Deb Cwynar Miller moved to Winter Garden a couple of years ago, hoping to start a new phase of her life in Winter Garden.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFinding friends when you move to a new area can be challenging,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Thankfully, Miller met a Healthy West Orange employee who introduced her to the Vibrant community.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After learning about the organization, Miller decided to attend a couple of creative aging classes at Vibrant in partnership with the Winter Garden Art Association and fell in love.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cArts are really important to me,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019m not an artist, though I\u2019d love to be one, so it\u2019s really neat to be exposed to various techniques of things.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She was able to find an environment to practice her art \u2014 a safe place with people just like her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe just laugh so much about silly things,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s a feel-good community.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Like Miller, many adults 55 and older are trying to find a place to fit in, and often, art can be the activity that brings them together through partnership, creativity and freedom.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In March, the Winter Garden Art Association received a $5,000 grant from the United Arts of Central Florida to fund the partnership between the association and Vibrant.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This is part of a bigger initiative the United Arts of Central Florida is funding: bringing non-art organizations together with art organizations to integrate arts into every day lives.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elyse Jardino, senior director of community outreach for United Arts of Central Florida, said the Winter Garden Art Association was chosen because of the work it is doing with the aging population.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe panelists really enjoyed the fact that they were working with an aging population, that it was addressing social isolation and investing in creativity and social connection leading to a sense of belonging and positive-like emotional and wellbeing-health outcomes,\u201d Jardino explained. \u201cArt is built into how people learn, heal and connect. It\u2019s not an add on.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The partnership<\/p>\n
Foundation for a Healthier West Orange\u2019s Vibrant Program and the Winter Garden Art Association both are delighted by this partnership.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Anna Zucker, the art association\u2019s executive director, said this partnership helps people find a sense of belonging.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of people 55-plus are feeling lonely and a little depressed,\u201d she said. \u201cBeing in a creative environment improves their mental health, reduces stress (and) increases cognitive abilities. It\u2019s also good for mingling, for a feeling of belonging and finding people with similar interests. \u2026 It makes me really happy that we can provide this to our community, to help the community thrive.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Art classes, or Technique Tuesdays, take place the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month at 1200 E. Plant St., Winter Garden, where Vibrant members and interested community members can come together to enjoy the arts while making meaningful connections.\u00a0<\/p>\n
With the $5,000 grant, the art association pays its artists for classes and purchases required materials, while Vibrant provides the space.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Each class varies by teacher, with new and unique techniques to be taught at every one.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Allyson Bode, who is an artist and a teacher at the SOBO Art Gallery, has found tremendous success in her classes and in inspiring the Vibrant community to be creative and produce art.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI get to see adults learn how to play again,\u201d she said. \u201cThat\u2019s the most rewarding part of it all. I\u2019m helping them understand that they don\u2019t need to be seasoned artists to take these classes, that they don\u2019t need to be extremely skilled to do these techniques. They just have to show up and have an open mind.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
For Miller, Bode has been a blessing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Miller said she\u2019s enjoyed every class Bode has taught and leaves each class with a sense of accomplishment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAny program, any amount of gathering together is good for the heart and soul and mind, but when you have quality instructors like this, it\u2019s truly amazing,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Perfectionism is a struggle for many, including Miller. Through these art programs, she has learned there is value in \u201cgood enough,\u201d and perfection doesn\u2019t exist.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s just a lot of freedom in the classes to learn and do, and it\u2019s interesting to see people take things away from them, too,\u201d she said. \u201cI learned to value seeing how other people decipher messages. \u2026 I find it adds culture to my life and I appreciate that 100%.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
To Miller, this partnership not only allows her to expand on her love for the arts, but it also allows her to find friends, community and create memories that will last a lifetime.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sarah Coggshall, a Vibrant member and program coordinator, said this partnership has truly made a difference in the community she serves.<\/p>\n
She said one of the pillars Vibrant wanted to focus on was arts and culture, and through this partnership, they\u2019ve done just that.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s common after class to see (members) excited about the artwork that they\u2019ve done,\u201d she said. \u201cThey\u2019re just really happy and excited about being able to learn different types of techniques and just seem very appreciative that this is something that we\u2019re able to offer to them. It makes my heart happy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Trying to stay at a low budget to continue funding as many classes as possible, Bode teaches her students art can be beautiful, even if all you have is a piece of paper and pencil.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThese people then can go back home and they don\u2019t have to break the bank going and getting their own water colors or papers,\u201d she said. \u201cIf they want to take what they learn back home with them, then they\u2019re not as intimidated.\u201d<\/p>\n
The future\u00a0<\/p>\n
The hope is to continue funding these classes to bring the art sector and the health sector together and continue providing maturing adults with socialization, friendships and a whole lot of laughter.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will be looking for ways we can raise more money to keep doing this,\u201d Zucker said. \u201cWe see the difference we make in people\u2019s lives, and we really want to continue to make that difference.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
And the feeling is mutual.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve had so many people tell me that these classes are the highlight of their week,\u201d Bode said. \u201cVibrant members are coming up to and telling me that they\u2019re taking so many more classes than just Technique Tuesdays. They\u2019re essentially planning their weeks around these classes, because they\u2019re coming in every single day, building friendships, getting their bodies healthy, getting their minds healthy.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
This partnership just makes sense, Coggshall said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even when the funds from the grant run out, it won\u2019t be the end of the partnership.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe would definitely look to partnering with Winter Garden Art Association again and apply for another grant so that we can continue this partnership,\u201d Coggshall said. \u201cIt\u2019s important.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
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