SU CASA!!! The new buzzword as far as I’m concerned. This restructured program initiated by New York City Council to bring artists into senior centers around the NYC boroughs is quite frankly – fantastic.

I was very honored and happy to have my idea for a class selected by my local program administrators – Bronx Council on the Arts and to be situated at RAIN Boston Secor Senior Center. And so began my four month journey with the senior ladies who came to my class. We crocheted and knitted – flowers, hats, scarfs, cowls, dog jackets, plastic bag holders, jewelry, slippers – (my new favorite word – ‘sapatitos’). I even had some of them volunteer to work with the nylon cord – paracord – and jumbo size crochet hooks to contribute roses and leaves to my “Hanging Garden” installation at Montefiore!

They were some of the best students I’ve ever had. Eager, patient, curious, they knew what they wanted to make and they wanted to make it now! The funny thing is, it also really helped me see how many skills I had to offer them, because honestly when I began the class I was nervous that I couldn’t meet their expectations.

Needless to say I’ll be applying next year…..

I’d like to thank Alison Ortiz – director RAIN Boston Secor, & Milteri Tucker – Bronx Council on the Arts, for their help and support of my class.

I will update after our little one day exhibition at RAIN Boston Secor Senior Center – 3540 Bivona St, Bronx, NY 10465 this Thursday June 23rd, 11am – 2pm.

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Su Casa is brought to you by New York City Council, NYC Department for the Aging, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, Materials for the Arts, Bronx Council on the Arts & RAIN -Regional Aid for Interim Needs, Inc.

Su Casa is a community arts engagement program that places artists in residence at senior centers across the five boroughs of New York City. For the 2016 program over $1 million in new funding expanded SU-CASA – creative aging program – to more than 100 senior centers in New York City, providing participatory programming for older adults across the five boroughs. The program is managed in partnership with local arts councils in each borough. LEARN MORE.