THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 23, 1996 TAG: 9602210156
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ERIC FEBER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 88 lines
For the second year, the Chesapeake Fine Arts Commission and the Chesapeake Parks and Recreation Department have gotten together to sponsor the popular Chesapeake Senior Citizens Art Show at the Central Library.
The show first took form last year, when Martha Clemons Vann, a senior citizens recreation specialist with Parks and Rec, thought it would be a good idea to organize a display to show off the work of students in the department's senior citizen painting class.
Vann said she had no idea the show would be so popular.
``Last year's first show was a great success, and the response to this year's show has been even better,'' she said. ``In fact, we got eight more artists to display their works this year. The response to this year's show has been very good. Some artists even made reservations for next year's show.''
Vann said her office has gotten a lot of phone calls from the public offering favorable comments about the show and some even calling to buy several of the works on display.
The official kick-off party for the show was last Friday. The event featured several of the participating artists, a welcome from Judy Alexander from the Parks and Recreation Department, greetings from Chesapeake councilman W. Joe Newman, music by Scope Harris and songs by master of ceremonies and Fine Arts commissioner Beatrix Zak Thomas.
The show features more than 20 Chesapeake artists over the age of 55 and runs the gamut from oil and acrylic paintings and paste-up collages to pen-and-ink drawings and watercolors.
This year's show features the art works of Callie Brown, Ruth Chambers, Betty Cranendonk, Louise Cupitt, Dorothy Davidson, Reetha Davidson, Emma Duncan, Mary Earnhardt, Robert Evans, Mildred Franklin, Raymond Harper, Jonathan Jefferson, Eunice Johnson, Gerri Kennedy, Lois Knight, Donald Mangum, Cheslie Meredith, Hilda Reppert, Eileen Risher, Don Rose, Betty Terry, Wanda Vaughan, Jean Ward, Margaret Webster, Mary West and Winifred Whitehead.
Vann said the artists' ages range from the late 50s and early 60s to those in their 80s.
``There are some people who had never painted before in their lives, and now that they are retired they have the time for it,'' Vann said. ``Others had done it before, gave it up and now they're back at painting and a few others had painted and done art all their lives. Some have even made a career of it.''
Subjects range from flower still lifes and serene landscapes to pen-and-ink renderings of World War II aviation and the Civil War. Painting styles include realism, surrealism, impressionism and primitive art.
``This exhibit helps with the self-esteem of these artists,'' Vann said. ``They're all surprised that it has been this well received by the public. This just shows that seniors gain so much as they grow older and they pour their wisdom and experiences into their art. And when they actively paint or draw it helps with manual dexterity, with keeping the mind young and alive and it brings out creativity many of these people thought had long since gone.''
Cases in point: Betty Cranendonk's paste-up collage ``Mermaid's Habitat,'' Jonathan Jefferson's oil portrait of a young person in repose, Eileen Risher's detailed rendering of flowers in a pitcher, Don Mangum's drawings of World War II airplanes, Lois Knight's intricate drawings of a swan and another of a Union Army sergeant, Gerri Kennedy's impressionistic still lives and Chelsie Meredith's watercolor landscapes.
The exhibit can be seen at the Chesapeake Central Library during normal business hours.
The Chesapeake Civic Chorus will finally get a chance to sing.
The first time 'round, the chorus' annual winter concert, originally scheduled for Feb. 4, was postponed because of ice and snow.
Now the chorus is ready to sing. The rescheduled concert will take place at 3 p.m. this Sunday at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 437 Providence Road. Tickets, available at the door, are $5.
The concert's program will feature a slate of popular compositions, mainly spirituals and classical sacred music, considered by many to be the chorus' forte.
``Through the years, as we perform, I note audience favorites and I remember those pieces that really make an impression,'' said Geraldine T. Boone, the chorus' musical director. ``Those I put in our winter programs. We do well with spirituals and sacred music. I think we really shine on those works.''
Sunday afternoon's concert will include ``Sing Unto the Lord'' by Handel, ``Lauda Anima'' by Mark Andrews, ``Almighty God'' by Will James and ``Every Valley'' by John Ness Beck. Other works to be included in the performance include Randall Thompson's ``The Lord Is My Shepherd'' and Undine Moore's ``Glory to God.''
More information about the Chesapeake Civic Chorus' winter concert is available by calling 421-9784 or 545-1248. by CNB