Ageless Art
Beacon Hill Residents' ArtPrize Entry
This collaborative art project brings together Beacon Hill artists, ages 75-100, in a shared journey of learning, growth, and creative exploration. By encouraging and supporting one another, we have challenged ourselves to step beyond our comfort zones. expand our horizons and embrace new artistic possibilities.
Visit the Monroe Community Church to see the art on display and explore below to find out more about our talented artists.
Art Location:
Monroe Community Church
1020 Monroe Ave. NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Vote code: #52822
Vote for your favorite ARTPRIZE artists online.
hint… hint… Residents of Beacon Hill – #52822
**Voting page not open until September 18th!
2 & 5 of 8
This is John and Abi. My goal this year is to do a colored pencil portrait of all eight of my beautiful grandchildren.
Working with colored pencils is a slow, rewarding art process that relies on layering, blending, and light pressure to build rich color and depth on paper.
Gretchen Whitford
Age 85
Silent Messages
Over the years, I have done several arts and crafts. What drew me to charcoal was the vibrant colors in the pictures and the black and white pictures make a statement
I created Five Cardinals to capture a simple moment in nature. Cardinals have always stood out to me because of their bright color and pleasant sounds they sing. Seeing several together gives me a feeling of family and belonging.
It has been said when a cardinal is seen, a loved one is nearby. That is comforting for me. Through this painting, I want to capture not just five birds, but the emotions they inspire. They are a symbol of hope, joy and memories.
Barb Toigo
Age 82
Chickadee
I have always loved feeding and observing birds. Chickadees are my favorite. They seem to be associated with happiness, optimism and friendliness. Seeing a chickadee reminds us that joy can be found in the quietest, simplest moments.
“Be as a bird perched on a frail branch that she feels bending beneath her; still, she sings all the same, knowing she has wings.” Victor Hugo
I hope you like my chickadee-
Betty Neary
Age 83
Elstead Remembered
In the 1980’s, our family traveled to England. We were privileged to stay in the home of my English cousin, who was a most kind and wonderful lady. The house was in the small, quaint village of Ivor, in Buckinghamshire, near Windsor Castle. The house was built of brick, not large but utterly charming. Off the living room was an enclosed glass porch, where in summer the doors were usually wide open. There was a lovely well-tended garden and beyond that, the community cricket park! All the housed in the village had names as part of their addresses, her was named Elstead. Though “progress” since then has severely encroached—with a superhighway built nearby and being on the flight path for Heathrow Airport. However, this piece represents to me, what Elstead will always be, a beautiful place, a place of serenity, peace and lasting memory.
Harlene Gedris
Age 90
A Mother’s Love
My watercolor painting of our granddaughter cuddling our great-granddaughter reminds us that love is passed down through every hug, every word, and every kiss.
Joan Solberg
Age 84
Teapot with flower
I chose to paint this teapot because it was a gift from my very best friend many years ago. She is gone now but every time I catch a glance of this teapot I think of her and the chats we enjoyed together with a cup of tea all those years ago.
Gerry Reed
Age 100
Beautiful Barlow
For the last several years since moving to Beacon Hill I have so enjoyed my weekly watercolor classes. My daughter sent me a photo of my grandson fishing at the end of our dock on Barlow Lake. I was inspired to paint this beautiful scene.
Marilyn McDonald
Age 83
Mercy
I’ve had 3 mentors who have been an influence in my artistic endeavors. I wonder if they realize the difference they have made in my life by listening and sharing their creativeness to others and myself. It took me three attempts to complete this work before reaching satisfaction. My work is completely done by hand, the drawing, the printing, the spacing, the watercolor and the gold leaf. I pray you find some piece of it inspiring. The quote is from Shakespeare’s play “The Merchant of Vencie” act 4. God Bless.
