News from Bihl Haus Arts

Dear Friends of Bihl Haus Arts,

Please join us in celebration of our fabulous Docents and Golden Artists at Bihl Haus Arts on SATURDAY, MAY 23RD, 2-6 PM.

The "GOLDENS LEGACY" exhibit opens on Saturday, May 23. On display will be more than 100 paintings, drawings, and other artworks, most available for purchase, created over the past year by the "Goldens", senior residents of Primrose at Monticello Park Senior Apartments enrolled in our "Goldens Opportunity Art Program. The Goldens take painting and drawing classes at Bihl Haus under the direction of professional artist-teachers Terry Lopez de Castilla and Kim Bishop. In honor of the event, we've published a beautiful 20-page color booklet that includes one work by each Golden artist plus works by Golden writers enrolled in a special workshop we've offered this spring in collaboration with Gemini Ink.

The opening reception for the exhibit, between 4 and 6 pm on Saturday, May 23, will be preceded by the "Goldens Legacy Symposium," which begins at 1 pm. Guest speakers Dr. Jill Fluriet, Dept. of Anthropology, and Dr. Adelita Cantu, UTHSC School of Nursing, will present preliminary findings from the “Arts and Aging in an Urban Environment Study,” which they have been conducting exclusively at Bihl Haus Arts over the past year. Their first-of-its- kind interdisciplinary, community-based participatory research project measures the impact of a professionally taught painting class on the health and well-being of senior affordable community dwelling at Primrose. And what they are finding out will amaze you! We're seeing significant improvements in heath--physical, mental, emotional, spiritual--of the Goldens. They're engaging more positively with their families who show support by gifting art supplies for Christmas and birthdays. Goldens are not only making art in the classroom, but their making it at home, too. And they've become part of a new community, a new "family," through participation in the program.

Please join us for this very special event in honor of some very special people--our Goldens and Docents who make Bihl Haus Arts possible.

Kellen