Bensonhurst Senior Center Blog 1 5/19/22 Portrait Book


Bensonhurst Senior Center

Blog 1  5/19/22

Portrait Book

What a pleasure to be back at Bensonhurst Senior Center today! And what a reception Spica and I received! So many familiar faces from our online classes, some students who were in our last in person class and a couple of new students. The Center is a joyful place, buzzing with creativity with loads of smiling faces. We were greeted by Fanny, Hong, Winnie, and Chip and as always, Julissa was first there, having already arranged for our classroom to be set up and our materials in place. We also received bright purple Homecrest Community Services hoodies - perfect for a cold windy day. Thank you! We feel honored and very special every time we walk through the doors.

So Sim had an extra treat for us both - beautifully crocheted floral bouquets and 2 adorable, crocheted flower brooches. At 94 years young, So Sim is the oldest student in our class but one of the most prolific. She’s always ready to learn something new, offer help to others and share her creativity. 

Although everyone knows each other, it’s fun to begin with a name and gesture game to show how you are feeling. Next, we passed a greeting across the table and around the class. Spica and I shared our own Portrait Books as an example of what the students will make in our 6 weeks residency. Using collage, tracing, and color 

Colors can be classified as warm (red, orange, yellow), cool Blue, green) or neutral (beige, white or gray). They can also influence our wellbeing, so we discussed the emotions different colors evoke and the cultural significance of color. Students selected the colored tissue paper which appealed to them and tore it into small pieces of varying shapes. Using a piece of white card stock as the base, they arranged the tissue in different compositions experimenting with different designs. We shared examples of completed collages, some of which students had made before COVID shut down the Center two and a half years ago and observed differences while commenting on how they made them feel. 

As it is the Year of the Tiger, we introduced 3 different tiger images to choose from for the centerpiece of the collage. Students brushed Mod Podge onto white cardstock and then added the tissue, applying another coat of Mod Podge over the top. Using this technique, they completed their collage. When it was dry, they glued their chosen tiger into position and added a final coat of Mod Podge to seal their artwork. The resulting collages were all uniquely original, displaying different color combinations and shapes. 

Spica took front, profile, 45 degrees and full body photos of each student for use in next week’s class. What a fun start to our residency!

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