2008-09 Westchester Libraries Project

In seven libraries across the County - older adults took part in more than 75 sequential, instructional arts workshops. From 60 to 95 years old, participants danced, painted, wrote memoirs and made collages, murals and ceramic tiles.

With great teaching artists, engaged and supportive library staff and "no previous arts experience necessary" these programs engaged older adults in new learning opportunities in comfortable, socially stimulating and "age neutral" community libraries.

Chappaqua Library
Memoir Tiles

A multidisciplinary project, participants wrote memoir "snapshots" and translated them into sketches and then into sculpted, glazed ceramic tiles. The tiles will be added to a frieze on the exterior of the library and the written memoir snapshots will be compiled into a book with photos of the corresponding tiles.

Arts Partner: Rita Pollack, visual arts/ Edith Glass, memoir writing
Workshop Dates: January - April, 2009
Library Contact: Larry D'Amico, Gallery Curator, (914) 734-1292
www.chappaqualibrary.org

New Rochelle Public Library
Family Trees - Visual Memories

This 15 session series guided participants through an interactive process of documenting and exploring family history by creating a family tree through reminiscence, writing and illustration.

Arts Partner: Alice Megaro
Workshop Dates: January 6 - April 14, 2009
Library Contact: Barbara Davis, Community Relations Coordinator, (914) 632-7878
www.nrpl.org

The Field Library (Peekskill)
Mural Memories

Bringing older adults together with experienced, mature local artists, this workshop engaged participants in creating a large public mural entitled "Scrambled Flowers" – in celebration of Peekskill's Dutch background

Arts Partner: Sone Tower & Larry D'Amico
Workshop Dates: January - April 2009
Library Contact: Sibyl Canaan, Director, (914) 737-7110
www.peekskill.org

Town of Pelham Library (Pelham)
Reflections on a Lifetime: Writing & Collage Workshops

Working with a writer and a visual artist through 10 collaboratively designed workshops, participants used memory as a primary source to create original work - both in literary form and then in collage.

Arts Partners: Pelham Art Center with Bill Wertheim, writing/ Susan Kaufman, collage
Workshop Dates: February - May 2009
Library Contact: Patricia Perito, Director, Pelham Library
(914) 728-1234
www.pelhamlibrary.org

Somers Public Library
The Drawing Experience

Building on successful watercolor and acrylic painting workshops, this series of 9 instructional sessions taught participants basic drawing techniques with a thematic focus on the town of Somers. Workshops were enhanced with art history discussions and local sketching excursions in collaboration with the Somers Historical Society.

Arts Partner: Mark Cassata
Workshop Dates: March 10 - May 9, 2009
Library Contact: Pat Miller, Director
(914) 232-1285 www.somerslibrary.org

Yonkers Public Library
Grinton I. Will Branch
A) Painting Power

Over the course of 8 workshops, various acrylic painting techniques were taught through the unifying theme of landscapes.

Arts Partner: Jamie Ross Workshop Dates: January 20 - March 18, 2009
Library Contact: Valerie Schneer, Jim Floyd & John Connell, (914) 337-5715
B) Seniors Come Out Swinging

Two simultaneous workshop series engaged participants in building towards a public dance performance at the library. Participants chose to attend either the ballroom dance workshop or the visual arts workshop where participants designed, painted and installed a stage set and program for the culminating dance performance. Workshops took place twice weekly for each group and accommodated 40 participants.

Arts Partners: Denise Cachoian, visual arts Karen Schneider & Carlos Sampelayo, dance
Workshop Dates: January 12 through February 14, 2009 (2 X weekly)
Library Contact: Sandy Amoyaw, Branch Manager
(914) 337-5973
www.ypl.org

　 　 　 　 　 　 Yonkers Public Library
Riverfront Library-Main Branch
Sanctuary for Creativity

Riverfront Library created a Sanctuary for Creativity - an environment within the library where older adults can freely express themselves through the arts. Participants in this 8-week workshop interpreted their unique life stories through mixed media collage incorporating both words and imagery.

Arts Partner: Celeste Walls-Kepler
Workshop Dates: March 24 through May 26, 2009
Library Contact: Jody Maier, Adult Services Librarian
(914) 337-1500, Ext. 461
www.ypl.org