THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 15, 1995 TAG: 9501130267
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY SUSAN W. SMITH AND ERIC FEBER, STAFF WRITERS
LENGTH: Long : 190 lines
ART CLASSES OFFERED by the Department of Parks and Recreation have long been popular with Chesapeake's seniors citizens, but they had never before had a place to exhibit their work.
Martha Clemons Vann, a city recreation specialist, thought that was a shame. So she did something about it.
The result is an exhibit of the work of 23 local artists that will be on display at the Central Library through January.
The paintings include Alaskan snow scenes, copies of the great masters and detailed images of bold eagles, delicate flowers, stately lighthouses and inviting beaches.
Vann personally recruited the artists represented in the unusual show. Most of the work on display has never been seen by anyone other than family and friends.
``I found many of their phone numbers in the phone book and began to call them,'' she said. ``It all happened because of word-of-mouth.
``These seniors were so excited and anxious about this idea,'' she said. ``I thought it was just outstanding that we got 23 people to exhibit in this first show.''
Vann said the show has given some of the senior artists a new pride and confidence in their work.
A reception was held at the library Wednesday in honor of the exhibitors. The event was attended by Mayor William E. Ward; Councilman John W. Butt; Claire Askew, director of the Chesapeake Parks and Recreation Department; the artists; and proud family members.
Sandy Vance of Chesapeake said that painting and artwork had given her mother, Carole Martin, a new type of self-confidence, even though Martin's first work sold at a garage sale.
Beach scenes and lighthouses are Martin's favorite subjects.
``Now when I start to paint,'' said Martin, ``I never know when to quit. It's relaxing, and it's challenging.''
Violet Carroll began to paint with watercolors and oils two years ago. Now she wakes up in the middle of the night with the urge to paint. Carroll's favorite subjects are endangered species of animals.
``Chesapeake is a city of continual revelation,'' said Beatrix Zak Thomas, the reception's mistress of ceremonies and a member of Chesapeake's Fine Arts Commission. ``There's incredible and remarkable talent here. We must not loose sight of the gifts of our senior citizens. They have so much to give back to the community.''
Among the artists represented in the show are these:
Eunice B. Johnson
Eunice Johnson, 59, had been involved with art for more than 30 years, but she had never tried it herself until after retiring as an elementary school teacher with Portsmouth Public Schools.
The Crestwood resident taught second and third grades for 32 years. She always helped her students with their many arts projects. But it wasn't until after she retired and joined the Crestwood Senior Citizens Club that she got bitten by the creativity bug.
``I thought to myself, `Maybe I can do it, too,' '' Johnson said. ``I saw it as a challenge to learn a new skill.''
Johnson took art classes at the Crestwood club beginning in August 1993 and soon her talent began to blossom.
She's completed more than 18 oil paintings so far and hopes to increase her productivity.
``Now I've gotten a chance to paint more,'' she said. ``Soon, I would like to begin painting two to three times a week. Whenever I complete a painting it feels so good. It's all very relaxing.''
Johnson said she hopes the senior citizen art show will encourage other seniors to become involved in art.
``I've never exhibited before, so this just feels great,'' she said. ``I'm encouraged by my family and friends to keep on.''
Robert I. Evans Jr.
For 78-year-old Bob Evans, entering Chesapeake's first senior citizens art show was a matter of drawing on his background as a retired design engineer for the Smith-Douglass Corp. and as a former naval architect.
``I could always draw, no problem,'' the soft-spoken Georgetown resident said. ``I always drew as a child.''
Evans didn't start painting until he retired. He needed another diversion besides the astronomy he loves.
``I spent the early part of my adult life as an amateur astronomer,'' he said. ``But I wore that out. I wanted to expand my horizons.''
He took some non-credit art classes at Old Dominion University and now regularly paints in his garage studio.
Evans said it takes him as long to prepare himself mentally for a painting as it does to paint it.
``I think about it for quite a while, then I jump on it and finish it quickly,'' he said. ``Before I finish, I know exactly what it's going to look like.''
Evans paints lighthouses, seascapes and large biblical scenes that show scenes such as Samson tearing down the temple, Elijah being fed by ravens, a snake-bitten St. Paul and scenes of Christ on the cross.
``I usually paint at night,'' he said. ``It relaxes me. It's like reading a good book: You get involved with it, thoughtwise. It's fun. It's less strenuous than playing golf, and it keeps my mind alert and active.''
