Sep 18, 2013
College of the Mainland art instructor and student Nancy House, of Dickinson, received first place for her paper mache piece entitled “My First Husband” at the Galveston Art League fall juried show.

Students in the College of the Mainland Senior Adult Program created a menagerie of deep-sea and furry creations that garnered awards at the Galveston Art League’s fall juried art show. Their works will be on display through Sept. 24 at the Galveston Art League Gallery, located at 2117 A. Postoffice St., open Thursday through Sunday from 12-6 p.m.
 
“The Galveston Art League received almost 200 submissions, so being selected was a big deal and placing was an even bigger deal,” said Senior Adult Program director Alesha Aulds.
 
COM Senior Adult Program art instructor and student Nancy House, of Dickinson, received a first place award for her paper mache piece, “My First Husband,” a toothily grinning denizen of the deep. Students receiving honorable mentions included Theresa Harris for her work “Maxwood Dante and Pup,” Peter Bowman for his painting “Betel-lipped Lady” and Tanya Nuss for the paper mache piece modeled after her dachshund, “Mogli.” House also received honorable mention for the her handmade paper depicting a sailboat, “Tequila Sunrise.”
 
House first came to COM Senior Adult Program to take classes after retirement and later began offering paper mache as a course offering through the Senior Adult Program.
 
“I’ve taken Spanish to keep my mind going and yoga to keep my body going and art to feed my soul,” House said.
 
House now offers Paper Mache Animals, in which she instructs students in the sometimes-messy multistep process. She guides students in constructing a wire frame, which she likens to bones, and contouring it into shape with layers of paper to add “muscle.” For the finishing touch they brush the figures with paint, adding sheen and texture.
 
The Senior Adult Program also offers art classes in oil, watercolor and acrylic painting, drawing, stained glass, fusion glass and mosaics as well as language, fitness and computer courses.
 
“We’re really fortunate that we’ve got the caliber of teachers we have,” said Aulds. “Most of them are retired. They’re teaching in our program because they love it.”
 
The Galveston Art League continues to support the philosophy of the National Endowment for the Arts, “A great Nation Deserves Great Art” and works to bring that philosophy to the community. The league holds workshops, children’s exhibitions, membership meetings, three juried exhibitions are held annually and members’ art is for viewing and sale continuously.

The COM Senior Adult Program provides lifelong learning opportunities for senior adults 55 years of age and older by offering personal enrichment classes in computer, art, languages and fitness in a positive, accepting and intergenerational environment. For more information about the Senior Adult Program call 409-933-8226 or visit www.com.edu/senioradults.