Residents at United Active Living communities are endlessly creative, supported by the professional artists and art studios in the two communities. On display in the Fish Creek community art gallery is a new group exhibition by seven artists, entitled “Inquisitive Minds”.
United’s art galleries exhibit work by residents who are inspired by the world around them, and by the work of other residents. The focus is on stimulating the mind, to play on a person’s urge to be creative. Each of the artists expresses creativity in a unique manner. From light and buoyant to deep and introspective, each piece in the exhibition reflects the mood of the artist and is a real testament to the creativity residents can express at any age.
Gail Hinchliffe, United Active Living president said that residents often find inspiration from the various forms of art on display in the communities. “Our residents really enjoy living with art and get a lot of inspiration from exposure to the work that each of them create. Creativity never gets old!”
Hugh Kuwahara, 102, has created more than a dozen paintings. Two on display in the gallery express his love for mountains, lakes and gardens. “The Takata Gardens in Victoria was the first Japanese Tea Garden in North America,” said Hugh. “I painted this from a photograph taken in 1941. I like to be as realistic as possible.” Which shows in the fine details he strives to reproduce in every work of art.
Wendy Martin, who loves to work with quilts and other fabrics, collaborated with some 20 other residents to create a balloon-filled sky quilt. “Each artist was inspired by the sky and cloud fabric to paint balloons on fabric, which were then stitched individually onto the background, ” said Wendy. “It was very inspirational to see the range of styles brought to the piece by each artist.”
Hertha Reich, with her vibrant colours, Betty Earle, who took on a new challenge with her piece, Andy Powell, whose every keystroke was meticulously thought out, Virginia Stewart who expanded her creative side from poetry to painting, and Hugh’s wife Kay, who enjoys exploring nature in her work, rounded out the resident artists on display in the gallery.
Combined with the art exhibition was an evening of readings from the writer’s corner, a group of residents that meets weekly.
Wendy Martin, along with Virginia Stewart presented a collaborative piece. Wendy also read a poem, inspired by the inspiration provided by the writers corner.
“Yesterday like money spent is past recall
Those days are gone beyond time’s wall
Tomorrow makes no promise for it’s never here
Plans we make may not appear
Today is now, with family and friends
With beauty on earth which never ends
We are blessed to have this world in which to dwell
and rich are those who use it well.”
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A sculpted silver-coloured sphere – part of artist Tony Bloom’s Landbuoys collection – now rests in the freshly finished main courtyard. And what’s fascinating is that the different surfaces produce different sounds, inviting visitors to exercise their “inner drummers”. The artwork is defined as “audible” sculptures.
Along with the Landbuoy, United has installed several large, steel pine cones as part of the courtyard’s unique collection of artwork. The pine cones were made by artist Floyd Elzinga and are a fitting tribute to the large pine trees that dot nearby Fish Creek Park, the largest urban park in Canada. And while they aren’t designed to be played, touching and moving them is encouraged.
The two artworks join a 3,500 lb. 
