A Tree Grows at
Trezevant
Residents Jim and Catherine Lewis nurture their lifelong love of knowledge.
We don’t make the ar t, but with your contributions, we make the ar t possible. This year, we were proud to have granted $3M to 85 organizations and individual artists through strategic partnerships and new avenues that support people, programs, and operations.
Board of Directors
Bruce Hopkins, Chair
L. Hunt Campbell, Vice Chair
Estella Mayhue-Greer, Secretary
Shade Robinson, Immediate Past Chair
Oscar P. Adams
Calvin Anderson
Bob Craddock
Paul Trowbridge Gillespie
Rev. Mimsy Jones
Mike Keeney
Dana Nash, M.D.
C. Penn Owen III
The Rt. Rev. Phoebe Roaf
Dell Steiner
G. Randolf Turner, M.D.
A C Wharton, Jr.
George F. Wortham III, M.D.
Trezevant Foundation Trustees
Scott Crosby, Chair
Martha Boyd
Ken Clark Collie Krausnick
Ashley Remmers
Kent Phillips, CEO
Don Selheimer, CFO
Paul Martin, Vice President, Health and Wellness
Paula Jacobson, Director, Trezevant Foundation
Libby King, Director, Marketing and Sales
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Dear Friend of Trezevant,
It’s no secret that I’m proud of the work we are doing to improve our healthcare delivery here at Trezevant. We’re closer than ever to our goal of being THE premier healthcare facility for seniors in the Mid-South.
It’s also no secret that, while we provide excellent care, the Allen Morgan Health and Rehabilitation Center is in dire need of renovation. The last time our nursing facility received any major upgrade was in the early 2000s, when the trend in our industry was to hide all visual evidence of the clinical nature of the facility.
Times have changed. A modern, vibrant Allen Morgan is a crucial component in our quest to provide the best experience. That’s why we’re excited to announce our plans to modernize and completely renovate Allen Morgan to match the exceptional level of service our residents deserve.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, we learned a lot about the need to enhance our ability to control infection. We learned that isolation capabilities are vital for protecting our most vulnerable residents during health crises. With this realization came an opportunity in the form of a state grant of $1.8 million to address infection control.
We’re using that grant as an impetus to kick off a campaign to raise $10 million to fully renovate Allen Morgan, including a generator that will power all of Trezevant’s healthcare areas in the event of an outage.
We’re calling the campaign Together Trezevant. When complete, Allen Morgan will be a state-of-the-art facility befitting our reputation as a premier senior living community.
You can read more about the campaign and other news elsewhere in this edition of Trezevant Living. But right now, know that these upgrades will not only improve the experiences of our residents and their families, but also will vastly improve conditions for Allen Morgan staff, at a time when recruiting clinical staff is becoming increasingly difficult.
Thank you for your interest in and support of Trezevant. We’re grateful to be able to care for the residents who call Trezevant home. Together, we will make sure that the care we provide is exceptional today, tomorrow, and in the future.
Sincerely,
Kent Phillips CEO
Serendipitous Connections
Olivia Burton is thriving in her role at the Dixon, where resident Ken Clark has longstanding ties.
by Jamie Harmon
In the convivial culture at Trezevant, a shared love of horticulture led a resident to nurture a staff member’s growth.
by Alex Greene
Certain aspects of life at Trezevant can’t be captured in a photo, such as its culture of conviviality. In this case, a simple chat between a resident and a server revealed how beneficial a lifetime of experience can be to a young person trying to find their way. The young person in question just landed the internship of her dreams.
It all started, says resident Ken Clark, when “I was sitting at the bar in our bistro restaurant one night.” Server Olivia Burton happened to be working her shift at the time, and the two started to chat. “I serve Mr. Clark a lot,” Olivia says. “We got to chatting, and he asked me what my summer plans were. I told him I’d applied for a Memphis Botanic Garden internship. I’m a biology major at the University of Memphis, concentrating on botany and environmental studies.”
That immediately resonated with Ken, who knows the Memphis Botanic Garden well. “It’s where I go to lunch every Thursday,” he notes. But as they chatted, he realized there was another potential opportunity for Olivia: the Dixon Gallery and Gardens.
“I’ve been connected with the Dixon for many years,” he says. “One of my law partners was Mr. Dixon’s personal lawyer. When my wife was alive, she loved the gardens. I have a warm place in my heart for the Dixon, and when Olivia said she was hoping to get an internship in gardening I was happy to help.”
As Olivia recalls, “Mr. Clark told me, ‘I was on the board at Dixon, and I’m still very involved there. Sometimes we do summer internship programs. Are you interested?’ I applied for the internship, and at the interview, they said it was very important that Mr. Clark would provide a letter of recommendation. I got the internship the very last week of May and I’ve been working there since.”
At Trezevant, there exists a simple respect between residents and staff; that respect can work wonders. It didn’t hurt that Ken is a good judge of character. “I have observed that Olivia is very industrious, does her job well, and always has a pleasant disposition. And that’s been confirmed by two senior executives over at the Dixon. Both of them were lavish in their praise.”
As for Olivia, “it was even better than I expected,” she says. “I learned how to propagate plants, how to sow from seed, all about soil levels and tests, the whole nine yards.” Beyond that, one of Olivia’s recent assignments was in the cutting garden, and a particular plot in that area holds special significance for both Ken and Oliva: It bears the name of Ellen Ramsey Clark, Ken’s late wife.
Best of all, at the end of her internship, Olivia landed a “real” job at the Dixon. The plants are not the only ones who are growing. •
Photograph
Upgrading the FUTURE
Trezevant is taking the Allen Morgan Health and Rehabilitation Center to a new level.
by Jon W. Sparks
At Trezevant, the bar for high-quality care is always being raised. Already one of the most highly regarded retirement communities in the nation, Trezevant offers independent living, assisted living, memory care, and a health and rehabilitation center. While high standards are nothing new here, leaders are ready to aim even higher.
Trezevant officials now recognize the need to improve the Allen Morgan Health and Rehabilitation Center to provide an even higher degree of care and service. A $10 million capital campaign is now underway to fund needed renovations and improvements. Paula Jacobson, Trezevant Foundation executive director, says the ongoing effort is past the halfway point.
Shade Robinson, the immediate past chair of the board of Trustees at Trezevant and chairman of the capital campaign, explains: “The vision is to provide an experience for our residents and other potential residents in Allen Morgan that is superior to any other nursing home facility, not only in Memphis but in the South.”
