The Harborside is a premier retirement community in Port Washington, and Nassau County’s first and only Life Plan community. It offers seniors an active and independent lifestyle for their retirement with an ideal location, extensive amenities and over 200 social and educational programs and activities every month.
The Harborside’s mission is to redefine age as a time for new discoveries, meaningful relationships, and active engagement in community life. Harborside’s Creative Arts programs offer weekly art sessions designed to meet the needs of all residents regardless of previous experience in the arts.
Recently, an exhibit space was installed to display the artwork created by Harborside residents. This gallery display was funded by the Harborside Legacy Foundation, which is a not-for-profit 501c(3) foundation dedicated to the stewardship of a superior retirement lifestyle, emphasizing social connectivity, and life-enhancing activities that inspire and optimize health and wellness.
The Harborside Art Gallery currently features work by two prolific resident artists. Maxine Berlin paints in watercolor and acrylic but has recently discovered an interest in the colorful patterns of paper collage. She was inspired by two graduate art therapy interns from LIU Post who suggested the art process to Maxine, who stated: “My fascination with color has always been a way to express my thoughts and use my imagination.” During the course of the pandemic Maxine created a series of animal collages that are on display in the art studio and three of these works are featured in the Harborside Gallery.
Resident artist Jerome Halm enjoys the wrestle between creating artistically and the outcome of what actually takes place on the canvas. He states: “I am surprised and startled by the unknown and intuitive results revealed in the final outcome, leading me to understand the numerous and mysterious influences that take place in the final results.” Two of his works on view are reproductions of original oil paintings, entitled: Canyon in New Mexico on the road to Ghost Ranch, and The Quintet which portrays a woodwind musical group who perform frequently at The Harborside.
Additionally, there are two art pieces from a series of six collaborative collages on display that a group of residents created in an art workshop exploring monoprinting and collage, with inspiration from the work of Romare Bearden. The Harborside art gallery will rotate new exhibits several times a year, featuring the work created by senior residents in their community art studio.
For more information about The Harborside, visit theharborside.org
—Submitted by Tracy Warzer, Director Community Programs