This semester, students in the “Drawing the Portrait” class at Denison University had a special opportunity to move beyond simple portraiture and get to know their subject. Residents of Flint Ridge Nursing and Rehabilitation Center were recruited to participate in the class by talking with students a few times, as well as sitting for their portrait. The portraits will be unveiled to the residents in an exhibition titled “Parallels,” on Monday, April 28, from 2 to 4:30 p.m. at a reception at Flint Ridge (1450 West Main Street, Newark). The reception is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Ron Abram at 740-587-6355 or Michele Doran at 740-587-8557, or visit Denison.edu.
Abram, associate professor of studio art and instructor of the class, wanted the class to evolve beyond the usual class about portraiture. He reached out to the John W. Alford Center for Service Learning at Denison to ask for their help in locating a facility where residents would appreciate conversation in addition to the opportunity to have their portrait drawn.
Doran, associate director of the Alford Center, contacted the Flint Ridge facility and received an enthusiastic yes.
“Students were able to meet with the residents two or three times and talk with them at length while creating their portrait,” said Doran, associate director of the John W. Alford Center for Service Learning.
The students will share the portraits of the residents for the first time at Monday’s reception. “Our students really embraced the opportunity to get to know their subjects,” said Abram. “And they’re very much looking forward to sharing their portraits with the residents. Even though they met just a few times, they definitely connected.”
The program is sponsored by the Spectrum Series: Real Utopias: From Dreams to Practice.
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