Jubilation home to Fredericksburg’s newest art gallery

If you feel like you are visiting an art gallery when you walk through Jubilation by Silver Companies in Fredericksburg, Virginia, it’s because you are.

One of the latest additions to the vast array of amenities at the active adult community is a Members Art Gallery built and designed by member Dick Durst with inspiration from the community’s general manager.

The community has been growing and meeting the evolving desires of its members since the community opened its doors in November 2021.

Shane Gabis, general manager, holds monthly town hall-style meetings and takes the members’ suggestions to heart. The art gallery is an example of an idea that became reality. And it’s just the latest in a long list of amenities, clubs and activities spearheaded by the members. The gallery and the contributed art in it, speak to the intellectual culture at Jubilation.

“Anything is possible,” says Shane. “We’re celebrating individuals and their talents by displaying the art created here at our community.”

Dick recalls a phone call in early spring when he was away from Jubilation and being told he may have just been volunteered to design and help build an art gallery.

“There was a member meeting and someone said it sure would be nice if we had a place we could hang some art work done by the members. And maybe we could have someone in the woodshop design or build it,” Dick said.

Dick is an active woodworker and helped train members interested in using the woodworking shop at Jubilation so this art gallery assignment was right up his alley.

Members showcase art and talent every day

One of the artists with work in the initial rotation in the newly opened gallery is Jubilation member Mary Symanski.

She moved to Fredericksburg 11 years ago because of it’s a great town for art. Mary is a painter and part of the art club since moving to Jubilation with her husband in July 2022.

Mary said she meets other art club members to paint and to share art. Now they have a special place it can be displayed with the new art wall/gallery.

“They asked me if I would put some items on the wall. I have a couple up there,” she said. “There are people who are artists in the building.”

For Mary, she enjoys painting animals, birds, landscapes and flowers. She has yet to do a portrait but may take it on one day. “You never know,” she quipped.

Mary loves to paint and can spend hours doing it.

“I kind of got driven. I could not, not paint. When I paint I am completely zoned out. Nothing around me matters. I paint for two hours and my husband will say ‘you need to stop.’”

She jokes that since moving to Jubilation their kids sometimes get frustrated because they have to make an appointment to talk to them because they are so busy with activities, events and enjoying all the amenities at Jubilation.

Members proud of art gallery and its creation

For Lynnette and Dennis Metzer, the addition of the art gallery was simple.

“Members here are resident artists. They wanted a place to display art made/created by members and now we have it,” Lynette said.

Added lighting and shelving help highlight the art in the gallery. The location of the gallery is also displayed in a prominent area for members’ and visitors to preview daily.

Lynnette designs and makes pine needle baskets. Her husband, Dennis, enjoys watercolors.

Dennis and Lynnette moved to Jubilation in May 2022 and have totally immersed themselves in the wine club, art, and other activities. They hope to get more members involved with art and displaying it.

“There are some discussions about artists and how often we change the displays out,” Dennis said. We are talking about other types of art and what we may display. I have some photography and that’s another medium we will see sometime in the future.”

Dennis said he never thought of himself as an artist but with the help of a tutor, brought in by Jubilation, he did his watercolor and thoroughly enjoyed working on it.

“Jubilation does a great job. The next iteration of the gallery will probably have different contributors. We’re anxious to see what’s next. People are very proud – of it (wall/gallery) and the work being done,” he said.

The unveiling of the gallery was well attended and Dick received a special recognition from Shane for his work to design and help build it in just a couple of days. Dick said his wife, Karen, came down to help with the painting one day.

Dick said there is an eclectic group of art of display and it represents work from five, six or maybe seven members. Most of it is painting but he has a colored pencil drawing he did a few years ago and some model cars he made in the woodworking shop for their grandsons. He also made a cutting board for his wife.

“We will build on what we have on display with the next rotation. The gallery is a good way to illustrate the kinds of artwork the members do and how people can be involved once they decide to move to jubilation,” he said.

To schedule your tour today call 855-526-0947 or RSVP to one of our upcoming Member Experience Luncheons offered most Thursday’s at 11:30 a.m. Here, you’ll mix and mingle with current members and enjoy a delicious chef created lunch; this is an afternoon you won’t want to miss.