PASTOR DAVE’S MUSINGS FROM THE HEARTLAND

June 12, 2024

ARTFUL RESIDENTS

Saturday, June 4^th, after our second trip to the Yellow River Festival here in Plymouth, Indiana, Diane and I stopped by Opie’s Deli to have a look at the watercolor artwork done by the residents of Catherine Kasper Life Center.  Diane knew some of the artists and wanted to see what they had done.

As we were leaving Opie’s, the artists were arriving for a meet-and-greet reception which was held from 2 to 4 p.m.  Almost all of them needed some kind of assistance.  From conversations with those helping with the exhibit, the youngest artist was 85 and the oldest was 104.  For most this was their first venture into the world of watercolors and painting.

When Diane suggested we stop by the show, I have to admit my expectation for the quality of the watercolors was low.  I was blown away by their excellence.  Anyone would be proud to display one of them in his or her home or office.

The watercolors were created in a weekly class for the residents led by Marge Burkholder.  Most of the works had been created in the space of an hour.  Even though some of the participants could not tell you what they had for breakfast, they were able to take simple instructions given by Marge and turn them into lovely watercolors.

As I was admiring the pictures, I thought of Grandma Moses who gained fame when I was a child.  Ann Mary Robertson Moses was born September 7, 1860.  In her seventies she turned to painting when her arthritis made it difficult to embroidery.  When she started, she asked $2 for one of her smaller paintings and $3 for a larger one.  One of her works, Surging Off (1943), sold for 1.2 million dollars in November of 2006.

Grandma Moses and the residents of Catherine Kasper Life Center are a testimony to the truth that within all of us are talents, abilities, and possibilities just waiting to be released.  Someone reading this article may have within them a novel just waiting to be written.  Another person may have an idea for an invention just waiting to see the light of day.

Everyone whom God has created has at least one special gift to be nurtured and shared.  All of us are inspired by stories of persons with severely limiting disabilities who have an area of their life through which the essence of their soul can emerge and touch the lives of others.  At its simplest is the gift of being able to give and receive love unconditionally.

Marge Burkholder has been gifted with the ability to bring out the creative talents of others.  For me one of the more remarkable aspects of the watercolor show at Opie’s was how Marge was able to draw from each of her students the wonderful painting they created.  She culled to a few simple instructions the essentials of what was needed to produce each week’s project.

One of the more extraordinary gifts that God gives is the ability to be able to empower others to be productive, creative, or successful.  A possible definition of a good boss is a person who works to create an environment in which those who work under her or him can succeed.

The watercolors created by the residents of Catherine Kasper Life Center will be on display at Opie’s Deli (112 N. Michigan St., Plymouth, IN) through the end of the June.  Stop by and have a look.  You will be glad you did.

(This article was originally published June 12, 2011.  Comments may be sent to davidh15503@embarqmail.com.)