Despite some dated elements currently in place, the staff is first-rate, and Robinson says the improvements will provide a better environment for them as well as for the residents. “We want it to be
a bright, happy place, really giving people a better experience,” she says.
Burt Stroupe’s wife, Patsy, has been a resident of Allen Morgan for five years. He says, “Like all family members, I want her to have the best home and the best care possible. Allen Morgan provides great care, but with the aging of the facility, it becomes harder for the staff to provide that level of care. This renovation will bring needed updates to technology and to infrastructure that will make the caregivers’ jobs less difficult. It will also bring features that will help residents have brighter days. Allen Morgan is our loved ones’ home. For many, it is their last home. We should make it the best home possible.”
Kent Phillips, CEO of Trezevant since 2015, presents the big picture: “Trezevant is re-envisioning the way we deliver healthcare, not because we seek to be trendy, nor to satisfy a financial need. Rather, we believe that Memphis seniors deserve the very best state-of-the art care. We have always offered the very best in life enrichment; now we see a need to focus on clinical care, and the coordination of ever-increasing complexity of services necessary to age well and with grace.”
Crucial to that is the plan to remodel and modernize the Allen Morgan Health and Rehabilitation Center. Phillips continues, “We provide great care, as
Like all family members, I want [my wife] to have the best home and the best care possible. This renovation will bring needed updates that will make the caregivers' jobs less difficult. It will also bring features that will help residents have brighter days. Allen Morgan is our loved ones' home. We should make it the best home possible.
— Burt Stroupe “
”
Pictured at the Allen Morgan entrance: Shade Robinson (Campaign Chair and Past Chair, Board of Directors), Terri Palmore (Director of Nursing), Paul Martin (Vice President of Healthcare), and Melissa Angus (Director of Rehabilitation Services).
Photograph by Jamie Harmon
demonstrated by our numerous quality ratings and awards, including a 5-star rating from CMS and a top rating in the venerated U.S. News and World Report annual nursing home review.
“However, the physical plant is dated, and does not reflect the care our team provides to our residents. A complete renovation will improve the experience for residents, their families and friends, and, with equal importance, our staff, who deserve an environment best suited to successfully serve our residents.”
Highlights of the changes include:
• State-of-the-art and inviting resident rooms
• Central nursing stations
• Updated and welcoming lobby
• Expanded rehabilitation center and gym
• Upgraded dining spaces on each floor
• Additional equipment and innovative technology
• State-of-the-art design for infection control
• Private meeting spaces for families
With that mission set, the Trezevant team is moving forward to bring it to reality.
Paul Martin is vice president of health and wellness at Trezevant. He explains what’s needed and what to expect: “Not only is it for the residents here at Trezevant, but we also serve Memphis and Shelby
(top) The new nursing station is centrally located for greater visibility and access to care. (above) Dining room
County. People who are not Trezevant residents can be treated at Allen Morgan, and the renovation will allow even more patients to be included.”
The Covid pandemic brought with it a realization of how care facilities needed to be able to respond more effectively in urgent situations. “The renovations will allow us to help decompress the hospitals in certain types of public health emergencies,” Martin says.
Trezevant recently received a grant from the Tennessee Department of Health to address these issues. The $1.8 million grant, which must be matched by Trezevant donors, will underwrite the costs of creating two infection control units to isolate infected patients from other patients during their care. These improvements are not found in any other nursing facility in the region.
New Designs to Upgrade Care
Something as basic as changing the floor plan is going to improve the facility. The setup now is not desirable; when a visitor enters, he or she finds a long hallway with no nursing station or place to seek care or information. Martin says, “The renovation will put the nurses front and center, improving their visibility and making them a point of reference for families.”
The improvements will also be crucial to establishing a home-like environment that is well suited for health care, with luxury vinyl tile floors that are easier to clean than the existing carpet.
For the health center, Trezevant has hired BRG3S architects, a firm that specializes in healthcare projects and is familiar with specific requirements and regulations. Martin, an administrator with 32 years’ experience, is also well versed in the myriad operational requirements.
Plans are expected to be submitted to the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission this fall for review with a goal to start work in early 2025. Martin explains that three phases are expected to take roughly three to four months to complete. He aims for renovations of the first floor to be complete in early 2026, and no later than June of that year.
Robinson adds that there is an even bigger mission for Trezevant, with Allen Morgan being just one piece of it. That mission? “Raising the whole level of healthcare and quality of living in your senior years.”
And for her, it’s personal. “My goal is to live here one day and I want to make sure it’s the best that it can be.” •
Reception area
Rehabilitation gym Patient room
A Tree Grows at Trezevant
Residents Jim and Catherine Lewis nurture their lifelong love of knowledge.
by Abigail Morici
Jim and Catherine Lewis have about 2,000 books in their Trezevant apartment, all labeled according to the Dewey decimal system, shelved across a few rooms. With books ranging from political science to The Hardy Boys, the collection used to be much larger — by about 1,000 books — before the couple moved to the retirement community in July of 2023.
“Our son used to tell people he grew up in a library,” Catherine says. “His room was the fiction section.”
Since then, they’ve downsized their fiction and kept most of their biographies and reference books, insights into their interests as individuals and as a couple. Jim is an internist and a preoperative clinic attending physician at the VA Medical Center. Catherine writes the garden column for The Best Times, the Mid-South’s magazine “for active people age 50 and better.”
“Gardening is the 600s,” Catherine says. She’s the one who labeled and organized their books according to the Dewey decimal system.
“Medical is in the 500s,” Jim adds, before Catherine corrects, “No, medical is 600s but Dewey is not good for medical.” Needless to say, after 51 years of marriage and three children, the two have fallen into a rhythm of conversation that comes when two people know each other so well. “It’s been interesting, the whole trip,” Jim says. “It’s been fun. No regrets.”
Photograph by Jamie Harmon
“If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.”
And they expect this phase, as they settle into Trezevant, to be just as fun. Already, they've embraced new friends and experiences. They’ve given a lecture together on snakes in the Bible, with plans to give another four-week series on science and faith. “We actually did this series at our church,” Jim said, “but it seemed especially interesting to Trezevant folks. We had advanced people with different religious backgrounds, from different walks of life.”
Catherine, for her part, has joined the grounds committee of resident gardeners, and she’s spearheading the initiative to establish Trezevant as an arboretum.
As it turns out, Trezevant is the perfect place for these lifelong, avid learners, whose ceramic sign beside their doorbell declares, “If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.”
