Art show showcases seniors

Dick Jansson is a very unlikely artist. As a real-life rocket scientist, with a T-shirt to prove it, his engineer’s mind just doesn’t allow much room for the abstract.

Even taking art classes wasn’t his idea initially.

“Jana conned me into it,” he said referring to Jana Ricci, director of marketing at The Mayflower Retirement Community where Jansson lives with his wife of 60 years Mary.

“Dick has a brilliant mind, and I enjoy him immensely,” Ricci said. “But I didn’t want him to stagnate always doing the same things, so I pushed him a little out of his comfort zone and he’s done very well.”

After Ricci left the room Jansson, grudgingly and with a twinkle in his eye, admitted that he actually likes the art lessons and the creative process.

“Just don’t tell Jana though, she’d like that too much,” said Jansson jokingly.

Like the other enrichment programs The Mayflower offers, its art programs are focused on giving seniors creative and social outlets to continue learning and growing.

Through them, many residents like Jansson are discovering hidden talents in the art world.

In celebration of Active Aging Week, The Mayflower will host an art show, displaying the talents of its residents and local seniors from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sept. 25.

Artists age 55 and older are welcome to submit up to five original works in the categories of painting, three dimensional works or photography. The deadline for submission is Sept. 5.

All entries will be evaluated by a panel of judges led by Debbie Komanski, executive director of the Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens.

A Merit Award of $100 will be given to the top artist in each category and the overall Best-of-Show will be awarded $200.

The art show is an intergenerational project with students from Rollins College volunteering their time to prepare, set up and help organize the event.

Jansson wasn’t sure if he’s ready to enter the art show just yet, although he is pleased The Mayflower is hosting one.

“I’m still feeling my way through the paints and colors,” he said.

His way of ‘feeling his way through’ matches his engineering background. Jansson was a heat transfer specialist who worked on satellites before a disability cut his career shorter than he would have liked.

“They said I had to retire, but not that I had to be retiring,” said Jansson.

After he left his full time job, he continued volunteering, working on satellites for AMSAT, an amateur radio satellite organization.

His latest watercolor painting is a detailed representation of his latest satellite, the Fox-1C, which he helped design for AMSAT.

Combining his old love of engineering with his new love of painting is Jansson’s way of bridging two very different worlds.

Jansson’s wife understands the importance of trying new things at any age.

“We didn’t come here to die,” she said. “We came here to live.”

And live they do. The pair walk the grounds together nearly every day (Dick knows precisely how far they walk everyday) and they enjoy an active social life at The Mayflower.

“This is a wonderful community, in the truest sense,” said Dick Jansson.

“I’m still learning a heck of a lot and the art classes are a nice way to learn something new,” he said. “The other students are always ready to help and offer critiques, so it’s been a good experience.”