Art from the Heart
Photos by LOREN BENOIT/Press Jeanne Barnett, right, looks through one of Elena Hayes’ Native American portrait albums Tuesday afternoon at the Lake Wood Ranch art show.
Rock paintings of all sizes are arranged on a table next to Faye Moore’s other creations Tuesday afternoon at the Lake Wood Ranch Art Show.
By DEVIN WEEKS
Staff Writer
COEUR d’ALENE — Paintings of all sizes were arranged on a table next to Faye Moore's other creations, which included several creatively painted rocks.
"I paint on anything I can get my hands on. That’s cardboard, that’s cardboard, and this is just typing paper,” Moore said, picking up a vivid watercolor. "I just was practicing and having fun."
Photography, canvas paintings, handmade washcloths, stories with illustrations and baskets woven with pine needles were among the array of artwork on display Tuesday in the Lake Wood Ranch office.
About 10 artists who reside in the 55-and-older apartment community in Coeur d'Alene presented several pieces of their work during Lake Wood's inaugural art show, sweetly named Art from the Heart for the Valentine's holiday.
"The thing is, we want to get to know each other better and have more of a community instead of everybody hiding in their own apartment and not getting out and knowing people," said Janice Sharon, who co-organized the show with fellow resident and friend Elena Hayes. "It’s kind of a community outreach. It’s amazing what I’ve learned from other people, and their artwork is just spectacular."
Sharon, who has lived at Lake Wood Ranch for about 10 years, exhibited her watercolor paintings as well as several nature and wildlife photos she took in different areas of North Idaho.
One photo she captured was of an osprey in a pine tree.
"I was sitting on Tubbs Hill having lunch and all of a sudden I look up and he’s having his lunch, and here’s a salmon and he had just chopped the head off," she said with a smile. "He was looking at me in that picture because he was right there."
Sharon and Hayes encouraged other residents to share their masterpieces by reminding them that it's OK for art to be imperfect.
"I still have the memory of my art teacher in high school saying, ‘Let go of your perfection. You don’t have to have it perfect,'" Sharon said. "It just gives me peace and serenity."
Several residents browsed through the displays during the four-hour show, chatting with the artists and complimenting them on their creations.
“Just because we’re senior citizens doesn’t mean we don’t have a life,” Moore said. "I sew, I do cardmaking, I like to do crafts. I may be an old hog at doing one thing for a while and then I’ll change and do something else."
Sharon and Hayes said they hope to host weekly art gatherings for residents to display their work, as well as organize a public event in the near future.
"It gives me joy that we can all celebrate each other through our art," Sharon said.