The I N
F O C U S
FREE
F O R
P E O P L E
OV E R
More than 200,000 readers throughout Greater Washington
VOL.30, NO.1
Artist retires, rekindles dream
MS not a barrier For Manzari, a big part of her work’s appeal is the “peace” that comes with it. Many years ago, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a disabling disease that attacks the body’s central nervous system. On a regular basis, she struggles with low energy levels and has difficulty doing regular tasks. “I wake up exhausted,” she said. But despite all that, “When I’m painting, I don’t think about MS. I think about those characters I’m working with. I love them. In fact, they’re helping me through life,” she said. True, having MS can make the logistics of completing her work very challenging.
JANUARY 2018
I N S I D E …
PHOTO COURTESY OF LEENAN HAYDEN MANZARI
By Rebekah Alcalde This past August, LeeNan Hayden Manzari was watching “Project Runway” — the long-running fashion design reality television show — when to her amazement, her painting of a flamenco dancer flashed on the screen. She’d submitted it online to the show’s Remake It Work contest, where fans of the show submit artwork inspired by the program. But she never thought it would win. “I’m still on cloud 9,” she exclaimed. During each episode of “Project Runway,” the judges choose three online submissions as winners and show them on television. Judge (and famous designer) Zac Posen said of Manzari’s work, “these are the moments I wait for.” Like many older adults, Manzari, who recently turned 69, rediscovered her love of art later in life. She’s only just started painting again this past year, when she retired. “Now I can’t stop,” she said. Her winning painting, which she named “Flamenco,” is a vivid acrylic work featuring a powerful, dark-haired female dancer in a red Flamenco dress with a ruffled skirt. The dancer’s arms reach upward on the canvas, appearing to twirl a bright blue scarf. The creases in her gown and the folds of the scarf are highly detailed. The kinetic but graceful energy of the figure is likely what drew the judges to her submission. “If you concentrate really hard on her right arm, it almost moves,” Manzari said proudly. “You can really see it on the actual painting.”
5 0
SEE SPECIAL INSERT Housing & Homecare Options following page 22
LEISURE & TRAVEL
LeeNan Hayden Manzari stands tall while painting one of her newest creations, despite suffering from multiple sclerosis, which makes it difficult to even grasp her brush. A newly avid painter, she was thrilled when one of her works was selected for national publicity on the hit TV show “Project Runway.”
“It is not easy to work with my hands,” she said. Sometimes she also gets tired of standing, or “I’ll drop the brush because my grasp loses control.” She feels the trick is to stay organized. So she doesn’t have to “waste energy,” she keeps all her materials, inspiration and ideas in movable cabinets that let her convert her apartment into a mini-studio. She also stays physically active, which she credits for keeping her out of a wheelchair. Manzari also insists that anyone can take up art, even with no previous experience or training. “People always tell me, ‘I can’t paint,’ but I say ‘you’ve got to try it.’ Anybody can do anything.” It’s an attitude she highly recommends to other older adults, saying, “I’m always discovering new things about myself.”
Early career in media A long-time Washington-area resident, Manzari has always loved art. “When I was a child, I would copy romance and Archie comic books,” she recalled. She loved it so much that art quickly became her favorite subject. Manzari went on to major in art education at the University of Maryland. But she diverted from that course for some years before completing it. Never one to miss out on adventure, she dropped out mid-degree to participate in an exchange program with a British temp agency called Miss Liberty. They sent her to live in London with other classmates. “We — [me and] three other girlfriends See ARTIST, page 36
Some lesser known New Orleans gems; plus, Palermo, Italy, the jewel of the Mediterranean, and no-fee airline rewards cards page 29 TECHNOLOGY k Hackers can target kids’ toys
4
FITNESS & HEALTH 7 k New genetic test for cancer k Medical marijuana in Maryland SPOTLIGHT ON AGING k Newsletter for D.C. seniors
20
LAW & MONEY 23 k Banks are paying (a little) more k What are Medicaid annuities? ARTS & STYLE k Crazy for Gershwin
34
ADVERTISER DIRECTORY
43
PLUS CROSSWORD, BEACON BITS, CLASSIFIEDS & MORE