Eleanor C. McMath
Eleanor McMath, 81, didn't take up painting until after she retired in 1975 as a federal government employee.
Now, whenever the Grassfield resident needs to relax, she just takes up a brush, dips it into oil paint and loses her cares in the creative process.
``I just enjoy sitting down and relaxing and painting,'' she said. ``It's good for you. It takes your mind off your troubles.''
McMath said she took art classes at the Chesapeake campus of Tidewater Community College and at the Chesapeake Senior Citizens Center. She credits the Grassfield Senior Citizens Club for helping her get started.
``After I retired, I joined the club,'' she said. ``I just wanted to see if I could do anything. Then I started taking the classes and found out I really enjoyed painting. I didn't know I had it in me.''
McMath especially enjoys painting landscapes, seascapes, animal and nature scenes and birds in flight.
``But I can't do people,'' she said. ``I haven't mastered that yet.''
Louise Cupitt
Louise Cupitt, 74, smiled shyly and confessed that she signed up for an art class strictly out of curiosity.
Now, two of her works are on exhibit at the library. She's captured an icy mountain lake, towering trees and silvery mountains. It's now a framed memory from a trip to Alaska she took some time ago.
Cupitt is a retired insurance agent and bookkeeper. She worked with dolls, ceramics and needlework before taking on the challenge of an art class.
She also stays busy with other activities. She is the president of the Wimbleton Chase Senior's Club and chaplain of the Chesapeake Christian Business Women's Club.
``But now I especially love to paint landscapes,'' said Cupitt. ``And there's some beautiful scenes in the Great Bridge area to do.''
Mildred Franklin
``I worked my entire life and volunteered at Norfolk General Hospital,'' said Mildred Franklin, 80, a retired businesswoman. ``I never seemed to have any extra time.''
Now she enjoys having the time to paint.
On Friday mornings, she takes Emma Duncan's art class at the Chesapeake Senior Citizens Center on Outlaw Street.
Franklin has completed works with titles like ``Raccoon Creek'' and ``Daydreamers.'' Some of her works hang in her own home, and others have been gifts to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
``My daughter was so surprised,'' Franklin said. ``She said she didn't even think I could draw a straight line.''
Now Franklin is thinking about turning a spare room into an art studio.
``Painting is something I look forward to almost everyday,'' she admitted.
Don Mangum
Don Mangum, 72, has been drawing and painting ever since his third-grade teacher gave him his first pad and pencil.
As a child he couldn't afford Christmas cards, so he drew his own.
``Whenever I got the urge, I sketched,'' Mangum said. ``It's a way of making a personal record.''
Japan's Mount Fuji, the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument framed by cherry blossoms are some of Mangum's favorite scenes.
His attention to detail can be attributed to his engineering background. His Japanese, Hawaiian, water and ship scenes reflect his life in the Navy.
Mangum works in oils, pen and ink and watercolors. He keeps a sketch book of scenes that catch his eye.
For ten years, Mangum was a substitute teacher for children with learning disabilities in Virginia Beach. He used to encourage the children to express their feelings through drawing.
``Everyone has some degree of creative talent,'' Mangum said. ``And they need to put it on paper to the best of their ability.'' ILLUSTRATION: [Cover]
ART IS AGELESS
[Color Photo]
Staff photos by STEVE EARLEY
Robert ``Bob'' Evans Jr. with his painting ``Guide Post.''
Mildred Franklin with ``Waterfall.''
Eleanor McMath with her painting ``First Snow.''
Don Mangum with his line drawing ``Gliding In.''
Louise Cupitt with her painting ``Still Life.''
CREATIVE SENIORS
Here is a complete list of the artists participating in the
Chesapeake Senior Citizens Art Exhibition:
Violet Carroll, Ruth Chambers, Louise Cupitt, Dorothy Davidson,
Reetha Davidson, Emma Duncan, Robert Evans Jr., Mildred Franklin,
Allen Fulkerson, Raymond Harper, Eunice Johnson, Lois Knight, Don
Mangum, Carole Martin, Eleanor McMath, Hilda Reppert, Ruth Stewart,
Wanda Vaughan, Jean Ward, Margaret Webester, Mary West, Peggy
Whitehead and Grace Whitford.
by CNB