Jim and Catherine met while attending Mississippi College in Clinton; they were both on the school’s newspaper staff. Jim, who grew up in the little town of Kosciusko, Mississippi, was a year ahead of Catherine, a Memphis native. “He was kind of girl-shy,” Catherine says, “but we got to know each other as friends and then at the beginning of his senior year, he kind of roundabout laboriously asked
if we might start dating. And I said, ‘Well, sure, yeah,’ and then he said, ‘Oh, good. Well, it won’t be until after the MCAT. That’s October the 12th.’ Priorities. This was in August.”
That was Jim’s second first date ever, and all the qualities that drew him to her all those years ago continue to charm him today. “She has an unusual sense of humor,” he says. “Really, she’s pretty funny. And I would say that was one of the different things. She’s a very good writer and a pretty good musician.”
“He’s a nice guy,” Catherine says. “A really nice guy. And he puts up with me.”
Indeed, they both support each other in their endeavors. While Jim was in medical school at Johns Hopkins University, Catherine worked there and picked up the vocabulary; her “empty nest job” was later a technical medical writer. And while Catherine gardens, her greatest pastime, Jim’s “specialty is pulling weeds.”
“I know, by name, three weeds that I pull when I see them,” Jim says. “Chamber bitter is one. Mallow is the second, and then I think they call it the mulberry weed.”
A master gardener for 22 years, Catherine taught
him. “He wanted to know,” she says. For Catherine, her love of gardening started with her dad, Dr. Fenwick Chappell. “He was always interested in gardening,” she says. “He was a very accomplished orchid grower, but he never got me into that.” He used to take her to Rhodes College to collect leaves from the campus’ arboretum.
Catherine’s dad, a Trezevant resident, passed away in late August at nearly 101 years old. “He was here about eight years, seven years of memory care,” Catherine says. “My dad’s experience is one reason that we moved here, too. Having him wait until he couldn’t make his own decisions [to move to Trezevant], we decided that we didn’t want to do that, didn’t want our kids having to do this. We also wanted to be in charge ourselves, making our own decisions, so that’s one reason we moved here relatively young [after years of being on the wait-list]. We’re glad we did.”
Catherine’s plants were the first to make the move back in June 2023, the couple having requested one of the garden plots available to residents who like to garden. They’ve since adopted a second plot. “I had a daylily called Broadway Valentine — my mother’s maiden name was Valentine — so I dug that up and brought it over,” she says. “I had some hostas that I brought, too.”
She also brought her Shasta daisies, the official cultivar name being Becky, the name of the couple’s late daughter. Her passing at the age of 16 was partly why Catherine got serious about gardening. “I wrote a little book about it, gardening in memory of
someone and as a source of grief therapy,” she says. “So that’s when I took the Master Gardener classes to give me a little more credibility.”
Knowing gardening’s therapeutic benefits has guided Catherine’s philosophy while on the grounds committee. She wants to make sure everyone can experience nature’s benefits. “With the gardens,” she says, “people have so many beautiful flowers and varieties that I started putting a small bottle on the reception desk with a flower in it and a little sign telling what it is.
“I didn’t realize how popular that would become,” she adds, “but now people have started asking when the next one is going to be put out.”
So when people started suggesting labeling the trees on Trezevant’s campus, Catherine was on it, with the help of residents Jim Dorman, a retired geophysicist, and Susanne Darnell, a retired sociologist. “That’s when we found out that we had enough trees [45 species] to qualify as a level-one arboretum,” Catherine says. “Going around and studying that and finding out what they are and getting the science for it has been fun.”
The work has been challenging, too, especially when “you’re telling one kind of oak tree from another,” Catherine says. But they’ve had the help of the Memphis Botanic Garden to verify their work and to help print the labels. “We’ve just had our final inspection to receive our arboretum certification.”
The hope is that the arboretum will get people
In Lewis family photographs, Jim and Catherine’ s lifetime of curiosity, adventure, and fun can be seen.
outdoors, to be active and to appreciate the nature around them. “It’s stimulating intellectually, the aesthetics and appreciating more of biodiversity and becoming more aware of how much variety there is,” Catherine says.
“As far as the tour of the trees,” Jim adds, “Catherine has written individual brief little paragraphs about each kind of tree [for a brochure]. You would find some of these quite interesting because she’s pulled it from reputable literature.”
The descriptions share more than the scientific and common names; they include interesting tidbits, like if a plant has a medicinal use or an interesting history. “I felt like there was just too much information that it wouldn’t fit on a sign,” Catherine says.
Over time, Catherine also sees more trees being added. “There are tree varieties that are not represented here,” she says. “We talked about having a wish list, so that if somebody wants to give a memorial tree, they can look at the list and choose one that isn’t already on the campus.”
At the top of her personal list would be a sassafras. “When I was a little girl, my father would show me a lot of things about the garden and nature, and the sassafras tree, he showed me, has three shapes of leaves on the same tree. And I was always fascinated by that.”
As she expresses her excitement for her newest project, Catherine recalls a quote from Eleanor Roosevelt: “When you are genuinely interested in one thing, it will always lead to something else.”
“That’s definitely true with gardening for me,” she says.
Jim is searching for his “thing” at Trezevant — his “something else” that Eleanor Roosevelt speaks of — and he’s still at work in his clinic, albeit part-time. One could argue he already is pretty involved, having planned Bible study classes with Catherine, attended lectures, and even given one of his own about the VA.
Currently, Jim teaches in the preoperative clinic at the VA Medical Center, but he’s also worked as program director of internal medicine training for both the old Baptist Memorial Hospital-Memphis and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Students know him for his enthusiastic use of mnemonic devices, so much so that one embroidered a “I have a mnemonic for that” stitchpattern and framed it as a gift for him.
“I’m always excited when I see students grasp what they need to know,” Jim says, “and I’m particularly impressed with how the medical students can walk into this clinic that they’ve never seen before. Then they do an exam on the patient, and they do an extraordinarily efficient job of it.
Jim Lewis teaches a Bible study class on faith and science.
A“Teaching is my love,” Jim says. “With student teaching, you know, it’s still fun. There’s now a tremendous amount of stimulation here at Trezevant, too, lots to do. lots to participate in. Every now and then you think, hey, I’ll just completely retire so I can do all the things here. But I have plenty of work at the VA and the University.”
So, in the meantime, Jim and Catherine will stick to their routines. They’ll take care of their cat Heidi, tend to their plants, and pull weeds that they know by name. They’ll socialize with their new friends at Trezevant. Their sons Jay and Tom will visit with their wives and kids from out of state, and the arboretum is now certified. And they’ll have their books. Their library and garden will always be there. •
rich diversity of mature trees adds shade, peace, and natural beauty at Trezevant. Last spring, Susanne Darnell offered to help identify and label the trees. She, Jim Dorman, and Catherine Lewis formed a committee and began making a preliminary list of trees on the campus, with Jim mapping each tree’s location. There were more than enough species to qualify for Level One Arboretum status with Tennessee Urban Forestry Council (TUFC).
