Art of Living Exhibit shines spotlight on residents Second annual event packs Dylan Ellis Gallery   Friday June 25, 2010 -- Natalie Hamilton TORONTO - Donning corsages, sipping wine and mingling with family members and staff, residents were in the spotlight during the second annual Art of Living Exhibit opening night reception in Toronto on June 24. Leisureworld rolled out the red carpet to celebrate the physical talents and inner attributes of 27 men and women residing in 23 long-term care and retirement homes across the province. The Timeless Inner Beauty of Age, from June 25 and 26, tells the stories of residents through professional photographs and biographies and also features residents’ poetry, paintings, knitting and sculptures. “It’s just wonderful to see so much talent corralled in a show like this that demonstrates the vitality of the artists who have proudly contributed their work,” Christina Bisanz, CEO of the Ontario Long Term Care Association, told In the News. “It’s delightful Leisureworld has celebrated the artistry and the talent of their residents in this way.” More than a dozen residents attended the packed opening reception at the Dylan Ellis Gallery in the Leaside community, sponsored by Classic Care Pharmacy. Seniors featured in the show wore fuchsia orchid-like corsages and boutonnieres and posed for several photographs with family members and staff. “I’m flattered for one thing,” said Marion Carter, a resident of Leisureworld Caregiving Centre Vaughan. Sporting hand-decorated running shoes, Carter also knits and crochets, with pieces of her work on display at the gallery. She was happy to have her daughter, daughter’s friend and her grandson attend the opening. Her daughter, Marie Monaghan, said the Art of Living Exhibit provides an “exciting” opportunity for her mother. “It’s a confidence-builder,” she says. Leisureworld put a new twist on this year’s event through the theme, The Timeless Inner Beauty of Age. It provided the opportunity to recognize a broader group of residents. “Leisureworld homes were asked to select one resident from their home who they felt best embodied the notion of timeless inner beauty,” said Paul Rushforth, chief operating officer. “They may express their inner beauty through their caring nature, their positive attitude towards life and towards others, or through their artwork, for example. “My colleagues and I have often seen this timeless inner beauty in our Leisureworld residents and through events such as the Art of Living Exhibit," he said. “Our goal is to ensure as many people as possible have the same opportunity to see and experience this inner beauty and to view aging, or growing older, in a new light.” — More to come If you have feedback on this article, e-mail natalie(at)axiomnews.ca or call the newsroom at 800-294-0051.