Commun ty Matters Emporia Presbyterian Manor
July 2016
Start painting ... at any age! By Heidi Raschke for Next Avenue
Megan Jackson is the kind of person people describe as an old soul. “It’s hard for me to really connect in my own age group, and that’s always been the case,” says the painter who created an untitled work selected for publication by Next Avenue (see page 4). “I’ve always had older friends.” Before Jackson created this work of painting and collage, she wasn’t familiar with the terms “artful aging” or “creative aging” — which refer to the practice of engaging older adults in participatory, professionally run arts programs with a focus on social engagement and skills mastery. But she knew many people who were living it. “Anyone — anyone — can be an artist.You hear people all the time say, ‘Oh, I don’t have any artistic talent,’ which is not true,” Jackson says. “You just have to do it whether you think you have talent or not, you have to get out there and try it.” Jackson offers two tips on how you, too, can let go of the pressure and get started doing art: ART, continued on page 4
Join in the fun! Barbecue and ice cream at Presbyterian Manor Summer is here, and now is a great time to consider a move to Emporia Presbyterian Manor to avoid handling all your home maintenance on your own. Emporia Presbyterian Manor is hosting a “Neighborhood BBQ and Ice Cream Social” from noon to 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 12. Join us for a an outdoor picnic and then cool off indoors with ice cream and tours of our newly renovated independent living apartments. BARBECUE, continued on page 2