A team of Memphis Botanic Garden volunteers helped the committee expand and refine the tree list. After the Forestry Council approved the list, the committee installed metal signs that Catherine made using the MBG’s laser printer. Residents began noticing the signs right away and expressed enthusiasm.
After placing the signs, the committee sent a formal application to TUFC answering questions about the vision for the arboretum and who would benefit. In September, Dallas Holland and Wes Hopper, two arborists with TUFC, toured the campus with the committee to verify the signs’ accuracy and to offer suggestions for tree care.
With 43 species of trees confirmed, Trezevant became the first senior community in our area to have a certified arboretum. Booklets are available at the front desk providing maps and brief descriptions of each tree species. •
Wes Hopper, Susanne Darnell, Catherine Lewis, Jim Dorman, and Dallas Holland
For her den, Wible chose this energizing red color.
Photographs by Ross Group Creative
Alive with COLOR
Linda Wible’s love of art is reflected in her
Trezevant home.
by Jane Schneider with Terri Glazer
Step into the garden home of retired dentist Linda Wible and you would be hard pressed to believe she’s lived here for just two years. This tranquil space is alive with color and creativity; Wible has assembled a fascinating body of contemporary Southern artwork. From painters and potters to sculptors and conceptual artists, much of the art was crafted by local Memphis makers. You’ll find an early painting by David Mah, ceramic bowls by Agnes Stark, Zen chimes by Jimmy Crosthwait, and a lyrical metal and glass sculpture by Brian Russell. Her art reflects the inspiration that bubbles up all around us.
Saying Yes to Opportunity
As a lifelong Memphian, Wible thought she might one day move to Trezevant. Her aunt lived here during the 1980s and Linda appreciated the community’s convenience as well as its amenities. But she envisioned her move-in date further off. Then the pandemic hit, and she realized time might not stretch on forever.
In January 2022, she called marketing director Libby King and asked for a personal tour. She and King had met through mutual friends, so that made the first step easier. Following their phone conversation, King paid a visit to Wible’s East Memphis home to get a feel for her lifestyle and furnishings. Then in February, when a garden home became available, King immediately thought of her.
“Come and take a look,” King gently suggested. Wible remembers, “We walked in and I started tearing up, because I knew it was my house. I just knew it.”
The three-bed, two-and-a-half bath home was designed by architect Carl Awsumb, who created floor plans for Trezevant’s garden homes. The place felt cozy and familiar, the layout flowing seamlessly from room to room. The special touches, too, were just what she had hoped for: generously proportioned rooms, ample sunlight, a pretty fretwork banister, a vaulted ceiling, plus pocket doors — in all the right places.
Linda didn’t waver. When opportunity knocked, she
said yes.
Once the details were finalized, Trezevant prepared the house for her arrival while Wible readied her own home for market. Remarkably, an offer came two days after it was listed and the buyer happened to be a painter, Matthew Hasty. When the seller and buyer discovered their mutual love of art, Hasty generously offered some of his own artwork as a housewarming gift. Wible selected three small oils Hasty had painted of Havana, Cuba, a place she too had visited.
Entitled “Cuban Street Scenes,” the three now adorn Wible’s entry hall, along with several interesting lithographs by New Orleans artist Martin LaBorde.
Cuba, artist
By mid-July, Linda was busy packing up and moving into her new home at Trezevant. She still marvels at how quickly the transition came together and loves living in a house that’s so much more carefree. When repairs arise, assistance is just a phone call away.
The Road to Collecting
Most of Linda’s decor is done in neutral tones of taupe and cream with a splash of color, but there is one exception.
“I’m not a red person but I wanted something that popped,” Wible says of the Chinese red she
Linda's comfortable living room is full of light and follows her décor of neutral tones with a splash of color.
incorporated in her den. “I find red energizing and uplifting.”
Years ago, her decorator (and former Trezevant resident), Jimmy Beck, had painted Wible’s dining room ceiling a rosy hue and when friends would gather for meals, “they would absolutely glow,” she says. Interestingly, the garden home had also used a slightly different red for the room. Drawing from the wallpaper in the adjoining powder room, Wible selected a deep cinnabar and used it liberally on the walls and bookshelves. The results are dramatic, giving the room an inviting, enveloping presence.
Wible frequently spends time here, reading under the soulful gaze of a portrait titled “Hispanic Girl”
by painter Mary Sims. Sims taught at Southwestern (now Rhodes College) in the early part of her career before decamping to Eureka Springs, Arkansas, where she painted for the remainder of her life. The picture holds a special significance to the collector, since it was the first piece she purchased as a young professional.
“I actually got to meet Mary in her place over in Eureka Springs. And I was poor at the time. I’d just graduated from dental school, and a friend had bought this big painting. I was looking around and Mary said I could buy that one. It was all the money I had, $300 in 1978.”
Yet that early investment brought her joy and ignited a lifelong love of collecting.
Which leads us to the playful ceramic sculpture “Acrobat Rider on Horse” by Jillian Banks, the entry hall’s centerpiece. It originally belonged to Beck, a gift from Wible in appreciation for his assistance in her home. When he passed away in 2018, Beck bequeathed the piece to Linda as a reminder of their friendship “which makes it very special.” Special indeed, as one of Banks’ earthenware sculptures now resides in the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
Another conversation piece is the microscope Wible bought when she worked as a medical technologist at John Gaston Hospital. She did lab work there in the 1970s. Noting her diligence, a colleague encouraged
Art adds lively originality to the home; a sculpture by Jillian Banks holds special significance for Wible.
her to consider dental school; she later enrolled at the University of Tennessee. She found the program a good fit and graduated in 1976, the sole woman in her class.
Designed For Living
Wible’s spacious living room is bright and airy thanks to a series of glass doors and transoms on the south wall, inviting the sunlight to stream in. Here her furnishings have an Asian sensibility, highlighted by Dallas painter John Pavilcek’s beautifully abstracted kimono and a four-panel Asian landscape screen done in tones of gold and green. Wible further personalized this space by customizing the fireplace, whitewashing the brick and lining the surround with black granite.
The granite is echoed in the kitchen countertops, but since the cabinetry is dark as well, Wible paneled the backsplash with mirrored glass. The silver essence brightens the area where she cooks — Linda loves
entertaining — though there’s plenty of recessed lighting here as well.
