You are never too old!


Schott Still Life
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Bruce Springsteen who’s 73 was recently asked when he’d retire. His answer was only when he becomes incapacitated! I have come across too many people who not only feel they must retire but retire and then do nothing. I always love to encounter a senior who has not “thrown in the towel” but continued to be active, doing things that had interested them before they “retired”.
One such an individual, Joe Schott, came to my apartment complex to give a talk on his artwork. Now you might not believe this but he is 101, paints everyday, and from the energetic hour that he spent with us, projects a love for life. He does lovely oil still lifes and enters exhibits, and wins awards. Now here is the artist I want to be in my “senior” years! Of course his age and physical condition (no walker or cane, no memory problems, lives by himself) is due to genes that not all of us are blessed with. However, barring no illness or injury, it’s the mental attitude that also keeps one “young”. I pray that he has many more years to paint and share his delightful works with us younger folks.
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Artist Joe Schott with some of his paintings
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Our coordinator with one of his original oils from the 60’s when he started to paint
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Another still life
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Some of our appreciative audience
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Meet our current exhibit artist Barbara Wirkus


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Barbara has been involved with the Les Malamut Art Gallery for decades. She is a board member and has exhibited in solo and group shows with us over the years.
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Starting out with black and white photography, Barbara developed and printed all her own images. Eventually the expense of the process and the need to use an outside source to print her images led her to consider going digital. Now, using an iPad or her digital Nikon DS3500 with Tamron Zoom lens, Barbara has captured, in color, the world around her.
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Barbara has an extensive background in photography. She has taken photography classes
at Kean College with Donald Lokuta, Union County College with Ward Brenckman and classes with award winning photographer Nancy Ori. She has also extended her skills by attending workshops at the Nikon School in New York City and at the NY Institute of Photography.
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A sampling of the solo exhibits she’s had over her long career include:
“Seascapes” West Haven CT – Library
“Scattergories” Montclair Hospital Gallery
“Child of My Child” Les Malamut Gallery
“Asbury Park-Boardwalk” Donald B.Palmer Museum
“Portfolio” Pearl Street Gallery
“Winter Garden” Kenilworth Library
“Backstage” Les Malamut Gallery
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Some of the group shows she has participated in:
Westfield Art Association Members Exhibitions
Children’s Specialized Hospital
The Spanish Tavern
Millburn Camera Club – Millburn Library
Union County Juried Art Show – Rahway
Art Exhibit – Freeholder’s Gallery – Elizabeth
Elizabeth Arts Council – Third Annual Exhibit
Les Malamut Art Gallery: Third Annual Juried Exhibit
2002 Invitational Art Exhibit Art Works – Board Members Exhibit
Three Points of View ASMP-NJ 8th Annual Juried Photo Competition
Contemporary Art Group – Children’s Specialized Hospital
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Her photography has also received numerous awards:
Milburn Camera Club – Top Award, Honorable Mentions (3)
Les Malamut Gallery – First Place, Honorable Mention
Union County Senior Art Exhibit – First Place, Third Place, Honorable Mentions (2)
Roselle Park Art Festival – Second Place
Festival-on-the-Green, Union – Third Place
Wild Birds Unlimited – Honorable Mention
Westfield Art Association – Award of Merit
Westfield Art Association- Award of Excellence
Analog Photography Users Group – Contest Winner (2)
NJ.Com Photo contest -Faces -First Place
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