Chestnut Ridge Residents Convene for Creativity

Creative residents convene in the Multipurpose Room of Chestnut Ridge at Rodale for a weekly Open Art Studio session. These one and a half hour sessions invite all resident creators (writers, artists, knitters, etc.) to come together, share what they are working on, discuss their creative processes, and chip away at their projects.

Many sessions are bursting with color and raw talent. For example, resident artist Henry Lawrence brought his sketch book full of gorgeous, painted depictions of various birds. Armed with a water pen (a fine paintbrush capable of self-cleaning), one of his favorite nature magazines, and a desire to improve with each subsequent painting, Lawrence picked a fresh bird and began his newest entry.

Lawrence began painting during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic as a way to put creative effort into something new and find moments of peace from the world around him. Today, he has amassed a collection of hand-painted birds that he deserves to be proud of.

Sitting next to Lawrence was resident Robert Krause, who colored intricate depictions of national parks and monuments in a book he picked up on a Phoebe bus trip.

Krause has fond and vivid memories of coloring with his Aunt in his early years, a love he has held on to through retirement. The book he is currently working on features side-by-side comparisons of the actual, photographed subject and the space for coloring.

Meanwhile, Elinore Gold began working on a new set of alcohol ink postcards. These flowing, abstract paintings of color have provided Gold an easy way to express herself without an extensive art background.

Gold explained that the paint often guides her creative process, flowing in the directions it wants over plastic sheets of paper that won’t absorb the paint itself. In the end, it leaves shimmering, vibrant explosions that are best witnessed in person. Some of her pieces resemble the inside of a geode.

Susan Padden, next to Gold, began work on a Christmas-themed cross-stitch. Padden is an experienced artist, having drawn and stitched for years, but she only recently picked cross-stitching back up.

She had fallen out of the craft for some time but was driven by a need to jump from one creative avenue to another, and decided to get back into it. The intricate nature of the craft means that Padden will have her work cut out for her.

Across from Padden and Gold sat Christine Widgren and Ada Gehman, both of whom brought knitting projects. Both Widgren and Gehman have many years of knitting experience and have tackled a variety of projects.

Widgren picked up knitting as a way to express herself artistically. Fully embracing the craft, she jumped at the opportunity to travel to different countries with a knitting group in the past. The projects created on those trips were influenced by the cultures she visited. She is currently working on a full-length scarf.

Gahman frequently uses knitting as a productive way to pass the time and relax at the end of the day. It is common to find her knitting while she watches television. At this particular session, she worked on a purple hat to match an already completed purple blanket.

It was an inspiring and productive morning for this group of talented residents at Chestnut Ridge. Their skills and creativity bring great life to the community.

Written by Dominic Trabosci