This group of nine senior artists all live at Sunshine Ridge Retirement Residence in Osoyoos. None had ever taken any formal art lessons until longtime local artist Gail Howard (fifth from left), started giving free lessons several months ago. The group proudly showed off their work last Friday. Group members, from left, are Ozzie Osachoff, Anne-Marie Thibodeau, Louise Poulin, Glady Patzer, Gertrude Machan, Mildred Gruzensky, Margaret Oddy, Shirley Buhler and Connie Osachoff. (Keith Lacey photo)
A group of seniors who live in the same housing complex in Osoyoos are living proof you’re never too old to learn.
Nine seniors who live at the Sunshine Ridge Retirement Residence have worked very hard over the past couple of months to produce artwork for a show that kicked off last Friday afternoon.
Only a couple had ever dabbled in art throughout the course of their lives and none had ever taken a formal lesson until local artist Gail Howard volunteered to give free lessons over the past several months.
All nine participants in the project were on hand for the official show kickoff at Sunshine Ridge on Friday afternoon.
The artists showcasing work in the show include Connie Osachoff and her husband Ozzie Osachoff, Anne-Marie Thibodeau, Glady Patzer, Shirley Buhler, Gertrude Machan, Mildred Gruzensky, Louise Poulin and Margaret Oddy.
Connie Osachoff, who has been organizing events for seniors in Osoyoos for many years, came up with the idea for offering free art lessons and was thrilled with the response.
She approached Howard, who gladly volunteered her time and deserves most of the credit for the success of the art program at Sunshine Ridge, said Osachoff.
“We started this art club in February of 2015 and Gail has been giving us lessons twice a week ever since, except in the summer months when we slow things down a bit,” said Osachoff. “We all learned by trial and error and I have to admit I’m very proud of the work that is now on display.
“The only theme for the show was black and white and some of the work produced by our seniors is pretty impressive, especially considering none of us had ever taken a formal art lesson in our life.”
The average age of participants in the art program was over age 80, said Osachoff.
She and her husband have loved becoming budding artists, she said.
“I’ve just loved it,” she said. “It keeps us busy and allows us to be creative. It has been so much fun.”
Management at Sunshine Ridge has been exceptionally generous in not only providing space for the art lessons to take place, but also helping purchase all of the art supplies for the program, said Osachoff.
Manager Tracy Harfman is a huge supporter of the program as well, she said.
“Sunshine Ridge isn’t only a great place to live, but they’re very supportive of all the fun things we try and arrange for the people who live here,” she said.
Howard said teaching this particular group of seniors was a fantastic experience.
“Connie asked me to get involved and I said, ‘let’s do it,’” she said. “I’m not kidding when I say I feel like I’ve gained a bunch of new moms and dads. They’ve treated me so well and it has been like a family, I’ve loved it.”
Howard said she will continue to provide free lessons for the residents at Sunshine Ridge and is confident more will join considering the success of this first show.
The group plans on holding a second show two or three months down the road.
“We will keep all of our artwork hung until the next show is ready to roll sometime this winter,” said Osachoff.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
