Creative Soul at the Hudson Guild: Making Art with Older Adults
- Jul 26
- 6 min read
Updated: Jul 28
In a moment of inspiration, I reached out to my mom’s friend, Mildred, and asked if she would connect me with the director of the program they both attend sometimes, so I could present Creative Soul there. I sent her my book, and forgot about it for a while.
My goal was not to sell the book, or even network. I wanted to be able to share the book, get a feeling for it’s effect on people and learn about who could like it. I had not shared it since I first presented it last year around this time.
When I published the book, I thought of ways to share it. By the first presentation, I realized that I needed a Spanish version of the book. So I stopped for a while and got to work on the second book, Alma creativa. And just as I was organizing the first presentation of Alma creativa, Jenn Rosas, the program manager of the Older Adult Center at the Hudson Guild, contacted me.
Making Art with Older Adults
I had been to a senior center only once before, but I have been making art with older adults for many years because many of my students and friends are what would be considered “seniors”. However, I feel they are almost more like teenagers because of their energy level. And that’s exactly the kind of person who is usually ready for the messages in Creative Soul: someone who is consciously open to creating that next stage of life.
When I arrived at the Hudson Guild site, the receptionist suggested that I go to the cafeteria and have someone announce the workshop. After dropping off my materials in the empty art studio, I armed myself with boldness and went to the cafeteria… I was already there, I might as well make sure I had an audience.
After going by most tables without much success, I saw there was someone in charge of Karaoke, holding a mic. I asked if I could make an announcement and he said “ok” and he also said “Make it short!” in a very commanding voice. So I made it as short as possible, and invited everyone, and thought nobody would attend. I was competing with bingo after all!
Then I walked back to the art room and received a nice surprise: my students were already waiting. I felt lucky to have an audience of 4, plus my mom. And we got to work.
A few more people came in, including Gus, the only man in the workshop, whom I invited when he peeked in. He told later that I made him come in. He didn’t regret it, and stayed for the event.
I soon discovered that this was no ordinary group. I started by giving out materials to create a Magical Medallion. This gave me a chance to connect and wait to see if someone else would come in. In a short time, we had 9 people ready to work.
I brought one set of bezel and cabochon for each person, and pearlescent inks, watercolors, and different cords to complete the necklace. They all helped each other get materials, and helped me get the napkins and water cups we were missing.
I like to make art medallions because almost anyone can make one and end up with a beautiful and original art piece that they can wear and share. Usually, I help them with cutting the artwork once it’s dry, because this can be a challenging task if you have pain or any kind of problem in your hands. I also help with the glueing.
The Presentation
I had been thinking how to best integrate the book with the workshop. I want the presentations of Creative Soul to take place within a workshop context because it’s a way to feel the ideas in the book rather than just read them or listen to them. But I was not sure what would work best with this group. So I started with the materials and with introducing myself. I also felt I should be assuring them that the medallion would look beautiful no matter what. Nobody left 😁 so I was ready for the book presentation!
The first poem of the book is an invitation to “let passion glow.” I read them that first piece. And then I started telling them about why I made the book, and how it came to be.
This group, people who know about life and have gone through many of the same challenges I had to face at an early age, and who also love making art, understood.
I told them about the book, but I also told them about how I got there, the long story, the illness, the messages that we get when we are not doing what we came to do in this world, the remembering.
They all looked at me with what I felt was deep attention and understanding.
I had not talked about those old times in a while, but it’s inevitable with Creative Soul, because behind the ideas, the process, the paintings, and the existence of the book, is the urgent call of my soul: “Do not forget why you are here.”
And I remembered because their attention helped me recall, in that moment, that when I came out of the hospital after a stem cell transplant, and my body started recovering, I felt a great urge to share. And as I shared, my life grew. But as life continued happening, and 25 years went by, I became normal. In a normal job, with a normal schedule, with normal living, and then realized that this comfortable normality is my precipice. The place where I’m about to fall each time.
And something had to change.
Life is too short, so we better live it.
Magical Medallions
When learning art, everyone becomes the same age. And that age is 4 years old.
In many ways, I design my workshops to speak to the child in everyone. I start with an activity that is open enough for anyone to enjoy and complete, and structured enough to contain techniques and concepts that carry the person forward in their development.
With this group of older adults, I made sure to accommodate the experience they already bring with them, while at the same time offering an activity that culminated in a satisfying and relatively easy product. I also make it a priority to ensure that the final piece is unique to each participant.
Everyone created several painted designs, and chose one to mount in their medallion. We laughed and had a good time. Then we took pictures. The group kindly allowed me to publish their photos. I am so grateful for that and that’s why I can share here!
I have taught this workshop many times, but the level of experimentation and style with this group was unprecedented. They knew about art and artists, they had their own vision for their work, and they applied techniques that they had previously learned and used. At the same time, the atmosphere was full of collaboration and support. They had chosen to be there, and were open and ready to learn something new. And to have some fun in the process of learning!
As I get ready for the first presentations of Alma creativa in New York and Puerto Rico, I hold this experience in my mind and my heart. This group of elders have uplifted my soul and woven some magic into the mix with their wise presence. They offered joy, community and the accepting disposition of someone who knows what is truly valuable in life.
They are already cultivating their creative soul, so they made my work easy, and they truly sent me off with renewed energy into the true work of my own soul.
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(In Spanish)
The first presentation of Alma creativa will be during a very special event where my friends from 25 years ago and I come together to share our poetry and work:
(In Spanish)
Then I will be in San Germán, Puerto Rico sharing the book and making Magical Medallions with our guests:
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