These custom touches speak to the various ways residents can truly make a place their own. Of course, one doesn’t have to cook at Trezevant, as dining with other residents is always an option.
Another attractive feature off the living room is Linda’s sizable deck, one she has filled with geraniums and begonias. The patio overlooks several flower beds and a walking trail which often brings neighbors by for a chat.
David Mah’s painting, whose style was influenced by the realist Edward Hopper, is perfectly suited for the wall at the entrance to Wible’s master bedroom. The stately piece was given to his parents after he had finished college at Rhode Island School of Design. The painting came to Wible after Jeanine Mah’s passing. In her bedroom you’ll also find a handsome bronze of Mercury, the ancient Roman messenger to the gods, elegantly poised in front of a bay window.
Wible’s upstairs guest suite boasts a lovely large bedroom and bath, a huge walk-in closet and a study with a skylight. There’s even room for a daybed and a small attic space.
As for adjusting to life in her new community, this nimble woman jumped in with both feet. Wible is part of a committee for residents who live in the homes and cottages, and she helps to organize programming that brings in guest speakers and musicians from around the city.
“I’ve met a lot of people through friends, and I’ve known some people from many years ago. But I’ve made so many new friends,” Wible says. “It’s just great. The house is wonderful, the staff is wonderful, and it’s the friends you meet, you know? All three of those legs are important. For me, the stool is sturdy — Trezevant is really just a great place to live.” •
Applause!
Welcoming Iris Collective Residents
Gabriela Fogo, Roberta Dos Santos, and Luiz Barrionuevo arrived in early August and will be living at Trezevant for two years as our new Iris Collective residents, while Luiz Barrionuevo will be
joining them in an unofficial capacity.
A 2022 agreement between Trezevant and Iris Collective has proven to be a perfect partnership. The artist-in-residence program gives musicians the opportunity to live and work outside their usual environments, which provides them time to reflect, research, and create new work. The program also provides learning and professional development, along with local networking experiences to inspire local artists.
In return for performances, engagement, and instruction to our residents across the campus, the Iris musicians receive room and board as they live among our residents and become members of the Trezevant family. This partnership benefits our residents, as they not only experience wonderful music, but also develop lifelong relationships. Trezevant also becomes known as a sought-after destination for artists, while increasing opportunities for artistic engagement throughout the community.
In addition to their activities at Trezevant, the Iris musicians are busy teaching in local schools. They currently provide group lessons at Middle College High School and will soon launch string music programs at Rozelle and Treadwell Elementary Schools. They will also provide music therapy to our Memory Support residents, they also support residents at Dorothy’s Place and the Kenney Center. Their influence is felt throughout Memphis!
Gabriela Fogo is an international performer, having played in Argentina, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Czechia, and the U.S. She holds a doctorate in violin performance from Florida State and a master’s degree, also in violin performance, from the University of New Mexico. Gabriela is a dynamic, versatile violinist and educator.
Roberta Regina dos Santos and Gabriela Fogo
Roberta Regina Dos Santos is working on her Doctor of Music Arts from the University of Memphis. She also holds a master’s degree in music from Bowling Green State University, Ohio, in addition to several degrees from various locations throughout Brazil. She has played with symphony orchestras in cities throughout Brazil and the United States.
Fun fact: Roberta and Gabriela were college roommates while attending Faculdade Cantareira.
Also joining our residents is Gabriela’s husband, Brazilian musician Luiz Barrionuevo. Although not an ‘official’ artist in residence, he will be joining Roberta and Gabriela when playing at Trezevant.
Help us welcome these talented artists in residence to Trezevant!
Thinking Outside the Frame
Steve Nelson’s recent art show at Trezevant was a great success and produced a generous gift to the Trezevant Foundation. Steve donates a portion of the proceeds from all his shows to support the arts programs at Trezevant and the Baddour Center in Mississippi, where his son Erik is a resident.
Steve’s interest in art began in elementary school, copying cartoons from newspapers. He went on to
take art classes in college, thinking that his talent might produce good grades. He became a city planner and felt that planning cities was like creating art. He could make a difference by making a building pretty or creating lovely landscape designs. Once again, he felt that creating art was fun.
After his retirement he came back to art, taking classes from Marilyn Wannamaker and Judy Nocifora at the Memphis Botanic Garden. Steve says of his art, “My style is loose and impressionistic, and the goal is to entice the viewer to imagine being in the scene, to feel its majesty, its serenity, its contrast or its energy.”
Steve believes that the arts program at Trezevant is, as he puts it, “phenomenal.” He has recruited many local artists to present shows at Trezevant, and says, “There are always art programs, including music, speakers, and the incredible Arts Gala held a month ago.”
Mary, his wife, also loves being surrounded by art, and together they attend a variety of arts programs, both at Trezevant and throughout the city. When they moved to Trezevant in 2021, they donated their grand piano which is currently providing beautiful music in the Snowden dining room.
Steve sums it up by saying, “Trezevant is a good place to be an artist.” •
Steve Nelson, Trezevant resident and artist
Together
We Are Trezevant
We are grateful for the generosity of our many donors—residents, families, and friends, within the larger community and beyond. Your contributions help provide the highest quality of care and programs and services that enhance the lives of our residents. In addition, your gifts ensure that all residents, regardless of their financial status, will always have a home at Trezevant. Our commitment is that our residents can access the care they require in all stages of their lives.
We also acknowledge the gifts received to support the launch of our capital campaign, Together Trezevant. These generous gifts will help improve the facilities at Allen Morgan Health and Rehabilitation Center. This listing includes gifts received (not pledged).
To learn more about ways to give, please contact Paula Jacobson, Executive Director, Trezevant Foundation at 901.251.9242 or pjacobson@trezevantmanor.org.
The following contributions represent generous annual and capital campaign donations received between August 1, 2023 and July 31, 2024.
