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In Sept 2007 all four local area councillors agreed to participate as subjects in the Kanata Seniors Centre Portrait Painting Project. As Councillors have very full schedules arrangements were made for them to donate 30 minutes of their time to have their photographs taken by our art instructor. Their photographs would then be computer processed and used as class portrait painting aids. If more information on this process is required please click on the supplementary information link provided below. The original objective in asking the four local Councilors to participate in our class project was to introduce portrait painting students to some of their emotions which would be experienced in a real life portrait painting situation. Especially doing the best they can technically and emotionally having concern for the feelings of their sitter. A second objective grew out of the initial training objective. During a discussion on how we could communicate with the larger community of seniors who are under the impression that our Seniors Centre is like a nursing home filled with depressed old people waiting to die, we thought of using the portrait painting project as a means of reaching out to them through the media. We also discussed those seniors who believe that doing everything themselves is proof of their continuing independence. To them going near a Seniors Centre is an admission of self worthlessness. How do we get the word out that the Seniors Centre is a small town like community where people get to know each other care about each other and learn from each other? It offers stimulating interaction through discussion sessions and common interest activities that contribute to both mental and physical health. And in this respect it helps to maintain our independence. One way is to create an outreach committee
whose sole objective is to find creative ways of promoting Senior Centre
Activities. Finding and forming such a group of people with modern communication
and marketing skills is a current problem. Until we find skilled people
to devote their time to such a committee we will do the best we can.
The opening of our 2008 exhibition of Kanata Seniors Centre Activities is planned for September 5th at approximately 9:00 am. Two of our four councillors whom I have met with to date are very receptive to opening this years exhibition. I have no doubt that our other two councillors will be equally receptive. All portrait paintings by our seniors
art programe will be displayed on the day of our exhibition. We plan
to demonstrate our portrait painting process during the exhibition.
We take this opportunity to thank our four councillors for their participation in our portrait painting programe. Keith O'Connor
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