Art is a calling that speaks to people at every stage of life.
Art classes for seniors at the Estevan Art Gallery begin on Aug. 11. Karly Millions, the gallery educator at the art gallery, is in the throes of organizing classes and taking the classroom to seniors.
Each summer for the last three years, Millions has brought art classes to places like the Estevan Regional Nursing Home, giving an opportunity for the city's senior residents to take part in something many of them spent a lot of time doing earlier in their life. Millions said the most important thing she has to do is provide the supplies, as the institutions her students reside don't always have access to the same art materials she does.
"It's a part of our outreach programming to bring art and to bring community programming to seniors in the city that don't have access to it," said Millions.
Many of the people who take part have an art background and have explored different artistic mediums for many years. Millions said that affects how she handles the classes and often means she can implement a hands-off approach, letting the students do their work.
She runs youth art classes as well, but noted there can be a significant difference in subject matter and materials.
"The skill level is different," she said. "I obviously don't want to treat senior citizens like children. The subject matter is usually quite different. With all of our schools, they're usually related in some way to the exhibitions we have in the gallery. For instance, we have sculptures in both parts of the gallery right, so I would probably do some sort of sculpture project (with children).
"With the senior classes, it's usually in the summer, so I try to find maybe more of a craft-oriented thing. A lot of seniors are interested in practising actual art. A lot of them have painting and drawing backgrounds. They're excited to have access to those materials."
Bringing in materials they may have used in the past, but no longer have access to, gives them the opportunity to engage in the kind of artistic expression they love.
"A lot of them have shown me things that they've painted or drawn. They've obviously made art for many, many years. They are interested in art and continue to make it."
Millions said she really enjoys guiding the classes for seniors.
"For me, it's also about a kind for respect for senior citizens. Especially with the art gallery, a lot of the seniors in Estevan built this building. They petitioned to have it built. We just want to do as much as we can to give back to them. I have so much to learn from them."
She said getting to know the students is a big part of what she likes about the program.
"I call it a class, but it's really more of a social experience."
Classes in the gallery involve coffee and tea and is a time to socialize. The classes are pretty informal and are meant for those who haven't had much artistic experience previously as well as those who have. For their first art class, they will be making ceramic-tile flower pots and picture frames.
