary director of the QCC Art Gallery, Faustino Quintanilla, said he enjoys when groups come to display their artwork at QCC.
“We work with individuals and groups from different communities within Queens,” said Quintanilla. “After all, we are a community college.”
Linda Spiegel, the director of public affairs for the Tietz Center, helped put this event together. She explained that this project gave the senior citizens an opportunity and a space to display their artwork
Aleksandr Vinokur, 97, another Flushing resident and an Ukrainian member of the center, displayed two pieces of art entitled “Woman’s Dream” and “My Young Time,” both representing similar themes – recollections of his past.
“I enjoy it,” said Vinokur in Ukrainian. Like Vinokur, most of the artists displayed at the art gallery wanted their paintings to express their past.
Established for more than 30 years ago, the Margaret Tietz Nursing and Rehabilitation Center’s goal has been to “improve the quality of life” for its seniors. The art exhibit is one of the activities they promote so that the active seniors can show off their recreational work.