Artist of the Month: Mary Kay Hopkins

Posted on August 7, 2019 by The Dunmorean

Hopkins is shown with a variety of her old and new paintings. The painting over her right shoulder, entitled “Trees at Nay Aug,” was her first painting back in 1982.

By Dolly Michalczyk

As a long- time member of the Dunmore Senior Citizen’s Center painting class, Mary Kay Hopkins has served as a mentor to many people, including this writer. She is welcoming and encouraging, offering many fine ideas to the other artists and to the class. She has exhibited her wonderful work at our art shows and has sold several pieces.

Mary Kay herself says, “I am so very proud to be an art student for 12 years studying under Jill Swersie, at the Dunmore Community Center. I have learned more than I ever thought I could have.

“I am inspired by Jill, our teacher, who continues year after year to bring out the artist in all of us. She is not only our teacher, but also a friend. The Center is a wonderfully warm place largely because of Allison Boga, our director. She is a warm and engaging professional who makes us feel so special.”

Mary Kay notes that some of the pictures displayed in her photo are new, while some are old. She explains, “The one over my right shoulder I named Trees at Nay Aug. It was my very first attempt back in 1982. I am inspired by nature and the human form.

“Much has happened in my life over the past few years. I am honored to have all of my friends in class to lean on. I have returned to my beloved profession as a transcriptionist. Life is good!”

Artist of the Month: Dolly Michalczyk

Posted on March 6, 2019 by The Dunmorean

Dolly Michalczyk has often been inspired by her travels and by her grandchildren, Maura, Joel, and Kara. Here she poses with some of their paintings, shown clockwise: The Wedding-Italy 2016; Sugarplum Fairies, Ships Ahoy, We Are Family; First Recital, Kara; All-Star Joel, and Beach Baby Maura.

Dolly Michalczyk, the March Artist of the Month at the Dunmore Activity Hub, has enjoyed art appreciation, drawing and sketching since her youth. Two of her favorite memories are Impressionist Art tours in Paris and Provence, France, with her husband, Joe.

Dolly says that she was always afraid of the permanence of oil painting until encouraged by painter Mary Ann McClenaghan to begin painting at the Dunmore Senior Center.

Under the direction of teacher Jill Swersie, she learned that “you can always paint over it” and correct mistakes when using oils. She has been painting with the group since her retirement from social work in 2009, and has participated in many First Fridays, art shows and exhibitions–even selling a few of her paintings!

Dolly says, “Jill’s knowledge and guidance are key to the program, but her support and friendship is an added bonus. Her phone calls, cheery hand-drawn get well cards and posters of her artists, signed by members of the class have nurtured many through surgeries, illnesses, and hard times.”

Through the class, Dolly has made many new friends and reunited with old ones–even long lost pals from South Scranton Junior High School who moved from the area many years ago, Jan Mountford Lauer and Mary K. Massenkeil White.

This is the fourth year of this column featuring local artists and art which Dolly originated, at the suggestion of fellow painter Joe Bartos. Dolly schedules the artists, based on their longevity in the class, collects and edits their data, often writing their stories and even photographing them, before submitting their information to the Dunmorean.

Dolly’s travels and her family serve as constant sources of inspiration and pride, particularly her grandchildren, Maura, Joel, and Kara Dolly is thankful to Alison Boga, executive director of the Dunmore Senior Center for all she does for the group, Jill Swersie for her talent, insight, and encouragement, and to Maureen Hart, editor of the Dunmorean, for her interest and support in printing this feature.

Seniors are invited to Jill’s sketching class at noon on Mondays and to her oil painting class at 1 p.m. at the Dunmore Center.

Letters to the Editor: February 2017

Posted on February 1, 2017 by The Dunmorean

To the Editor,

Can you believe it is already a year since you began featuring our Artist of the Month in The Dunmorean Thank you so much for featuring the painters from the Dunmore Activity Hub. We look forward to each installment. It is so nice to be able to acknowledge the talents of our local painters and exhibit their works for others to enjoy. Each month, I find myself gathering extra copies or printing them from my computer, for out of town friends and relatives of the artists.

All our thanks to you, to Jill Swersie, our instructor, and to Alison Boga, Center Director, for making this possible.What a great way to feature our art and to show the world that ”retired” can mean active in so many ways!

We appreciate your support.

Sincerely,
Dolly Michalczyk

***

To the editor,

Arts and Cultural activities fuel the mind and spirit of a community. They create a bond that brings people together to be entertained, experience diversity, and hear insights on issues that impact our area, nation and world.

That’s what arts and culture mean to Lackawanna County. I have been a staunch supporter of the cultural activities and arts institutions that our community offers since my tenure as Commissioner began in 2012.

I have never wavered, no do I intend to. The Culture and Education tax is vitally important to every organization and every resident. It must continue to educate and stimulate the minds of young and old.

We fund such valuable programs as Art in the Park, Arts Engage, Holiday Marketplace, Arts on the Square, festivals, heritage celebrations, music and a host of other activities. I have witnessed the impact of these and other events first-hand. They matter!! They also generate economic opportunities for our shops, stores and restaurants in the central city core and surrounding communities.

I pledge my continued support for the arts and will search for other programs that will expand Lackawanna County’s horizons even more. Thank you.

Patrick M. O’Malley
Lackawanna County Commissioner