“Young at Art”

The Saugus Public Library showcases 24 paintings from a Senior Center class

By Laura Eisener

The summer art exhibit at Saugus Public Library titled “Young at Art” features the work of several artists. All were involved in the art classes held at the Senior Center.

Subjects range from scenes in Saugus to architecture in Italy, a lighthouse in Maine to tabletop flower arrangements, a covered bridge in the snow, three girls confronting waves on a beach, and distant mountain scenery. Several works feature butterflies, birds and flowers. The art on display was done using various media: watercolor, pastels, acrylic, oil and even a few 3-D sparkles!

If you are curious about who the artists are, the 24 paintings are numbered. A binder on one of the tables in the reading room provides the key to the names of the artists whose works are displayed as well as the name of each painting and medium. The exhibit catalog says of the classes, “we offer an open welcoming environment and try to nurture all of our artists, from ‘I can’t draw a stick figure’ to ‘Wow, I’m framing this one!’”

Sheila Foley teaches the art classes at the Senior Center year-round. Many of the participants have been attending for years, as the courses have been popular for about a decade. Usually, students bring their own materials and choose their own subjects for their work, but occasionally the teacher will bring in a picture or object and help guide everyone on painting that.

I talked to Doris Napier, who is a longtime participant in the classes and who had several contributions to the library exhibit. Her painting “The Three Sisters” represents her and her sisters entering the water at a beach when they were little girls. Another is a view of a bench overlooking distant mountains.

This is the first time that the group from the art classes has exhibited at Saugus Public Library.