What: Howard B. Leavitt Painting Exhibit Opening
Where: Applewood, One Spencer Drive, Amherst
When: October 10, 2013 from 4-5 pm
Cost: No charge
Amherst – On Thursday, October 10, 2013 from 4-5 pm, Applewood will hold an opening reception of the paintings of Amherst resident Howard B. Leavitt. The opening is free and open to the public at Applewood, One Spencer Drive, Amherst.
Howard did not start painting until the age of fifty because when he was in the fourth grade, he received a grade of C in art class. The teacher was trying to communicate with a ten year old that he had no artistic talent and therefore a waste of time to take up painting. For many years, he took her advice.
Over
the years he became greatly interested in attending art shows and
admiring other people’s art work. At age fifty, he met a professor of
art at Penn State University who claimed that since he was interested in
viewing art, she could draw out some heretofore dormant talent. With
some skepticism he signed up for her adult painting class. Bless this
woman! Had it not been for her, he would not have paintings to be on
display now.
Her technique was to encourage frequent halts in the process of painting and asking oneself “Am I completely satisfied with what I have done?” If not, stop and seek the advice of a teacher or fellow student. Then proceed but not before being entirely satisfied with the previously accomplished work. Howard had several teachers in the following years including the famed, Barbara Johnson.
In the late seventies, Maggie Smith, senior citizen and Amherst, Massachusetts artist, organized and started teaching an art class for Amherst seniors at the Amherst senior center. This Thursday morning class attracted a dozen or more seniors from the area.
In the late nineties Maggie retired and soon thereafter passed away. No replacement was found and the class started to disassemble. However, at the last minute six of Maggie’s students, including Peter Ivy, Applewood Artist in Residence in 2011, agreed to continue the class as a workshop without a teacher. They would teach one another by providing tactful advice, when asked. The idea worked and the workshop, varying in number from 6 – 10, continued its mutual instruction style through 2011.
For More Information please contact: Carol Constant, Director of Community Engagement, 413-532-5325
About The Loomis Communities:
The Loomis Communities has been a visionary in exceptional senior living throughout the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts. It was the first organization in the state to open a continuing care retirement community.
With a mission of enriching the lives of older adults, The Loomis Communities offers independent living apartments and cottages, assisted living and skilled nursing care on three campuses in the Pioneer Valley: Applewood in Amherst, Loomis Lakeside at Reeds Landing in Springfield, and Loomis Village in South Hadley.
For more information, call us.
Applewood: 413-253-9833
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Loomis Lakeside at Reeds Landing: 413-355-5803
or send us a note through our Contact Us form.