Anita Carter
Age 95
Tribute
Meijer Garden, an exquisite gift to Grand Rapids, has been a source for wonderful memories. I think especially about the enjoyment with my grandchildren; watching them try to roll “straight” down the hill behind the horse, sailing their boats in the Children’s Garden, sitting for an hour waiting for a butterfly to emerge from its wiggling cocoon, dancing with total abandon under the sculpture Aria. I remember the long, long lines waiting for a whiff of the “stinky plant.” And then there is the magic of the Christmas trees and the beloved train. How could I forget my mom’s last visit to Grand Rapids as we pondered the Japanese Garden construction. We never could have imagined its ultimate beauty. My watercolor is a tribute to memories. My daughter, Emilie, and I discovered this view of Chihuly Balls in Water in the Japanese Garden Spring of 2026.
Nancy Smtih
Age 84
Paws in the Pines
My work explores the raw, untamed essence of the forest through the symbolic figure of the bear. In pieces like Paws in the Pines, I capture the duality of nature—the bear’s massive strength and ability to destroy, contrasted with its gentle, sauntering power. I use rich, warm tones and buzzing textures to evoke the life-giving energy of a large sun feeding the forest. The compositions incorporate structural elements, like a hidden green gem for a touch of unexpected brilliance, and zig-zag line work that traces the animal’s unpredictable movement through the trees. Ultimately, my art honors the deep interconnectedness of the wilderness, where vital tree bark sustains habitats and wildlife. I invite viewers to connect with a primal message of resilience: to live, endure, and survive.
Carol Hagadorn
Age 89
Musical Joy
Since the age of five, singing in a choir brought joy into my life. As I matured, instrumental music study provided an introduction to music theory and an appreciation of types of musical performances. Symphonies, operas and famous compositions from various eras entered my life. Music is a universal language that can bring a new dimension of pleasure into life. There is something for everyone. What joy!
Marcia Baker
Age 84
Where Light Rests
This piece is rooted in noticing the quiet beauty of everyday life. It began in my daughter’s kitchen, where a handmade clay bowl and a few resting oranges caught the soft afternoon light. What struck me was the stillness, and how their presence — imperfect and unarranged — reminded me how much joy lives in ordinary moments.
Linda A. Smith
Age 82
Support From Friends
The oldest woman of our group reminds us that it is never too late to learn. My challenge this year is calligraphy. This quote by Margaret Mead has been on my desk for many years. It has encouraged me through many personal struggles as well as political upheavals. It is a reminder that there are other people to share beliefs and be a support.
I wrote the quote with a 3/4-inch nib and black gouache. The border is colored pencils.
Hope Bradley
Age 75
Colors
I like working with my colored pencils. For many years, I was a preschool teacher and a Sunday school teacher. I spent a lot of time helping my students with their art projects, and since I retired, I have enjoyed having the time to focus on my own art.
I joined the art group at Beacon Hill because I enjoy making art and the community of others. We get together to sit, support each other, and enjoy being friends. Being part of this group is one of my favorite things about Beacon Hill.
It is peaceful to sit and focus on a page until it is finished. The best part is the time I spend creating and sharing that space with the people around me. Even when I find it difficult to find the right words, I feel very connected to everyone here. As I navigate changes in my memory, this creative practice has become a meaningful way for me to stay present, centered, and connected. I am very happy to share my artwork with you.
Susie Neckers
Age
“This is my Father’s World”
“This is my Father’s World” is a song we often sang in our school which originated as a one-room school in the basement of Goshen Christian Reformed Church. After the completion of the new church, the school moved upstairs into two rooms with two teachers. There were many such Christian schools scattered across the US. The church in my artwork looks much like my school.
I grew up on a farm that was bordered on 3 sides by a forest, the Wallkill River and a babbling brook that made its way down a steep hill from the forest into the river. Orange County (NY) bought the 3 farms at the end of our lane and converted them into a ski resort. We took hay down off the hill on which the county staged its main ski slope. ( There were challenging hay removal rides and some treacherous sled rides down that hill.) We had the moguls too. (My dad said he rode “dipsy-doodle” with one foot on the tractor upper wheel cover. He figured he could afford to lose the tractor but not his life – 3 tractor deaths in our church.) On our own property my brothers could hunt, trap and fish. Also, they found golf balls in the river and arrow heads down by the river where Indians must have camped. Surely, we had good reason to sing, “This is my Father’s World”.
