On November 26, Jean Coursey Beaufort sought solace in creativity after the passing of her husband Tom, who died just 19 days after her move to Redstone Presbyterian SeniorCare in North Huntingdon from her Ligonier Township home. Beaufort, 78, had a fulfilling career as an art teacher before retiring in 2012. When LeadingAge PA announced a statewide art contest for seniors, Beaufort decided to immerse herself in painting once again.
“Painting makes me happy. I just wanted it to be happy, bright and fun,” Beaufort said, describing her piece titled “Flowers and Birds Going to a Better Place.”
Her vibrant artwork was one of 45 winners selected from over 100 entries in the Ageless Art and Timeless Treasures contest. The winning pieces, including Beaufort’s, were displayed at Redstone’s campus in North Huntingdon, marking the start of a statewide tour.
Jill Wolfe, Redstone’s lifestyle director, expressed enthusiasm for the art contest, noting that winners ranged from 65 to 95 years old. Beaufort, who also serves as Redstone’s informal art instructor, used alcohol ink to create her cheerful piece, which features colorful birds and flowers.
Another contest winner, Mearl Saccamago, rediscovered her passion for drawing at 79 years old. “I got back into it when I came to Redstone. The criteria is you had to do these works here. I used to enter art shows back in the day. It was very nice to come back into that lifestyle,” Saccamago said of her pencil-drawn portrait of her daughter’s cat, Jeffy.
76-year-old Jay Lewis, a resident of Greensburg, also made an impression with his clay sculpture “Queen of Hearts,” which was displayed alongside Beaufort and Saccamago’s works at Redstone in North Huntingdon. The exhibition is set to travel to other senior communities across Pennsylvania.
According to Redstone Executive Director John Dixon, the art show holds great significance for the residents. “We’re just grateful to feature it so we can see these works. The socialization component is very important, and we’re happy our residents are keeping the crafts going. We support a lot of these activities that keep people active. It is very important,” Dixon said.
Rich Cholodofsky is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Rich by email at [email protected] or via Twitter.
