The ladies who do more than lunch in Freeland

They may be octogenarians or older, but the world is still their oyster.

They may be octogenarians or older, but the world is still their oyster.

Six women who live at the Maple Ridge Assisted Living in Freeland will be featured at an upcoming art show at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Whidbey Island Gallery of Art in Freeland.

The show will open at 2 p.m. on Saturday,March 19 with a wine-and-cheese artists’ reception.

The women, all in their 80s or 90s, will show work that was made during the course of their lifetimes and includes oil and acrylic paintings, watercolors, pastel drawings, quilted pieces and needlework.

The artists include Denny Hamel, Sandy Knight, Grace Mortimer, Bonnie Miller, Bev O’Leary and Ann Colar.

Kris Barker, the community relations director at Maple Ridge, describes each of the women as particularly artistic.

Barker notes: “Denny considers herself a hobbyist, and painted one piece five times to give as gifts; Bev was an interior designer for many years and is a wonderful artist; Bonnie is one of the original belles of Bells Beach; Grace is an elegant lady originally from the East Coast and then Arizona; Sandy has been painting for many years and is quite accomplished; and Ann gets together every year with a group of quilters, and for one week all they do is sew.”

Considering their backgrounds, it’s no surprise these ladies like to paint.

The residents of Maple Ridge are treated each month to a free painting class taught by master painter and painting teacher Deon Matzen. Matzen teaches every second Wednesday in a class that provides free materials to the elderly students.

Matzen, who has taught a variety of classes all across the island, said this age group is a bit different from the rest.

“It’s interesting that some of them fall asleep during the process,” Matzen said. “It happens to those who have no experience and are just trying to fill their time for entertainment.”

Matzen said one woman who had never painted a thing in her life had a natural aptitude.

“She could match colors dead on right away and she understood perspective perfectly,” Matzen said.

But, after she tried one class, she gave it up, though Matzen tried to encourage her.

“I told her she had missed her calling and she said, ‘Honey, this was much too difficult for me. I’m not coming back; it’s too much work.’ It’s kind of refreshing,” Matzen said.

Matzen said these students have issues that her younger students don’t have to contend with, such as dealing with an oxygen tank, blindness or loss of hearing.

Knight, an accomplished artist who is 98 this year, can hear very little, but Matzen thinks it’s to her benefit.

“Sandy is very focused. She doesn’t hear what’s going on around her,” she noted.

All of the women showing work at the gallery have been either serious artists or artistic hobbyists for many years, and will show work that they created previously in their lives.

Other less experienced artists may be distracted for any number of reasons.

“There might be another activity going on elsewhere that they think is better,” Matzen said.

“They all love to go grocery shopping,” Matzen added.

Barker assured Matzen that the trip to the grocery store would no longer be scheduled on painting class day.

But Matzen said her time with the folks at Maple Ridge is enjoyable, because she is assisting them in an enjoyable pasttime; helping them along to do something stimulating, which she thinks is valuable.

“At least this is something interactive to stimulate their minds, rather than just sitting and reading a book or people watching,” she said.

It’s a social activity, she said, that helps old folks to stay lucid, such as playing cards or other active pursuits.

“It’s an awakening for me,” Matzen said. “It makes you think about your own longevity and how active you need to be to remain lucid; how important that is.”