Art and Poetry, by Sheila Benedis

Diversity Collage

Two Worlds

Inner world

Inspired by democracy                                        

compassion for oppressed

lightness of peace and hope

life fragile and precious

                    

outer world

devastated by autocracy

darkness of war

precarious safety and health

innocent people in fear

 

Inner world

calm peaceful

place to create art

outer world

chaos and terror

 

Inner world

texture and movement of natural organic shapes

bright cheerful colors

soothing sound of grateful clouds

fragrant flowers

taste of honey

                                   

outer world

jagged geometric shapes

harsh colors

shrill sound of loud thunder

smell of rotten eggs

taste of bitterness

 

entrance to my apartment

welcoming oasis of joy and excitement

other apartments

more neutral

 

may I feel my inner beauty

may my creativity uplift the outer world

 

 

In and Around Kendal

A Great Reason to Celebrate

Great to have friends around to celebrate a birthday. Happy Birthday, Barbara!

It’s a Puzzlement

All 4 houses have puzzle tables. On January 29—which just happened to be National Puzzle Day—Ellen Ottstadt presented each house—and the Lounge—with a special Kendal puzzle.

Robert Fulton puzzlers were the first to finish, followed closely by Clermont and folks in the Lounge. Any news from Alida and/or Mary Powell?

And speaking of Robert Fulton puzzlers, January marked the finish of a 2,000-piece behemoth!

Photo by Joe Bruno

Sunset on the Hudson

Photo by Cynthia Ferguson

Winter in Rockwood

Winter Under the Bridge

Evening Repast

Photos by Edward Kasinec

Out and About

This picture may not look like something very exciting, but it represents something quite meaningful for Kendalites. These 14 bags are filled with softly used clothing donated by residents and picked up by GreenDrop, which currently works — in our area — with the Military Order of the Purple Heart Foundation to benefit families of military service members. 

Photo by Joe Bruno

This is a Kendal tradition that is sadly fading. Before the Covid pandemic, several major seasonal drives yielded some 50 bags and boxes each. A pool of residents worked together to sort, box-up, and transport them to local churches and charities that gave clothing directly to indigent residents.

Sadly, the amazing resident who led the whole thing can no longer do so.

This is the perfect opportunity for someone with good organizational skills — or so-so organizational skills but knows someone to partner with — to say, “This is important. We can reorganize and set this up again!” Think about it . . . It’s the Kendal Way.

The New Winter Art Show

The new art show on Rue des Artistes,Winter Dreams, features 80 pieces of art, including oil, water color, collage, pen and ink, photography, sculpture, jewelry, clay, felt, and construction. Wander at will — don’t miss the vitrine in the area right before the bridge to Clermont — and enjoy! Art Brady, as you can see, was busy at the opening reception with pictures of artists and their work.

Photos by Art Brady

Coming Up This Week

Monday, February 5: Memorial Service Postponed

The Loss Committee is sad to announce the Memorial Service scheduled for Monday, February 5, is postponed due to extenuating circumstances. A new date will be scheduled in March with the date announced in Spotlight and on Bulletin Boards.

Wednesday, February 7: Low Vision Help Committee

Music to Their Ears?

Actual Quotes from Grade School Essays on Classical Music 

A Virtuoso is a musician with real high morals

Agnus Dei was a woman composer famous for her church music.

Refrain means don't do it. A refrain in music is the part you better not try to sing.

J.S. Bach died from 1750 to the present.

Handel was half German, half Italian, and half English. He was rather large.

Beethoven wrote music even though he was deaf. He was so deaf he wrote loud music. He took long walks in the forest even when everyone was calling him. I guess he could not hear so good. Beethoven expired in 1827 and later died from this.

Henry Purcell is a well-known composer few people have ever heard of.

Aaron Copland is one of our most famous contemporary composers. It is unusal to be contemporary. Most composers do not live until they are dead.

An opera is a song of bigly size.

In the last scene of Pagliacci, Canio stabs Nedda who is the one he really loves. Pretty soon Silvio gets stabbed also and they all live happily ever after.

Music sung by two people at the same time is called a duel.

I know what a sextet is, but I'd rather not say.

Caruso was at first an Italian. Then someone heard his voice and said he would go a long way. And so he came to America.

Most authorities agree that music of antiquity was written long ago.

Probably the most marvelous fugue was the one between the Hatfields and the McCoys.

My favorite composer is Opus.

A harp is a nude piano.

My very best liked piece is the Bronze Lullaby.

Contributed by Cathie Campbell

Life Imitates Art . . .

