STARKVILLE — For Nelle Elam, art is not just a hobby, but a passion she has carried with her for almost 90 years. Now, she is starting a free art hour for seniors to help those over 65 years old feel seen.
“As you age … you almost become invisible,” Elam said. “People just aren’t aware of you. They discount you in some ways as you age. … I thought that having the support of each other at this age was important. It’s an underserved group.”
Elam, a former Starkville High School art teacher and one of the founders of the Starkville Area Arts Council, is starting a Senior Art Hour in the SAAC lobby at 122 E. Main St. at 10 a.m. Wednesday.
The first session will be focused on the basic principles of design, allowing anyone of any skill level to jump in. But Elam said she hopes the hour evolves into a time where seniors can learn from each other, exchange ideas and talk about their common experiences.
Elam said the group will be a place that provides seniors with a sense of purpose, as creating art feeds a sense of accomplishment some older people may be missing.
“I think people who are artists … are creating all the time in their minds,” Elam said. “It’s who you are. … But I think as you get older, things are not as easy. And if you have something that makes you feel good about what you are doing and makes you feel accomplished as an older person, that’s a big plus.”
Juliette Reid, program director for SAAC, said Senior Art Hour is one more way SAAC is pursuing its mission of inclusivity.
“We want to facilitate classes for seniors by seniors, and to maybe be the conduit for them to get back into art or start a different kind of art and have community,” Reid said. “A lot of seniors get isolated if they have to take care of a spouse, or they’ve been taking care of a spouse and now they’re on their own or they just moved to Starkville. They’re coming because they want community.”
Senior Art Hour is the first art class to be hosted in the Starkville Area Arts Council’s lobby on Main Street. Reid said hosting this group is just one more way the organization is following its mission of inclusivity, and the SAAC hopes to host more groups like this in the future.
Senior Art Hour will meet on the fourth Wednesday of each month. Anyone interested in joining the group is required to RSVP to Juliette Reid by calling 662-268-8374 or emailing [email protected].
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 48 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
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