CIRCLE OF EXCELLENCE
($10,000 AND UP)
Joy Austin Files
Peggy Bodine
Hunt & Beth Campbell
Rev. Anne Carriere
Diane Davis
Robert & Kate Gooch
Sally Hergenrader
Sara Holmes
Eva Mae Hussey
Ann Knox
Missie & Jim McDonnell
Tina McWhorter Trust
Sam & Marion Morgan
Snow & Henry Morgan
Allen & Musette
Morgan
Warren Nunn
Penn & Gwen Owen
Jolanda M. Penzner Trust
Mary Virginia Rogers
Madge Saba
Diane Sachs
John & Peg Salmon
Dr. Randy Turner
Estate of Frankie Wade
Karen White
Linda Wible
Barbara Wind
CIRCLE OF HONOR
($5,000 AND UP)
Emile Bizot
Kenneth Clark, Jr. (T)
Comfort Keepers
Jim Dorman
Guardian Pharmacy
Mary Galloway Home
Mike & Suzy Osborn
Elinor Reed
Betty Robinson
Betty Louis Sheppard
Faye Southern
Linda Wible
June Wood
Mary Kate Wyatt
LEADER
($2,5000 AND UP)
Dr. John Albritton
Dr. Dee & Janet Canale
Jim Dorman
John & Macon Ivy (B)
Estella Mayhue-Greer (B)
Kent Phillips (E)
Ann Powell
Madge Saba
BUILDER
($1,000 AND UP)
Sylvia Adams
Dr. Rex & Johnnie Amonette
Barbara Bacharach
Boyle Insurance
Bruce &
Judith Campbell
Gee Gee Chandler
Scott & Meg Crosby (T)
Diane Davis
Jon Gambrell Construction
Suzanne Gronemeyer
Sara Heckle
Ann Hunt
Ted & Joyce Johnson
Mr. & Mrs. Collie Krausnick (T)
Anna McNeill
Rodgers Menzies
John Mikaelian (E)
Steve & Mary Nelson
Dr. Bob &
Jenny Richardson
Betty Jane Robinson
Steve & Debby Schadt
Don Selheimer (E)
Cecile Skaggs
Dorothy Stevenson
Sam & Peg Stringer
ACHIEVER
($750 AND UP)
Sylvia Adams
Kathy Bradshaw (E)
Marilyn Dunavant
Paula Jacobson (E)
Julie McKenna (E)
Rosemary Mosby
Lee & Mary Wardlaw
AC Wharton, Jr. (B)
Rinne & Keith Wood (E)
INNOVATOR
($500 AND UP)
Betty Brewster
Matt & Alice Crow
Diane Davis
Susan & Brad Foster
Sam Graham
Bill & Julia Grumbles
Dr. Bob & Maggie Hollabaugh
Kenny Floor Covering
Libby King (E)
Theresa Mauer
Jimmye Pidgeon
Ashley Remmers (T)
Loretta Taras
Margaret Taylor
Virginia Trenholm
John & Dorsey Wade
Victoria Brafford Wade
John & Ginny Webb
Susan Whitehead
Richard &
Barbara Williams
Dr. & Mrs. George Wortham (B)
FRIEND
($250 AND UP)
Anonymous
Jean Borkert
Martha (T) & Jim Boyd
Bill & Chipsy Butler
Kitty Cannon
Henry Harvey
Virginia Hollon
Julie & Rob Hussey
Camille & Bobby Leatherman
Phyllis Ann Mikula
Alice Anne & TV Miller
Carol Snowden Morris
Kim (E) & Kevin O’Donnell
Anna & Albert Pyland
Jack & Cathy Richbourg
John & Terry Robertson
Betsy Rucks
Laurence Streuli
Dr. Bill & Jo Threlkeld
Beverly Williams
Brian Willmarth (E)
HONORARIA
received between
March 15, 2024 and July 31, 2024
SYLVIA ADAMS
Anna McNeill
JOHN ALBRITTON
Emile Bizot
Sally Hergenrader
Anna McNeill
Rodgers Menzies
SUE ATWOOD
Emile Bizot
Anna McNeill
GERRY AUSTIN
Alice Anne and TV Miller
JOY AUSTIN-FILES
Anna McNeill
BECKY BAYLESS
Anna McNeill
SAM BEACH
Anna McNeill
JEANNETTE BIRGE
Barbara Bacharach
Emile Bizot
Anna McNeill
Linda Wible
PEGGY BODINE
Sally Hergenrader
DORIS BOONE
Emile Bizot
Anna McNeill
Rodgers Menzies
Marion Morgan (S)
Madge Saba
BETTY BREWSTER
Emile Bizot
Anna McNeill
CHIPSY BUTLER
Barbara Bacharach
Emile Bizot
Sally Hergenrader
Anna McNeill
KAY CAREY
Barbara Bacharach
Sally Hergenrader
BETTY CARTER
Emile Bizot
Anna McNeill
RANNA CHRISTENSON
Emile Bizot
Anna McNeill
MERRILL ANN COLE
Margaret Smith
NORA CONAWAY
Emile Bizot
Anna McNeill
Madge Saba
JUDI CREASON
Emile Bizot
Anna McNeill
Rodgers Menzies
MARY PAT CUSTER
Emile Bizot
Anna McNeill
BECKY DEUPREE
Anna McNeill
JOAN DRAPER
Emile Bizot
Anna McNeill
JUDY DRESCHER
Betty Louis Sheppard
MARILYN DUNAVANT
Emile Bizot
Sally Hergenrader
Anna McNeill
Cathy and Jack Richbourg
Madge Saba
JR DUNKLEY
Emile Bizot
Anna McNeill
SUE FERGUSON
Emile Bizot
Anna McNeill
BILLIE GOODLOE
Anna McNeill
FRIERSON GRAVES
Emile Bizot
Anna McNeill
SUZANNE GRONEMEYER
Barbara Bacharach
JOE HAWES
Emile Bizot
Anna McNeill
BOBBY HOLLABAUGH
Barbara Bacharach
Emile Bizot
Sally Hergenrader
Anna McNeill
Madge Saba
MAGGIE
HOLLABAUGH
Barbara Bacharach
Emile Bizot
Sally Hergenrader
Anna McNeill
Rodgers Menzies
Madge Saba
JOHN HOLMES
Emile Bizot
Anna McNeill
SARA HOLMES
Emile Bizot
Missie McDonnell
Anna McNeill
BUZZY HUSSEY
Emile Bizot
Anna McNeill
EVA MAE HUSSEY
Anna McNeill
HELEN JABBOUR
Emile Bizot
Anna McNeill
Madge Saba
JOYCE JOHNSON
Emile Bizot
Anna McNeill
Alice Anne and TV Miller
Sally Podesta
GREG JONES
Randy Turner & Sylvia Adams
June Wood (C)
NORA KALTAKDJIAN
Emile Bizot
Anna McNeill
CAMILLE LEATHERMAN
Anna McNeill
ALICE LESLIE
Barbara Bacharach
Anna McNeill
CATHERINE LEWIS
Emile Bizot
Sally Hergenrader
Anna McNeill
Madge Saba
DAVID LINDSTROM
Betty Louis Sheppard
PAM LOWERY
Emile Bizot
Anna McNeill
Madge Saba
PERRE MAGNESS
Emile Bizot
Sally Hergenrader
Anna McNeill
Rodgers Menzies
Betty Louis Sheppard
JOHN MANSFIELD
Emile Bizot
Anna McNeill
Rodgers Menzies
MISSIE MCDONNELL
Emile Bizot
Anna McNeill
Betsy Rucks
DONNA MCENIRY
Emile Bizot
Anna McNeill
