Wyoming State Agencies Partner with Lifetime Arts to Provide Accessible Creative Aging Programs in Rural Communities

“In rural and frontier communities, Wyoming’s State Library and State Arts Council demonstrated the benefits of cross-sector partnerships in service to older adults. Working together with the Lifetime Arts team, despite the pandemic’s horrific impact, we successfully implemented nearly 20 engaging and accessible creative aging programs.”

Maura O’Malley, CEO/Co-Founder

Lifetime Arts partnered with the Wyoming State Library and Wyoming Arts Council via the Creative Aging in Wyoming Public Libraries Initiative to implement creative aging programming in 23 county libraries throughout the state.

Lifetime Arts trained nearly 100 library programmers and their community teaching artist partners in the delivery of direct and innovative in-person and online programs. To date, 13 of the 23 libraries have implemented 19 creative aging programs that have served nearly 250 older adults. These libraries are developing plans for a second round of programming which will be implemented through December 2022. Browse program highlights below.

Adobe Illustrator, Barnwood, and Plasma-Cut Class

Revisiting previous hobbies and trying something new

This image slideshow video shows participants’ artmaking process during the program, “Adobe Illustrator, Barnwood, and Plasma Class,” taught by Ellen Peterson and offered through the Campbell County Public Library System. Credit: Krisene Watson

In January 2022, teaching artist, Ellen Peterson, taught, “Adobe Illustrator, Barnwood, and Plasma Class,” through the Campbell County Public Library System and Area 59 at the Gillette College Center for Innovation and Fabrication.

During this program, participants created a metal Plasma and laser-cut image on barn wood. They learned to design their art in Adobe Illustrator. Participants shared their final pieces in a culminating gallery with family and friends.

“This class showed [older adult participants] they could still do beautiful work and create items of beauty even at an advanced age. One gentleman had resigned himself to watching TV all day long. His wife noticed his declining mobility and mental acuity. She was desperate to find something that would spark joy for him that he could still do. Working with the wood, something he enjoyed doing in his youth, showed him that he could still do the thing he was good at and enjoyed.”

Krisene Watson, Program Coordinator at Campbell County Public Library System

Acrylic Painting Exploration

The participants are already asking for more

A photo of a group of participants from a program. They are posing for the camera, with paintings hung up on the wall behind them.
A photo of a group of participants painting at a table on small easels.
Participants during the program, “Acrylic Painting Exploration,” taught by Debora Soule and offered at Sweetwater County Library. Credit: Debora Soule

In September 2021, the Sweetwater County Library System offered, “Acrylic Painting Exploration,” over 8 weeks.

Each week, teaching artist, Debra Soule, guided students through an exploration of different techniques and subject matter in a series of small paintings. Participants also learned the importance of composition, used a limited palette of mixed paints to create color harmony, experimented with a variety of brushes and how they can be used to apply color, and practiced on different substrates including canvas paper, smooth hardboard, and canvas panels.

During the culminating event, participant’s work was displayed for family and friends, and participants were given the opportunity to talk about their completed paintings and experiences in the class.

“I really appreciate the dedication of the Lifetime Arts staff in providing help for this program. The class was extremely popular and some of the participants are already asking when the next one will be. In fact, we are considering partnering with the senior center to make these art classes a more permanent feature in the future.”

Alan Vaughn, Program Coordinator at Sweetwater County Library System

Accessible, Meaningful, and Purposeful Photography

“Frame the world in your own way.”

Photo by Rhonda Schmeltzer, Participant

Teaching artist Barrie Lynn Bryant taught the 8-week program “Accessible, Meaningful, and Purposeful Photography,” via the Washakie County Library System in September 2021.

Bryant encouraged students to frame the world in their own way, learning the basic techniques to capturing an engaging photo using their smartphones, tablets, or DSLR camera. He also introduced them to photo editing software like Adobe Lightroom. During the class, participants evaluated their work and engaged in peer discussions. Their final work was displayed in a 2-hour public exhibition at the library.

Participants share their final photos during the culminating exhibition at the Washakie County Library in Worland, WY. Credit: Mandy Weaver

“This week has been the first time I’ve been able to really get out and look at things. I got to tell ya, I look at things I’d like to photograph totally differently with fresh eyes. Thank you. Your class has helped me immensely in bringing this ‘new view’ to places I’ve haunted for years!”

Participant

Responsive Programming Especially Important in Rural Communities

Nathan Majoros, Director of Programs at Lifetime Arts, had this to share about the work:

“For me, the joy has been to see these programs take off, and to see the librarians’ ingenuity in developing programs that are responsive to their communities’ needs. It has been a great learning experience for us to further see how programs in rural Wyoming communities can work, particularly in identifying teaching artists or adapting the program format to meet their needs. And, as always, it’s been a really wonderful partnership with the state library and arts council.”