I am 84 years old. I am a self-taught seamstress as my mother didn’t sew beyond mending and some pillowcase embroidery. I began to sew seriously when my husband gave me a sewing machine for my 24th birthday. I bought a pattern and material and taught myself to sew. When we moved to Michigan, I bought an embroidery sewing machine and began making pictures using purchased machine-embroidery designs. Then, when I moved into Beacon Hill, I noticed I have a 22-inch wall outside my apartment – just big enough for a quilt. With the help of some books and classes, I began making quilts featuring machine embroidery. So far, I have 13 quilts which alternate on the wall outside my apartment.
Jan Jaarsma
Age 84
Heaven Touching Earth with Rest
I took this photograph from the patio of our Lake Michigan cottage. This photo brings back many wonderful memories of sharing sunsets with family and friends.
One of my most heartfelt and cherished memories is that of my young grandson regularly taking his father (my son) to a favorite viewpoint to watch the sunset together. “Come on Dad! The sun is going to set!”
Mary Monsma
Age 88
In Remembrance
In researching whether Poppies came in other colors than red, I found out they came in purple.
The purple Poppy is in remembrance of all the animals lost in service. This is so fitting, because I come from a veterinarian family.
I think back to all the animals that my Dad, then my brother and now my nephew have cared for and continue caring for. They might not have been service animals, but they were a service to all the animal lovers that owned them. That is why I feel these purple Poppies should be in remembrance of these animals, too.
Marian Siegle
Age 84
Reeds Lake
Painting a view of Reeds Lake made me realize how much I appreciated its natural beauty and versatility. I have walked around the lake many times in the past and always came home feeling relaxed. How fortunate we are to “have it all” within our reach.
Rita Manor
Age 93
The Essence of Tea
After graduation from college I had one role, teacher of the blind…
Later in life, expanded to the roles of wife, Mother, caretaker, as well as working a 40 plus hours week, in pharmaceutical sales. After retirement I developed an interest in tea from the Asian perspective. I researched tea thru reading, traveling to China and Vietnam, taking courses in the proper brewing of all varietals of tea and lastly a class in the Japanese tea ceremony.
During further travels in retirement, I recognized the challenges thru out the world of women fulfilling many roles while being the major breadwinner.
I painted this woman from India out of my love for tea and respect for her personal struggle to provide for her family.
Jodi Elsen
Age 78
Model 589-Peterbilt
This truck represents a lifelong interest in working with wood. While in high school, I built a desk and headboard for my bed. With the advent of marriage and children arriving, I made a doll house, wooden play kitchen with a stove and sink, a jungle gym in the backyard and a go-cart with an electric motor. Hope chests, wooden bowls and cutting boards were made to commemorate special occasions. My effort to recognize accomplishments of my grandchildren and great-grandchildren are now the focus of my hobby.
Bruce MacDonald
Age 88
About the Instructor - Jennifer Helner
Jennifer is an art instructor in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where she teaches watercolor, drawing, pastels, creative hand lettering, and traditional calligraphy and offers workshops on matting and custom framing at her studio, Scripted Expressions, and at various art centers in Michigan. She passionately instructs special needs children and adults with Artists Creating Together (ACT), a West Michigan non-profit. In addition, you will find Jennifer sharing her love for art with a warm smile at various retirement communities in the Grand Rapids area.
Beacon Hill at Eastgate is a distinctive, not-for-profit retirement community located in Grand Rapids’ Eastgate neighborhood. Our diverse community of residents, staff, and guests are welcomed into a gracious space of connection and care. Our unsurpassed amenities, world-class cuisine, beautifully appointed interiors, and state-of-the-art facilities help us deliver a new standard in senior living.
