Most people who retire are generally still able to be active, to work in the yard, the garden, to visit relatives, to shop, to watch television programs to the wee hours of the morning, to sleep late, to pursue a hobby, to travel or at least to do it vicariously, to develop new friendships. to become a volunteer for different causes, to enjoy food and get fat and lazy, to learn something new and challenging, to spend more time with grandchildren, to become politically active and ultimately to learn to do ‘nothing’ as one nursing home resident stated.
For some, the nursing home is one of the last stations in life’s journey and learning to do ‘nothing’ does present a problem. Most needs are assumed by others so finding a niche that is rewarding is not easy.
Weekly I have an opportunity to visit with many friends in a nearby nursing home, an assisted living facility as it is called since this implies that all is not lost; there is still a life to live that can be meaningful at least to some of the home’s residents. While some have physical limitations, others are still able to fulfill their goals quite adequately. I have one friend in mind, a nine year former Army medic, who seems supremely contented with his station in life albeit with certain limitations but none that deny him one of his passions: art.
It’s not what one might think of as conventional art but as the saying goes, art, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. He knows art and what he does fits his definition.
His “art” might be classified by some as primitive or even child-like but not to him. It not only gives him a sense of artistic accomplishment but it serves him in a therapeutic way too. He can spend countless hours with his “art” totally satisfied and indeed proud of what he does. And what is this?
His tools for his artistic expression consist of scores of “colored” pencils and pre-printed black and white drawings that one might see in the children’s department of an art supply store. In fact, many are designed for children who would probably use crayons to “fill in the lines” to create pictures that reflect their concept of how the outlined picture should appear – in color.
My senior citizen “artist” obviously is pleased and clearly proud of his finished work. I have two of his artistic productions, one is an Easter bunny he offered to me, and I accepted with a request that he sign his work. He obliged. The other is of a frisky squirrel that is perched on my computer printer also signed and dated without my request.
When I visit with him, he ordinarily is busy on his next masterpiece. When I last saw him, he excitedly wanted to show me one of his favorites that he had framed and had given to another resident. Although he had recently suffered from a severe fall, he was able to walk down the hall to show off proudly his contribution to the décor of his neighbor’s room.
What is art? It’s what you define it to be.
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Bill Lee, PO Box 128, Hamer, SC 29547