New Artwork Outlet at the Kensington

by Chuck Cascio, Staff Writer

The Kensington assisted living community has a new way to share art with Reston.

At The Kensington, a senior-living community in Reston, staff members are always looking for ways to provide creative outlets for residents, including on-site concerts, cooking programs, and various other life-enrichment activities. One recent unique initiative involved installing a weather-proof box called a Free Little Art Gallery (FLAG) outside the building near a patio with benches and a sculpture of an older man playing chess with a child on a park bench.

"My hope is that this FLAG will result in an ongoing, multi-generational art exchange between Kensington residents and members of the greater Reston community," Shari True, assistant living life enrichment coordinator at The Kensington, says. "Anyone from neighborhood children to retired artists to working professionals can contribute fun-sized art, and anyone can take a tiny artwork from the FLAG and leave one of their own behind."

A similar type of exchange that involves books has been part of Reston for many years, but True recalls that the installation of a FLAG at The Kensington was inspired by one she found herself visiting regularly in her walks around Waterview Cluster. "It made me think that having a FLAG here at The Kensington would be another way to actively and regularly engage our residents."

True has seen first-hand how residents of The Kensington are inspired by various types of creative endeavors, and the FLAG gives them another opportunity not only to display their creativity but to exchange it with others. "Participating in creative and artistic endeavors contributes toward improving older adults’ quality of life and well-being, from better cognitive function, memory, and self-esteem to reduced stress and increased social interaction," True says. "I believe this will provide them with a sense of purpose and satisfaction."

Jacqueline Mills, assisted-living manager and certified Positive Approach to Care trainer, adds, "Many of our residents are not initially from the Reston community. They come to The Kensington because they have loved ones living in Reston. One of the benefits of the FLAG is that it allows our residents to help make the connection to Reston as their community, too."

Both True and Mills encourage residents of The Kensington and everyone in the Reston community to enjoy seeing the creativity inside the FLAG and to deposit some artwork of their own. Doing so can be an inspiration to everyone who visits, and to residents of The Kensington in particular.

"I have seen that even for individuals who have a hard time expressing themselves, drawing, coloring, painting, or sculpting can be a powerful tool in helping them work through their emotions," True says. "We create opportunities for residents to share their talents, experience purpose, and bring joy to others--honoring their individuality, dignity, and quality of life every day which will, in turn, provide them with a sense of purpose and satisfaction.”

For True and others on The Kensington staff, the FLAG will provide another way of achieving those goals.