VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- They have a wealth experiences to share, gained through years of active living. When the "retirement stage" of their lives hits, many engaged seniors keep moving forward with the interests that drive them. And for some, they're also compelled to share their passions with others, especially with their peers.
This lifelong love for learning has come alive at Atlantic Shores Retirement Community in Virginia Beach, Virginia, through their new "The Chrysler Comes to Atlantic Shores" lecture series. Known for their active, peer mentorship culture, Atlantic Shores residents teach and explore a wide range of shared interests with resident-led art, writing, dance and fitness classes.
This new program was created by resident Linda McGraw, and her desire to bring the global world of art, and artistic treasures of the Chrysler Museum of Art, to fellow residents who are not physically able to visit the museum. Like many Atlantic Shores residents who pass along their knowledge to others by serving as volunteers at local institutions like the Military Aviation Museum, and the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, for Linda, it began with her work as a docent.
A lifelong fan of art, Linda has served as a Master Docent at the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, Virginia for 17 years, with many fellow Atlantic Shores art lovers enjoying her personalized tours. Fellow Atlantic Shores friend and Chrysler docent Jane Webster had been escorting residents to the museum. When some became unable to participate due to mobility issues, the idea of bringing the Chrysler to their doorstep evolved into a monthly series allowing residents to explore artistic inspiration from the Chrysler and around the world, right at Atlantic Shores.
Already active with the Chrysler's docent outreach program, which presents art topics within public schools and community organizations, Linda customized some of her screen presentations to relate specifically to her Atlantic Shores friends. All sessions are designed to be interactive, with guests sharing their personal experiences as certain elements of the presentation speak to them.
According to Linda, "I love art, and I want others to as well. Designing and presenting this program has been fun, and was a perfect extension of what I was already doing with the museum."
Content is selected from areas of Linda's personal interest, and scripted in her own words.
Creative topics range from "Art & Nature," including how weather and flowers express emotions in art, to "These are a Few of My Favorite Things," exploring how stories are illustrated through art.
Also in development are new topics like Contemporary Art, designed to stretch participants' minds. Linda is also refining a session on photography, born from a love of the medium, and drawing from a collection she and her husband Mike built, and then donated to The Chrysler Museum when they retired.
Linda shared, "I'm especially excited to share how interesting photography can be, especially documentary photography."
The series kicked off in December, 2019 with the topic "Meet The Chrysler Museum," and a tea party featuring delectable sweets created by Atlantic Shores' pastry chef, served with tea in beautiful teacups on elaborately decorated dining tables. This well-attended event gave guests a general overview of the history of the museum, and a "taste" of future lecture series topics.
"The Chrysler Comes to Atlantic Shores" dovetails perfectly with Atlantic Shores' ongoing "Great Courses" streamed educational series, projected in the community's Gardenia Theatre, where residents explore museum masterpieces from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Louvre.
For more information on Atlantic Shores Retirement Community, and its resort living lifestyle, visit: http://www.atlanticshoresliving.com, and http://www.facebook.com/atlanticshoresliving.
SOURCE Atlantic Shores Retirement Community
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