Older Adults Paint Mural for the West Age Well Center

What does it feel like to walk into the West Age Well Center? When artist Lael Har asked that question, the answers came quickly: friends, community, comfort, family. Those words now sit at the heart of a new two-part mural, painted by the older adults who call West their second home.

This fall, Older Adult Services (OAS) partnered with Street Wise Arts on a mural project that put community members in charge of the creative process. Street Wise Arts shared profiles of several local artists, and OAS selected Lael Har, a Boulder-based artist. Lael specializes in contemporary landscapes and works primarily in acrylic and mixed media, creating expressive, energetic paintings that capture the emotional experience of places. Street Wise Arts utilized funding from the city's Office of Arts and Culture to support this mural project.

"I felt like I mattered. It was the first time I ever had an experience like that, of having input into an artistic process, it was very touching," shared Maureen, an Age Well Advisory Committee member. "It's an emotional feeling of being heard and [knowing] that I matter."

The mural project was a Lifelong Learning program where older adults registered to be part of the process. Participants painted sections of pre-designed mural panels alongside Lael, with step-by-step guidance and instruction. The result is a two-part mural, painted on boards and installed for permanent display at the West Age Well Center.

Before any paint touched a panel, Lael and Allison Greene of Street Wise Arts met with members of the Age Well Advisory Committee to learn who comes to West and why. Lael came with a thoughtful set of questions:

• What do you experience here?
• What makes this center feel welcoming or meaningful?
• What activities, relationships, or moments stand out?
• What have you discovered or gained by coming here?
• What do you want others to understand about aging and this community?
• What words describe the spirit of this place?

The group's answers are gathered in the word cloud below. Many describe a feeling more than a facility: warm and welcoming, home away from home and feels like a living room. They also singled out the front desk as especially important, a nod to the staff who greet people every day.

Stop by the West Age Well Center Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to view the mural. Learn more about upcoming programs for Older Adults on the Let's Age Well Program Guide.

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About Street Wise Arts

About Lael Har