JULIE MCKENNA
John & Peg Salmon (C)
ANNA MCNEILL
Barbara Bacharach
Sally Podesta
TV MILLER
Emile Bizot
Anna McNeill
LINDA MISCHKE
Emile Bizot
Sally Hergenrader
Anna McNeill
Madge Saba
Betty Louis Sheppard
MARION MORGAN
Barbara Bacharach
Emile Bizot
Anna McNeill
Madge Saba
Brier Turner
SUE MYERS
Emile Bizot
Anna McNeill
STEVE NELSON
Anna McNeill
CORINNE NIENHUIS
Emile Bizot
Anna McNeill
AL NIMOCKS
Emile Bizot
Alice Anne and TV Miller
Madge Saba
Jet Thompson
IRENE ORGILL
Emile Bizot
Anna McNeill
MIKE OSBORN
Emile Bizot
Anna McNeill
SUZANNE OSBORN
Anna McNeill
GERALDINE PAGE
Emile Bizot
Anna McNeill
JIMMYE PIDGEON
Barbara Bacharach
Emile Bizot
Anna McNeill
SALLY PODESTA
Barbara Bacharach
Emile Bizot
Sally Hergenrader
Anna McNeill
MARION QUINLEN
Emile Bizot
Anna McNeill
ELINOR REED
Barbara Bacharach
Emile Bizot
Sally Hergenrader
Anna McNeill
Betsy Rucks
Madge Saba
TOMMY ROBINSON
Barbara Bacharach
Emile Bizot
Sally Hergenrader
Anna McNeill
Madge Saba
BETSY RUCKS
Emile Bizot
Missie McDonnell
Anna McNeill
BILL CREASON
Emile Bizot
Anna McNeill
MADGE SABA
Barbara Bacharach
Emile Bizot
Anna McNeill
Sally Hergenrader
Linda Wible (S)
CLAIRE SAINO
Emile Bizot
Anna McNeill
ELAINE SCHUPPE
Anna McNeill
DINA SMITH
SHANNON
Barbara Bacharach
Anna McNeill
WAYNE SHANNON
Sara Shelton
ANNE SHAW
Barbara Bacharach
Emile Bizot
SARA SHELTON
Barbara Bacharach
MARIE STARK
Emile Bizot
Anna McNeill
ANN STEVENS
Barbara Bacharach
Emile Bizot
Sally Hergenrader
Madge Saba
DOROTHY
STEVENSON
Sally Hergenrader
LAURENCE STREULI
Emile Bizot
Anna McNeill
Rodgers Menzies
PEG STRINGER
Anna McNeill
FONTAINE TAYLOR
Barbara Bacharach
Emile Bizot
Sally Hergenrader
MARGARET TAYLOR
Emile Bizot
Anna McNeill
JET THOMPSON
Barbara Bacharach
Emile Bizot
Missie McDonnell
Anna McNeill
Sam and
Marion Morgan
Carol Snowden Morris (CC)
Madge Saba
Brier Turner
JOANN TRADER
Julie Ann Nelson (CH)
VIRGINIA TRENHOLM
Barbara Bacharach
Emile Bizot
Anna McNeill
TREZEVANT RESIDENT
AUTHORS
Karen White
DR. RANDY TURNER
Anna McNeill
GRACE UPSHAW
Emile Bizot
Anna McNeill
MARY VAIDEN
Anna McNeill
DORSEY WADE
Emile Bizot
Sally Hergenrader
Anna McNeill
KIERSTEN WATKINS
Barbara Bacharach
Sally Hergenrader
MARJORIE & ROBERT WEBSTER
Madge Saba
KAREN WHITE
Anna McNeill
SUSAN WHITEHEAD
Barbara Bacharach
Anna McNeill
MILTON WINTER
Emile Bizot
Anna McNeill
Betty Louis Sheppard
JUNE WOOD
Emile Bizot
Anna McNeill
ART YAGER
Marilyn Dunavant (S)
Ann Knox
Missie McDonnell
Anna McNeill (S)
Sam and Marion Morgan
Carol Snowden Morris (CC)
Jimmye Pidgeon
MEMORIALS
received between
March 15, 2024 and July 31, 2024
PATSY ALBRITTON
Barbara Bacharach
Dr. Dee and Janet Canale
Diane Davis
Marilyn Dunavant
Sally Hergenrader
Ann Hunt
Ann Knox
Missie McDonnell
Sam and Marion Morgan
Jimmye Pidgeon
Dr. Bob and Jenny Richardson
Madge Saba
Faye Southern
Dr. Randy Turner
June Wood
ANN BAILEY
Nora Kaltakdjian
Carol Snowden Morris (CC)
DR. JOHN BUCHIGNANI
Dr. Randy Turner
LORENALEE
HARSIN-CAMPBELL
ANDREW CAMPBELL
DANIEL DAVID CAMPBELL
Barbara Dale Crafton
Jimmye Pidgeon
Jack and Cathy Richbourg
LIBBY DAUGHDRILL
Peggy Jones
KATHY CANNON HILL
Ann Hunt
Sally Podesta
MADELEINE PERKINS
JEHL
James C. and Betty D. McCaa
LYNNE KRUG
Jimmye Pidgeon
Dr. Randy Turner
JIM MCDONNELL
Gaye & Haywood
Henderson
Sally Hergenrader
Ann Hunt
NEWTON HUNT METCALF
Peggy Bodine
SAM MORGAN
Cathy Awsumb
Barbara Bacharach
Emile Bizot
Cissy and Waldrup Brown
Marilyn Dunavant
Kate and Robert Gooch
Will and Trish Hayley
Walker Hays
Missie McDonnell
Anna McNeill
Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Molinary
Carol Snowden Morris
Jimmye Pidgeon
Ann Powell
Elinor Reed
Cathy and Jack Richbourg
Celia Ridley
Madge Saba
Diane Sachs
Betty Louis Sheppard
Dorsey Wade
Alexis West
Linda Wible
LYTLE NICHOL
Dr. Randy Turner
DR. BOB RICHARDSON
Randy Turner and Sylvia Adams
Dr. John Albritton
Barbara Bacharach
Emile Bizot
Dr. Dee and Janet Canale
Barbara Dale Crafton
Diane Davis
Marilyn Dunavant (S)
Kate and Robert Gooch
Henry Harvey
Walker Hays (CC)
Sally Hergenrader
Maggie and Bobby Hollabaugh
Ann Hunt
Ann Knox
Anna McNeill (CC)
Alice Anne and TV Miller (G)
Jimmye Pidgeon
Ann Powell
John and Terry Robertson
Madge Saba
Faye Southern
Margaret Taylor
Randy Turner
Phillip and Mary Vaiden
Dorsey Wade
Ginny and John Webb
June Wood
JOHN SALMON
Barbara Bacharach
Peggy Bodine
Gay Daughdrill Boyd
Kirk and Anne Craig Bobo
Joy Austin-Files
Emily Haizlip
Ann Hunt
James C. and Betty D. McCaa
Jimmye Pidgeon
Tonia and Sam Rembert, III
David and Nancy Ruch
Betsy Rucks
Stan Ruffin
Madge Saba
Laurence Streuli
Nathalie and Tim Willard
ANN UHLHORN
Emile Bizot
JOHN WADE
Jean Borkert & Family (C)
Ellen Horniak
Ann Knox
Sally Podesta
Kitty Cannon and Jim Waller (C)
JIM WALLER
Emile Bizot
Dr. Dee and Janet Canale
Barbara Dale Crafton
Marilyn Dunavant (S)
