PUHI — The unveiling of years of art from countless number of places was the highlight of the first Regency at Puakea Art Showcase, celebrating “Art through the Ages,” the theme of National Assisted Living Week, Friday. “Art for the
PUHI — The unveiling of years of art from countless number of places was the highlight of the first Regency at Puakea Art Showcase, celebrating “Art through the Ages,” the theme of National Assisted Living Week, Friday.
“Art for the Ages” brings together residents, staff, family and the community to celebrate the talents and creativity assisted living residents have developed through hard work and their love of art, states the Long-Term Care Management website.
Music, painting, knitting, carving, model building, cooking are some of the many outlets residents have to express their creative side, the website states.
The accuracy of that statement was reflected at the diversity of artwork on display at the Regency at Puakea’s Activities Room which was transformed into an art gallery, complete with wine and cheese samples and some of the artists on hand to greet guests and talk about their artwork during the day-long showcase.
“There was a lot of crying, remembering, and inspiration,” said Sharon Lasker of the Regency. “This is going to become an annual event for us. We even had an ‘Artist of the Month’ come out of this event.”
Art inspires and brings pride and beauty to those who create it and those who enjoy it, states the National Center for Assisted Living website. During National Assisted Living Week, we celebrate their creativity and marvel at what they have achieved over the years.
Lasker said a featured artist will have a piece hung over the piano in the Activities room for a month for all the residents and guests to admire and be inspired.
“This month’s artist is Grace Yamamoto who created a needlework,” Lasker said. “When you look at it and the amount of different stitches, you would think it took her forever to make. But she said she just whipped it out.”
Alice Jeremias was born in 1923 to immigrant Portuguese farmers in the San Joaquin Valley in California, the youngest of eight children.
Tempered by the hard life during the depression and her tenure with the WAVES during World War II, Jeremias discovered her ability for art while living in the beauty of Lake Tahoe, a favorite subject during her early works.
“I like to do living things,” Jeremias said while admiring the other art forms on display. “When you work with living things you are able to capture expressions.”
By the time Jeremias graduated the Fresno City College with honors and an Associate Degree in Art in 1991, she had dabbled in sculpture, oils, mixed media, pastels, pencil, pen and ink, but her finest works are in watercolor.
Betty Carroll, originally from Connecticut, said her inspiration for Oriental Brush Art came during a visit to Korea with her husband, a veteran of World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.
“We have a son who lives in Kilauea and he said he was going to take care of everything for us,” Carroll, who now resides at the Regency with her husband William, said.
Visit www.regencyatpuakea.com for more information.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
