Parsons Community Matters April 2022

Parsons Presbyterian Manor

APRIL 2022

Celebrated Parsons artist a regular contributor to Art is Ageless®

Parsons Presbyterian Manor Art is Ageless® exhibit and reception features senior artists Local senior artists will be celebrated April 4 through 8 at Parsons Presbyterian Manor, 3501 Dirr Ave., as the community hosts its annual Art is Ageless® exhibit.

Works will be on exhibit at the community by appointment only.

The Art is Ageless exhibit will be held virtually for friends of the program on the community’s Facebook page, Facebook.com/ParsonsPresbyterian Manor. Winners will be announced at 2 p.m. on April 7 with winning works of art viewable on Facebook.

Artist Skip Smith poses with his portrait of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. An artist for as long as he can remember, Skip has made drawings and paintings on a variety of subject matter over his long career.

Art is Ageless is a trademarked program of PMMA (Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America®). The program offers senior artists the opportunity to share and display their artwork and reaffirms the agelessness of human creativity.

“If there was a blank piece of paper around, I would fill it with drawings,”

“It’s inspiring to see the beautiful pieces these seniors have created,” said Natae Nash, marketing director.

“The joy it brings to them and others is wonderful, and that’s

Skip Smith – continued

Art is Ageless – continued on

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“I got into art as early as I have any remembrance of anything on this earth,” says Skip Smith, who began his art career by drawing on the walls of his mother’s house.

Get the latest on visitation and COVID-19 at our campus at ParsonsPresbyterianManor.org/covid-19.

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Skip Smith – continued from page 1 he says. “It was just innate. It was who I was.”

Skip has been a regular contributor to the annual Art is Ageless® exhibits since 2017, when a friend who worked at Fort Scott Presbyterian Village encouraged him to enter. He entered into the Fort Scott competition the first year, and then entered the Parsons competition after that first year because he lives in Parsons. He won in the drawing categories and also took home the People’s Choice award. The following year, he won for drawing and best of show.

After that, Skip “retired” from the contest but has continued to bring his work for exhibition. He has encouraged many other

people to enter their own work, and he’s proud to say a few of them have won ribbons, too.

“It’s good for the community,” he says. “And I’ve worked as an artist all over the world. I don’t need the accolades.”

After his service in the U.S. Navy, Skip earned undergraduate and graduate art degrees at Pittsburg State, where he lived in the art studios, trying everything from jewelry making to ceramics.

After earning his degrees, he “went from city to city” until he settled in Atlanta. There, Skip created a thriving art business. Over the years, he sold thousands of prints of his original drawings and paintings, many of which he describes as “Afro-centric.”

“I wanted to make work about preserving my history as an African American,” and these earlier works are rooted in history and memory, says Skip, who cites influences as diverse as Vincent Van Gogh and Harlem Renaissance artist Charles White.

At the age of 47, and feeling a bit homesick, Skip moved back to Kansas and taught at Labette County Community College. Back in Parsons, his subjects expanded to include sports figures and “local rustic things” such as rusted trucks and grain silos.

“It’s taking the mundane and trying to make it extraordinary,” he says.

See more examples of Skip’s artwork on his website, AaronSkipSmith.com. u

Art is Ageless – continued from page 1 something we want to celebrate and share with the entire Parsons community.”

include a juried art competition open to all seniors aged 65 and older.

The first Art is Ageless calendar was published in 1981, featuring art from Presbyterian Manor community residents. Since then, the program has expanded to

Winning pieces at the community level move on to a masterpiece level judging to determine which pieces are featured in the annual calendar and note cards.

For more information about Art is Ageless, visit ArtIsAgeless.org.

For more about Parsons Presbyterian Manor, visit ParsonsPresbyterianManor.org or contact Natae Nash at 620-421-1450 or nnash@pmma.org. u

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Community Matters 620-421-1450 u Fax: 620-421-1897 3501 Dirr Ave. Parsons, KS 67357-2220 ParsonsPresbyterianManor.org

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COMMUNITY MATTERS | April 2022

is published monthly for residents and friends of Parsons Presbyterian Manor

by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America, Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.

To submit or suggest articles: nnash@pmma.org Maegen Pegues, executive director Natae Nash, marketing counselor

OUR MISSION: To provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.

Parsons Presbyterian Manor celebrates completion of $1.2 million renovation After eight months of construction, Parsons Presbyterian Manor is celebrating the completion of a large renovation of its senior living community.

Sutherland Construction served as the contractor for the $1.2 million renovation. Pittsburg Interiors, CD Electric and Koons Plumbing all contributed work to the project.

The renovation includes upgrades to residential rooms, which have brand new heating and air conditioning units that will allow each occupant to adjust the temperature to their preference. Floor coverings have been replaced throughout the

community, and corridors have new artwork and a fresh coat of paint.

improvements when they are visiting the campus.

The health care dining room received a complete overhaul, and now chefs can cook on-site.

Bill Taylor, chief operating officer for PMMA (Presbyterian Manors of MidAmerica®), said the project goes to the heart of the nonprofit organization’s mission.

“Whether residents stay with us for a few weeks or many years, we want them to be as comfortable as possible,” said Maegen Pegues, executive director at Parsons Presbyterian Manor. “This renovation will benefit all residents with a better dining experience and improved aesthetics.”

Maegen invites residents’ family members to check out the

“Making improvements to our communities is just one way we serve our mission of providing quality senior services guided by Christian values,” Taylor said.

To learn more about Parsons Presbyterian Manor, contact Natae Nash to schedule a personal tour: 620-421-1450 or nnash@pmma.org.u

Parsons Presbyterian Manor | A PMMA COMMUNITY

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3501 Dirr Ave. Parsons, KS 67357-2220 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

PMMA celebrates history with Founder’s Day PMMA (Presbyterian Manors of MidAmerica®) employees will observe the founding of the senior living system this month as the company celebrates its 73-year history of serving seniors in Kansas and Missouri.

PMMA’s roots go back to 1947. Alice Kalb, a widow from central Kansas, appealed to a Presbyterian Church organization to establish a home for seniors. Her vision laid the foundation for the first Presbyterian Manor community in Newton, Kan., and inspired others to do even more.

Through the many decades, PMMA® remained true to the spirit of Alice’s vision, providing quality senior services guided by Christian values.

Each Founder’s Day, staff members recommit to live our mission by signing

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the “WE PROMISE” board that lists the pillars of the mission: respecting that seniors retain their rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; assisting residents with specific needs; providing compassionate service; serving as a trusted resource; and advocating for seniors.

“Our nearly 2,000 employees view what they do as a calling,” said Bruce Shogren, president and CEO. “Our dedicated employees make it possible for us to sustain PMMA’s mission, as well as its heritage. I believe Alice would be very proud.”

Alice Kalb’s dream has turned into a network of 15 senior living communities and two hospices across Kansas and Missouri. A new senior living community is under

Alice Kalb participated in the groundbreaking for the first Presbyterian Manor.

development in Colorado Springs.

PMMA remains true to its core and mission: to provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.

For more information about Parsons Presbyterian Manor, contact Natae Nash, marketing director, at 620-4211450 or nnash@pmma.org. u