Years ago, Barbara Bettigole’s grandson Alex started a graphic novel about a Wild Boy who had adventures in the wilderness. His son Sam decided to reproduce one of the panels.

All in the Family

Rochester Institute of Technology’s (RIT’s) mascot is Bengal Tiger named RITchie. He’s also Cynthia Ferguson’s grandson Aidan Ferguson, now in his first year at RIT.  Aidan hails from of Mt. Kisco and went to Fox Lane, where his coach just happened to be one Andrew Giuliano. If that name sounds familiar, that’s because he just happens to be our own Briana’s husband. Circles within circles . . .

The orange one’s Aidan . . .

Art by Hart

The Hapgood women had never been noted for flexibility

kducus5788hhui met the beauty standard on Mars, but Earthlings found her strange-looking

Mr. Terwilliger had way more tick birds than ticks

Boyle found that smoked salmon did the work of a toupee, without the stigma

The Mishkins had a lot to think about

Art and photos by Jane Hart

Need a Lift? Kendal Transportation Announces Evening Hours

Good news for February! Starting Wednesday, February 7, and every other Wednesday, a driver will be at your service until 9:00 pm. This is in addition to Kendal’s Tuesday and Thursday evening hours.

A registration sheet for Wednesday evening transportation will be added to the sign-up book at the front desk.

Remember, the dates for next month are February 7 and February 21.

Robert Burns Night

Art by Jane Hart

‘Twas January 25 and all were assembled for a festive evening of poetry, music . . . and shortbreads! It was Robert Burns Night, fast becoming a popular annual event at Kendal on Hudson. Burns’ poetry was read — in English and Scots. The audience had a role, as well: singing the songs of long ago — all from Burns’ pen.

Master of Ceremonies (and the force behind the evening)

The Leaders O’ the Singin’

The Musicians

Photos by Art Brady

Two New Art Classes Coming Up

Paul Jeffries Returns for Watercolor Class

Paul Jeffries — art teacher extraordinare — is coming back! He’ll be teaching a watercolor course focusing on landscapes. Paul’s classes have been universally popular at Kendal. His warm, personal, and open approach to art creates a supportive, fun atmosphere, whatever your level.

Beginners are welcome.

Thursdays

February 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, and March 7

10:00 am — 12:00 noon

in the Art Studio

Make checks in the amount of $90 payable to KoH Residents Association, write “Jeffries Class” on the memo line, and deposit in Lynn Brady’s cubby 3101.

Any questions? Call Lynn, X 1877.

Collage Course Coming!

Collage, from the French, means “to glue.” Rather basic. However the art of collage is a technique of composing an artwork by gluing a wide range of materials — including pieces of paper, fabric, newspaper clippings, and sometimes readymade objects — to a surface. And starting February 7, BirgittaHockstader is offering a course in collage. A couple of examples below. Want more? Check out the collage in the new Winter Art Show, starting Wednesday, January 31 in the Res des Artistes.

Interested?

Wednesday, February 7, 14, 21, and 28

10:00 am to 12:00 noon

in the Art Studio.

NOTE: The class is limited to 8 participants on a first-come first-served basis.

Beginners are welcome.

To register and ask questions, call X 1599 or email geets34@aol.com

And Speaking of Art . . .

Also Coming Up This Week . . .

Back Pain Discussion

Got back pain? Join the discussion!

Wednesday, January 31

10-11 am

Gathering Room

HealthPRO Heritage will lead an interactive discussion about common back pain and the therapy for treating these conditions.

And In February Around and About

In Croton-on-the Hudson

Teatown Lake Reservation’s 20th annual Hudson River EagleFest, the annual festival celebrating the once endangered bald eagle’s winter migration to the Hudson River, will return to

Croton Point Park, 1 Croton Point Avenue, Croton-on-Hudson

Saturday, February 3 from 9 am to 4 pm

(Snow date: Sunday, February 4)

The event features live bird shows, high-lighting birds of prey, bird spotting walks, educational programming, exhibits, crafts and games for children all in heated tents, plus food trucks.

Advance purchase tickets are $35 for adults (ages 12-plus), $20 for children (3-11), and free for children 3 and under.

To purchase tickets, visit: teatown.org/eaglefest.

Prices are higher “at the door.” Teatown members receive discounts.

Attendees are reminded to dress for the weather.

At the Pocantico Center, Tarrytown

The Pocantico Center is located at 200 Lake Rd, Tarrytown, NY. For further information on these and other exhibits, go to: www.rbf.org/pocantico

© Kendal on Hudson Residents Association 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 all rights reserved.  Please do not reproduce without permission.

Photographs of life at Kendal on Hudson are by residents.