Parcel Post: Creative Exchanges Between Older Adults in North Carolina

A project of the Center for Creative Aging - North Carolina


Thursday, February 25, 2010

A Week in the Life of Parcel Post: Thursday

Good morning and welcome to Thursday, the final day in our blog tour!

If you're just joining us on our tour around North Carolina, here's what we've been up to: For this whole week, we're using this blog to journey on to a new Parcel Post site each day. By following along together we can all imagine ourselves on Thursdays, joining our good friends, the participating artists in the Pitt County Senior Center as they gather for their latest session.

Thanks for coming along!

Here are some pictures from a Thursday two weeks ago when the first new boxes arrived in the mail at Pitt County.


Group Shot


Group Shot


And introducing newcomer Betty Langley

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

A Week in the Life of Parcel Post: Wednesday

Good morning (or 'Ola' as Amelia might say) and welcome to Wednesday!

How does the song go? If it's Tuesday this must be Rome? ... If it's Wednesday this must be Goldsboro and Washington? I'm sure the musical folks can help out with the tune. Herman? Alex? Lisa?

If you're just joining us on our wish-fulfilling journey, here's what we're up to: For this whole week, we're using this blog -and our imaginations!- to transport ourselves to a new Parcel Post site each day. By following along together we can all imagine ourselves on Wednesdays, joining our good friends, the participating artists in the Wayne County Council on Aging Memory Loss Program and Grace Martin Harwell Senior Center as they gather for their latest session.

Here are some pictures from a Wednesday two weeks ago when the first new boxes arrived in the mail at Wayne and Grace Martin.



Audrey Johnson (R) and Amelia Sanchez (L)


Liz Dawson (L), Lorraine Hodges (middle), Elnora Ward (R)


Hattie Batts


Group shot


Grace Rue


Group shot with Zorada Knapp in the foreground


Group shot


Merritt Clark (L) and Charles Mason (R)

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

A Week in the Life of Parcel Post: Tuesday

Good morning and welcome to Tuesday!

Step if you will onto the magic carpet and come along with me to UHC Ramseur and Autumn Care of Biscoe.

If you're just joining us, here's the scoop: For this whole week, we'll be using this blog -and our imaginations - to transport ourselves to a new Parcel Post site each day. By following along together we can all imagine ourselves on Tuesdays, joining all the participating artists at UHC Ramseur and Autumn Care of Biscoe as they gather for their latest session.

Here are some pictures from a Tuesday morning two weeks ago when the first new boxes arrived at UHC Ramseur in the mail.



Irene Saunders


Mary Stutts


Wavel Lawson

Monday, February 22, 2010

A Week in the Life of Parcel Post: Monday


Hello and a very fine Monday morning to you!

Imagine for a moment that you could be anywhere you wished, just by imagining it. Where would you wish to be? Perhaps the top of the Eiffel tower, perhaps the moon, maybe right where you are.

All this week, let's use this blog to transport us to a new Parcel Post site each day. By following along together we can all imagine ourselves on Monday mornings, joining Gwen and Hollis and Kathy and all the participating artists at ACE as they gather for their latest session.

Here are some pictures from a Monday morning two weeks ago when the first new boxes arrived in the mail at ACE.

See you all tomorrow for the next leg of our journey. Happy Monday!



Alberta Gainey


Ricky Lawson


Quita Mayfield


Susie Kirk


Donnie Traynham

Monday, February 15, 2010

A Round of Applause for the Volunteers

We are very lucky to have a wonderful group of volunteers working with us on this project. Some are artists, others community members or students. Each brings fresh ideas and perspectives, vitality and friendship that help personalize their site's weekly Parcel Post sessions.



Mary Taylor at the Wayne County Council on Aging
Memory Loss Respite Program. Mary tells me she has
volunteered here for years and that everyone at the
program is like family.



Beki Purvis (L) and Jasmine Simpson (R), our project volunteers
at the Pitt County Senior Center as part of their
full-time work-study placements at the Pitt County Arts Council.
Both are Social Work students in their last semester.
In May Beki will receive her Masters and Jasmine her Bachelors Degree.


Lisa Latham is our volunteer at the Grace Martin
Senior Center in Washington. A graphic designer, she is just
returning to her own artistic work after a long hiatus.



Alex Roncati volunteers at UHC Ramseur. He is musical and often
leads the residents in songs. Last session I learned that Wavel
Lawson, a participating artist, used to be Alex's neighbor. Small world!



ACE is fortunate to have the self-titled
Volunteer Facilitator (and creative force of nature!)
Hollis Gabriel. Hollis recently moved to Greensboro from
Louisiana and has been bringing smiles to faces ever since.


ACE is also fortunate to have Kathy Harper on for their sessions
as well. Kathy brings a quiet respect and compassion with her.
We have just met and I look forward to learning more about her.


Autumn Care of Biscoe volunteer Ella Batten used to work the night
shift at Autumn Care in the days before she retired
from nursing. We'll be sure to post a picture of her soon.



Monday, February 8, 2010

We're Off and Running!

This is one fantastic program, if I do say so myself! For those of you who have met Tessa, you know that she is quite the accomplished artist and a wonderful teacher. We are fortunate to have her, even though her time in North Carolina is limited.

Parcel Post, conceived by Tessa, is already creating a bit of a buzz. Folks are inspired and excited to be part of something new and creative. We'll continue working to make this a positive experience for all involved. Let us hear from you.... we want to know what you think!

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

The Faces of Parcel Post - Part 1



Parcel Post
sessions began 3 weeks ago. Starting anything, especially something new, takes fortitude and courage yet staff, volunteers and participating artists collectively leapt into their creative processes with grace and excitement.

In that very first session art parcels were given a foundation layer of primer and experimentation with primary colors. It was amazing to see the variety of ways participating artists started off their parcels - swirling brush strokes, extra thick coats of primer, vibrant yellow, subtle shades of deep reds and light tints of blue. In one session we had already begun the transformation of our simple cardboard boxes into the rich beginnings of artworks.

The remainder of this post will introduce several of the participating artists, volunteers and staff members. We look forward to continuing to introduce project participants as Parcel Post continues.

Beginning at Pitt County Senior Center, meet Alice Farmer ...


and Patricia Clemons ...


Below is Judy Jones (L) with Beki Purvis (R), MSW student at ECU
and one of two wonderful student placements, generously facilitated by
Holly Garriott and Heather White at the Pitt County Arts Council.


The second student is Jasmine Simpson, here with participating artist
Sonia Lopez on the right.



Next meet Merritt Clark (L), here with staff member Beth Harrell
at the Grace Martin Senior Center.


And Grace Rue (L) with Charles Mason (R)



At UHC Ramseur, meet Wavel Lawson ..


... and Ruby Estridge


... and Becky Bowman



A group shot at Autumn Care of Biscoe - we'll meet group members
individually in future posts.


Here are a couple to start us off - Irene Brewer in action ...


And Marie Crisco (L) with Willie Boddy (R)



The group at Wayne County Services on Aging, led by the lovely Beverly Williams, whose favorite color is, you guessed it!, pink. Can you spot her?


Amelia Sanchez (R) sharing her box story with Mary Taylor (L), a long-time volunteer in the Memory Loss Respite Program known for her dedication and compassion.


Margaret Bell and Bynum Owens hard at work on their art parcels.


And me, sandwiched between Bynum Owens on the left and Hattie Batts on the right.


Looking forward to introducing the faces of Guilford county.