Bartlett Centenarian Makes Artistic Debut at Arts in Bartlett

If you think you’re too old to try something new, then you’ll think again when you meet Victory Centre of Bartlett resident, Helen Frank. At age 96, Helen began creating fine art for the very first time in her life, and now, at 100 years old, she will host her first solo art exhibit, an honor for any accomplished artist, at Arts in Bartlett.

The exhibit, aptly named, “Hundred Year Blossoms,” is on display and open to the public August 15 through October 27 at Arts in Bartlett, 215 S. Main Street, Bartlett, IL. The opening reception will be held Sunday, Aug. 15, from 2 to 4pm. Fifty-seven pieces of Helen’s abstract collages are showcased and available for purchase.

Growing up one of nine children, early in life Helen exhibited a “magic touch” for succeeding at creative endeavors. “Somehow things just magically turned out better than expected,” said Helen. From making paper dolls to clothes to holiday crafts, the results were consistently above par. The same is true today at age 100 with Helen’s artistic talent blooming well beyond anyone’s expectations later in life!

“She is a genius with colors,” says Sigrid Wonsil, the volunteer art instructor who discovered and helped hone Helen’s talent and is now a close friend. Every Thursday, Sigrid, an art teacher at Elgin Community College since 1997, hosts an art class at Victory Centre of Bartlett, where Helen lives. Always one to try new things, just four years ago Helen told Sigrid, “I don’t know anything about art, but I want to learn.”

Helen’s “magic touch” quickly revealed itself much to Sigrid’s surprise. “Helen has a real design awareness and intuitive sense of color and texture,” Sigrid said. “I think she was born with it and, a hundred years later, finally found an outlet in which her talent can shine.”

Under Sigrid’s guidance, Helen, who had no prior formal art instruction, learned color theory, mixing primary, secondary, and complementary colors. She started creating collages on recycled paper and advanced to creating original paintings using multiple layers of acrylic paint on paper and canvas to create shimmering textured layers of color.

“Creating makes me feel great!” said Helen, who despite her arthritis, opens her own jars and tubes of paint to keep creating. Helen explained her process: “I look at a piece and wonder ‘How can I blend all of these colors?’ Suddenly, my mind just snaps. I pick a color and another color and roll them out with my little rollers. Sometimes I use my hands and fingers to change the pattern. I love every minute of it.”

Sigrid says that Helen has “a fire in her belly,” which roared during the pandemic when she created a prolific amount of work. She spent countless hours rolling out various hues of acrylic paint over paper and canvas. She produced six canvases and filled three 50-page albums with her color and texture designs.

“Thank goodness for Sig for bringing me art materials and calling every week to check in on me and my work,” said Helen, who looks forward to attending her artist’s reception. “The exhibit is a great honor to both of us.”

About Victory Centre of Bartlett

Victory Centre of Bartlett, located at 1101 W. Bartlett Road, Bartlett, IL, is a community featuring 104 supportive living apartments for adults 65 and over and 104 independent living apartments for adults 55 and over. Residents at Victory Centre of Bartlett are older adults who are excited about life and the path ahead. People are celebrating the phase of life that offers them the freedom to live to the fullest and find a reason to celebrate – every day. Visit the website here.

About Pathway to Living

Founded in 1997, Pathway to Living is a Chicago-based developer, owner and operator of seniors housing. The company’s portfolio includes a wide range of community types – senior apartments, independent living, assisted living and memory support – spanning 49 properties (including communities under development) in Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Florida. Pathway to Living is owned by Waterton, a Chicago-based real estate investor and operator with real estate assets under management totaling $7.6 billion as of March 31, 2021. For more information, please visit www.pathwaytoliving.com and www.waterton.com.

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