HOLIDAY CHEER
Art brightens spirits at area nursing home
The Hot Springs World Class High School Art Club recently painted holiday artwork on the windows of the two Pines Nursing and Rehabilitation Center buildings.
“It feels amazing because it was a talent and a gift that we were able to provide to the residents of the nursing home. So, it’s very fulfilling for us to be able to go and do that,” Shirley Tipton, the art club’s sponsor, said.
The club decided to do the artwork after being contacted by one of the directors of the nursing home, who asked if the club would like to paint artwork on the two existing buildings to help the activities director.
“When they asked me that, I responded with yes … because I’ve had experiences with my students previously with doing this,” Tipton said.
The club hopes that when the community and residents see the artwork they will see it is more than just fieldwork to them but work from the heart.
Art is important “because it is an absolute expression from your heart,” Tipton said.
When Tipton found out she was not going to be able to do the project as a field trip due to COVID-19 restrictions, she called students and spoke with parents to see if the students would be willing to do their own volunteer free time on a Saturday.
“I let them know up front that this was a lot of work (and) they would have to be transported there.
They would have to follow the safety protocols not only of our district but also of the facility where we were working,” Tipton said.
“I had a wonderful turnout with the parents and the students. Everybody was on board for being able to volunteer their entire day on Saturday to come and do this thing,” she said.
Mia Brey, Art Club president, printed out the designs for the artwork, so they would have the photo references, and packed up the supplies that were going to be needed.
“We had to use expo marks to draw our designs on the windows. Then, later on, we grabbed our paints and began painting,” Brey said.
“I teach my students that volunteerism, that community service, that using your power is a work from God. We should always remember that this was not a gift just in ourselves, but it’s a gift to be shared and it’s the moment that we went, the time that we went out to this nursing home to do this, it became more than just putting designs on the window, it became a gift to the residents that had been quarantined for several months. Our presence there alone was a joy,” Tipton said.
“It was a blessing for that facility. And for that reason, we are blessed and we are eager to continue any chance that we can get in the community to share our talents to show that we are capable of taking that which we have been given by God and turning it into a blessing for those that we live near,” she said.