2009-12-09
Local Senior’s Artwork Chosen for National Calendar
Contact:
Shana Williamson
Engage Life Director
Atria Chandler Villas
480.899.7650
Atria Senior Living 2010 Engage Life® Calendar features resident creations
December 9, 2009, Chandler, Ariz. --- Ed Wittekind has been painting since he was 16 years old. Now, with more than 65 years of artistic experience under his belt, one of his pieces will be enjoyed by thousands of people across the nation.
A resident of Atria Chandler Villas, Wittekind’s acrylic painting titled “Flying High War Plane” will accompany the month of November in Atria Senior Living’s 2010 Engage Life calendar. All artwork in this year’s calendar was created by Atria residents. Over 20,000 calendars have been printed to share with residents, families, staff and friends of the 126 independent and assisted living communities in 27 states.
Wittekind’s painting chosen for Atria’s Engage Life calendar was inspired by his three years of “flying time” in the South Pacific as an Air Force Captain during World War II.
“I wanted to relay some thought of where I was at that time,” said Wittekind. “Another pilot and I flew over where our airfield was, and he took pictures of the plane I was in.”
A seasoned expert, Wittekind earned a Bachelor’s degree from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Unable to find a job in the artistic field, he settled for a job in retail sales after college where he worked for several years. He continued painting and went on to win several awards, including Best of Show. He was once named as one of the top 600 painters by a California newspaper.
“Creative expression is one component of our Engage Life® whole person programming that is offered weekly in each community,” explains Khristine Rogers, Vice President of Active Aging for Atria Senior Living Group. “These beautiful pieces celebrate the talents of our residents. Some of them are lifelong artists and others have found a passion for art later in life, perhaps even while here at Atria.”
Wittekind’s painting and other resident creations featured in Atria’s Engage Life 2010 calendar can be viewed at http://www.atriaseniorliving.com/engage_life.aspx.