Sally Hergenrader
Ann Hunt
Ann Knox (CC)
Missie McDonnell
Anna McNeill (CC)
Carol Snowden Morris
Ann Powell
Elinor Reed
Madge Saba
Betty Louis Sheppard
Faye Southern
Randy Turner and Sylvia Adams
Dorsey Wade
Ginny and John Webb
Linda Wible
June Wood
DR. BILL WEBER
Barbara Bacharach
Dr. Dee and Janet Canale
Dorothy Craddock
Marilyn Dunavant
Ann Hunt
Missie McDonnell
Sam and
Marion Morgan
Jimmye Pidgeon
Dr. Bob and Jenny Richardson
Madge Saba
Dr. Randy Turner
John and Ginny Webb
Beverly Williams
NORA WHITMER
Dr. Randy Turner
MARY KATE WYATT
Dorothy Craddock
Thea Dotson
Jimmye Pidgeon
Virginia Trenholm
ANNUAL GIVING
Barbara Bacharach
Emile Bizot
Worth Brown
Dr. Dee and Janet Canale
Brad Foster
Ann Hunt
Betty Jane Robinson
Loretta Taras
Jocelyn Wurzburg
SPECIFIC FUNDS
ART FUND
Dr. and Mrs. Boyer M.
Brady
Robert & Wendy Canaday
CHAPEL FUND
Sylvia Adams
Dr. Rex and Johnnie Amonette
Elinor Reed
John and Peg Salmon
Virginia Trenholm
Dr. Randy Turner
LIBRARY FUND
Betty Jane Robinson
SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Anna McNeill
Suzanne Gronemeyer
E. H. LITTLE SOCIETY
The E. H. Little Society is comprised of those individuals who have included the Trezevant Foundation in their planned giving, through a bequest or other deferred gift.
Barbara Bachrach
Ben Bledsoe and Susan Herron
Peggy Bodine
Ken Clark
John and Jane Dulin
P. Trowbridge Gillespie
Jr. Family Trust
Sara Holmes
Ted and Joyce Johnson
Donna McEniry
James E. McGehee, Jr.
Anna McNeill
Jimmye Pidgeon
Ann Powell
William R. Rice
Mary Virginia Rogers
Elaine Schuppe
Wayne Shannon
Peg and John Salmon
Linthicum (Lin) Turner
Randy Turner
Philip and Mary Vaiden
Julie Walton
Mary Edith Walker
Susan Whitehead
Linda Wible
Milton Winter
LEGEND
(B) Board of Directors (C) - Chapel Fund (CC) - Capital Campaign (E) Employee (G) - Generator Fund (S) - Scholarship Fund (T) Trustee
“It’s
— Julie Ann Nelson
At
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Composition The Back Porch | by Dan Conaway
My momma took me the first time. She was an artist, and she wanted me to know what that means, see where that happens.
She showed me the new building. Like nothing I’d seen, new angles and spaces folded into a giant paper sculpture, except this piece of origami was made from metal and glass.
seen,
gifted conversationalists, at least not yet. Or
This was the new Art Academy in Overton Park, later to become the Memphis College of Art, and this was the morning of my first art class. I was nine. The smell of linseed oil, of paint and ink, of paper and canvas, of wood, clay, stone, and metal. The stuff of art, the raw materials of imagination.
I wouldn’t become an artist, but I would never forget those smells, and I would never lose my fascination and respect for the creative process.
Here I would first learn about composition. A blank canvas awaiting acrylic or oil, blank paper awaiting charcoal or pastels, pencil or ink, watercolors nearly transparent or nearly opaque. Awaiting only the idea, only the beginning, only the execution. Only the light. From the outside and the inside. The rest will follow.
Perhaps perspective. Down Fred’s long block in New Orleans. The angle of Steve’s trawler breaking through the icy pass. The juxtaposition of Chipsy’s bold colors. Perhaps a theme across a number of pieces. Rodgers’ seven Sassy Sisters, each small canvas making a colorful promise, all together turning a wall into a party.
They weren’t artists like that when they moved here. Most who first walk into our art room aren’t artists, at least not yet. But then, most who first sit down to dinner may not be gifted conversationalists, at least not yet. Or open to new ideas or new friends or new dishes. Or expanded knowledge. Or frog legs.
At least not yet, but give us a minute. Give us a couple of happy hours. Give us a few music programs. Give us a speaker or two from across the spectrum of the city’s faculties, businesses, writers, artists, actors, and issues. Give us more exercise classes than you’ve got aches, and more activities than you’ve got calendars. Give us an outing to somewhere we haven’t been or can’t wait to go again. Give us a different menu every night. Give us huge cookies. Give us a quiet morning in the library reading room. Give us a service on Sunday.
Okay, maybe not frog legs. At least not yet. Just give us week like that. Just like that every week.
Every day here is a composition, every resident the artist, and the people are the medium.
Activities and programs and meals are canvas and paper, but the people here are the colors, the shading, the mixing, the perspective, and the contrast.
The palette is lived fully, here and around the world, interests and knowledge and experience gained and shared.
Composition will follow. Take up your brush and begin. •
