Teaching
Community involvement
I spent almost every Tuesday for 13 years as a volunteer teacher for Senior Citizens. Initially the effort gave me the opportunity to spend, what I thought was quality time with my mother who lived in the facilities where I bestowed (what I thought were) artistic words of wisdom. Through the years I discovered among these artistic novices three truly gifted senior artists. All of the students soon created truly amazing works. The class offered them a creative opportunity to express themselves and tell many of their own stories. As the classes grew and became exceedingly viable I began exhibiting the elder artist's work in different venues throughout the city. The culmination of which was an art gallery of their work in their facility. We took trips to art galleries and museums as well as performing arts centers. I acquired small grants from the Bureau of Cultural Affairs and the Georgia Council for the Arts to help fund this endeavor. It was during these years that I began really listening to their words of wisdom and realized that I had as much to learn as I did to teach.
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