SAXTONS RIVER — Drawing Out the Wisdom of the Past is among the goals of a series of free workshops being offered in Saxtons River for seniors through a collaboration between Main Street Arts, 24 Main, and the Saxtons River Historical Society.
A kickoff luncheon to introduce the program and to sign up participants will be held Friday, March 10, from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the dining room at 24 Main (the former Christ's Church).
Workshops will take place on Fridays, March 17, 24, and 31 and April 7, 14, and 21 at Main Street Arts from 10 a.m. to noon.
The seniors will be encouraged to turn their memories into collage, watercolor painting, poetry and story, and the resulting work will be presented at a month-long interactive exhibit in the MSA gallery, with an opening Friday, Apr. 28. The public will be invited to respond with their own insights into how to bring the wisdom of the past into today.
The program is funded by a Creative Aging grant from the Vermont Arts Council and is open to 15 participants ages 55 and older.
Project leader will be creative aging expert Susan Rosano, a mosaic and mural artist from Guilford. She is a Master Teaching Artist and a Registered Expressive Arts Consultant and Educator. She is on the teaching roster for the VAC's Creative Aging program.
“One of our goals is to increase awareness of creative and positive aging among both our participants and the public who see and hear the products of their work,” MSA board Chair Susan Still said in a news release. “We also want to create a space for creativity and encourage socializing among the seniors, who are often isolated.”
Creativity will be nurtured through accessible techniques and the use of story prompts and collage. Fellowship will be encouraged through free refreshments and social time at each meeting.
Further information and registration for the initial lunch and workshops can be found at