Art 101 Celebrating life in art
by Jennifer Kruidbos
Eva Chait has been painting at the Creative Social Center for 15 years — since she was 86. “I started painting when I was one year old,” said the 101-year-old diminutive woman, winking as she stood beside or rather under her painting. However small in stature, Chait’s presence was great as she displayed her work at the Center’s Art Vernissage, Sunday, October 25.
Some, like Chait, enjoy creating art because it provides a temporary escape to a fantasy world. “If your mind is mixed up and you have a piece of charcoal, then the things that are bothering you come out on paper,” she says. Others, like Martha Budning, say they paint because an image can preserve fond memories of a warm afternoon, watching the family bask in the coolness of a lake.
The exhibition allowed artists to share their work with one another as well as support the center by donating work. “I have donated at least 10 or 12 works to the Center,” said Baylin, who also enjoys giving her paintings to friends and family.
Helen Knight, who circulated proudly, started the center 23 years ago. “I discovered that there were many seniors living in the area. Seventy people came to the first meeting so we knew we had started something very good. I based the Center on Maslow’s theory which states that, when people feel welcome and recognized, they are on the path to self-actualization.”
Miriam Cohen, who teaches painting at the Center, has a close relationship with her students and, according to Eva, “she has the knowledge to make us produce something that is worthwhile to look at.” “Our members are close,” Miriam says. “They generally greet each other with a hug. They feel important, which is why our center is so popular.”
The room was filled with excited chatter. “When we get older, if something makes us feel good, dammit go ahead and do it” said Chait with twinkling eyes, giving away her secret to long life.
The artists can take lessons from teachers or paint as they please. For Bella Sacharen, the center is exactly what she was looking for. “I said: I don’t care what they paint or how they paint, I’m getting the brush in my hand and I’m going to paint.”
Rose Letovsky showed off her alabaster sculptures. She has been sculpting for three years. “Sculpture is so magnificent, you just feel so good, you chop-chop-chop and then there’s a head.”
Letovsky acknowledges that she has a little guidance from the professional sculptor Pearl Levy, who helped start the art classes with only eight students 22 years ago. “She is perfection personified,” Rose said of Levy.
“The most important thing is the ambiance between all the students and the teachers,” Levy explained. “It’s a family.”
With no family in Montreal to keep her company, Lucy Pell spends lots of time at the center. “I’m a sculptor, I’m an artist, I make pictures with little bits of jewelry, I sing and I write poetry,” she said while showing off one of her paintings.
“The center is very people-oriented,” said Martha Baylin, who’s been painting for 40 years. “No matter how you feel, you come out glowing. We all critique each other. We all help each other. It’s a social thing.”
Dorothy Stein agrees that the social aspect is essential. “The people make this a wonderful place to paint. Miriam is wonderful. She’s so encouraging.
“Once you’re painting, you’re not thinking about anything other than what you’re doing and it takes you away from whatever trouble you have.”
Born in Cuba, Renata Fischler came to Canada as a young girl and has been at the Centre for five years. “I paint from feeling, and color is what guides me,” she said. “I love mixing greens and turquoises, I paint with happy colors, although I have had a sad year, losing my husband who was wonderful and handsome. I love coming here, I get lost in my work.”
Paintings can still be viewed and purchased at the Centre at 5237 Clanranald. For more information or to join the creative community, call Helen Knight at: 488-0907.
