Art for Life classes offered at local senior center
Students Mary, Sue and Paula, participate in POAC’s Art for Life program that teaches seniors a variety of art styles and media at Sandpoint Area Seniors, Inc.
Courtesy photo
Pend Oreille Arts Council’s Art for Life classes started during the pandemic as a way to encourage seniors to keep a positive outlook while utilizing their creative talents to learn new skills.
Since then, the program has expanded its instruction to include a diverse array of artistic media. Held at the Sandpoint Area Seniors, Inc. facility, participants don’t need any expertise, just a desire to learn techniques and to create art projects.
Classes are taught by Carol Kovalchuk, who is not only an exceptional and experienced instructor, but is also a gifted artist in her own right. Those who choose to participate in these classes that are held every Wednesday from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. can sign up at the Senior Center.
“We have a sign-up sheet at the senior center with a description of the class and an example or picture of examples,” she said. She also said that they can accommodate ten students in each class.
Kovalchuk said that she teaches all media including pastels, sculpture, painting, printmaking and book binding. “Some projects take one class to complete, and others may take the entire month. Each month is a new medium.”
POAC provides most of the materials for the classes, with Kovalchuk dipping into her private stash for some as well. There is no charge, however all donations received are given to the senior center for providing the space.
“I love teaching art to people regardless of age,” she said. “It’s rewarding for them when they are amazed with their final product and for me when they see what they have accomplished.”
Pend Oreille Arts Council is a not-for-profit organization that, besides offering art classes to seniors, also has an in-school, hands-on art program for elementary school students grades three to six called Kaleidoscope. POAC also offers additional programs, Expressions for teen students and art classes for adults through the Joyce Dillon Studio.
For more information about POAC’s activities go to www.artinsandpoint.org. Or stop by the POAC Gallery at 313 N. Second Avenue in downtown Sandpoint.