Art is Everywhere

Walking around Kendal at Oberlin you’re likely to encounter a rich and diverse collection of art works. The retirement community is home to three art galleries, an impressive private art collection displayed on hallways and other public spaces and a well-stocked Art Studio.

The latest artistic addition is the Kendal Art Walk in the Stephens Care Center. Residents, staff, family and friends are invited to pick up a handout in the SCC hub containing 15 questions about various pieces on the wall.

For instance: “Between rooms 521 and 523 are two photographs of the Cleveland Museum of Art. How are they different?” The answer (provided) is “the seasons – one is winter and one is spring.”

Other questions have no right or wrong answer, simply asking “how does it make you feel?”

The art walk was an intergenerational project, put together by resident Barbara Whitehouse and Ursuline College masters student Emily Bezilla, who did an internship at Kendal in the fall.

“It was a pleasant experience. We met once a week and talked about what we wanted to say about the artwork,” Barbara says.

The feedback has been positive, says Michele Tarsitano-Amato, Director of Creative Arts Therapy. “It gives residents something different to do with their family and it’s a great indoor opportunity during the winter when they can’t always walk in the gardens,” she says.

Plus, the intergen component gave a resident a chance to informally mentor a college student.

Speaking of art, let’s visit three other art venues at Kendal.

Art Studio

The Art Studio (photographed below), located in the main building, is a busy and creative hub at Kendal. Residents visit the studio, open 24/7, for pottery, watercolor and acrylic painting classes, art talks and demonstrations, and individual and group projects, such as the annual Spring Fling decoration-making workshop.

The studio is run by a group of six residents, chaired by Kathleen Cerveny, and every month about a dozen people are routinely in and out of the studio to work on artwork.

Many other residents show up for the monthly “Art in Our Lives” gathering, which gives residents an opportunity to talk about their artwork. Last month a panel spoke about creativity and this month Betsy Allen talked about her 3-D objects, both attracting two to three dozen residents.

Every Thursday Kathleen is available in the studio to help residents with ceramic projects. Currently about a dozen people have heeded the call to replace paper cups in the dining room with personalized coffee mugs that are glazed in the studio.

The Art Studio has just a few rules – art classes have priority, don’t leave art supplies behind as storage space is limited and “no glitter.” 

Art Galleries

The three galleries – Kendal, Community and Friends, – exhibit artwork by residents and regional artists, including photographers, painters, fiber artist and others. The shows typically run a couple months and often features an Artist Talk. The shows are curated and installed by the Art Committee.

One of the most popular exhibits is coming up in May. Kendal Creates, a biannual exhibit that rotates with Kendal Collects, features a diverse array of artwork created by Kendal residents.

Another artistic nook is the Curio Cabinet, located outside the Sales and Marketing office. This cabinet is where fragile and small pieces such as hand-blown glass and Ukrainian Easter eggs are displayed.

Kendal at Oberlin Collection

The Art Committee also manages the “Kendal at Oberlin Collection,” which consists of about 900 pieces of art, primarily compiled of artwork donated by residents.

Mary Behm is the point person for residents who want to donate artwork to Kendal and works closely with Robert Taylor to find the right collection or spot on Kendal hallways for its display.

“While the walls are public, we consider them an extension of a resident’s home, so we want to hang something the resident will like to see every day,” Mary says, adding that she and Robert “have such a cool job.”

To keep the private collection in a manageable size, the committee holds periodic art sales that Mary oversees. The sales give residents and the larger community an opportunity to buy art and frames at affordable prices.