A wine and cheese reception will take place for the opening of a new art exhibit at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 13, in the Narrow Gallery, at the Oak Park Arms, 408 S. Oak Park Ave. The exhibit can be viewed daily from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. until Sunday, Dec. 1, 2013.
The exhibit features the work of Shirley Sirefman and her daughter Marion.
Raised in New York, Marion has been interested and immersed in art since a neighbor gave her a drawing kit in childhood. She loved the sense of power she felt from creating whatever she wanted, and she went on to study at the High School of Music and Art, a magnet school in New York City. She then received her B.F.A. with a concentration on painting and graphics from the University of Chicago.
Living in Spain for a year and spending two years in Berkeley, CA, exposed Marion to rolling hills and a lot of nature – a stark contrast from the flatness of the Midwest and the skyscrapers of New York. This is reflected in her art which is often organic and landscape-like.
A resident of the Oak Park Arms, Shirley, 92, had never shown any interest or ability in art. She was in her late 70s when she took her first art class, and it turned out she had a great ability to copy complex compositions. Combined with her patience for detail, she has the ability to capture the essence of a picture.
She has since been developing and strengthening her new skill, joking that her daughter’s talent has rubbed off on her.
“My mother’s newfound interest in art has become one more way for us to bond,” Marion said. “This art show is really something special for us, and we’re thrilled to be able to share it with everyone.”
Today, Marion works with acrylic painting, watercolor and decorative paper collage. Shirley’s focus is on pencil drawings, both black and white and in color.
Recently retired, Marion devotes much more time and energy to her artwork, striving to convey a sense of fluidity, beauty and mystery in her creations. She lives in Oak Park with her husband. They have two grown children and three granddaughters.
Oak Park Arms Senior Living is a rental retirement community which provides senior housing in the form of independent living. Furnished apartments are also available for a short-term stay – a weekend, a week, a month or longer.
The reception is free and open to the public. For more information call 708-386-4040.
