Nancy Saleme
BROOKLYN ARTS COUNCIL
Share
"Alchemists with Gentle Fingers" at Hugh Gilroy OAC
Brooklyn, New York, Spring 2025
“Alchemists with Gentle Fingers” was a series of art workshops led by artist and educator Nancy Saleme at the Hugh Gilroy Older Adult Center, part of the BAC SU-CASA Creative Aging Program. Throughout the spring, an extraordinary group of older women explored painting, wearable art, and relief sculpture—transforming simple materials into personal works of joy, memory, and meaning. The workshops nurtured creativity, friendship, and discovery, culminating in a vibrant exhibition that celebrated their hands, their stories, and their shared spirit.
I was fortunate to have received a new SU-CASA grant for the Hugh Gilroy Older Adult Center for the second time.
Last year at Gilroy, I created and cultivated a beautiful relationship with the director, Wendy Haley, and their amazing community at the center. When I arrived on March 15 for the announcement of the workshops and the recruitment process, I saw the lovely faces with whom I had met the previous year. They welcomed me so warmly that I was taken aback. They scream, saying, "We had prayed to our child to come back." That day was so moving, I didn't anticipate such a reencounter. Upon my return or the first day of classes, I had an overwhelming turnout of 20 participants.
📅 April 9 – Our first session
The room buzzed with excitement as I introduced the workshop series and welcomed new and returning participants. I hung posters to promote the program, brought treats to share, and laid out blank tote bags, zippered pouches, and aprons—our first canvas. We began customizing these items using fabric markers, stencils, and textile paints.
📅 April 16 – Workshop paused
Our session was canceled due to a religious celebration at the center. I used this time to prep new materials and brainstorm ways to elevate the next sessions.
📅 April 23 – Focus and detail
Back in the classroom, we focused on adding fine details to the aprons. Participants worked carefully with fabric markers, using small stencils, outlining tools, and rhinestones to create personal designs that reflected their style and joy.
📅 April 30 – A growing group and a photoshoot
The group expanded as new participants joined in. The classroom was full of vibrant energy and creativity. They continued personalizing their tote bags and aprons—layering colors, adding patterns, and experimenting with contrast and symmetry. We also had a fun, informal photo shoot to create the next poster for the series.
📅 May 7 – Spring celebration
We welcomed spring with cupcakes and smiles. Participants worked on both sides of their tote bags, applying their growing understanding of design principles—like balance, repetition, and bold color combinations. The room felt like a design studio in full swing.
📅 May 14 – Finishing touches
Everyone completed their wearable art collections: aprons, totes, and pouches—each piece telling a story. Many added hand-drawn borders, monograms, or floral motifs using fine-tip markers and fabric paints.
📅 May 21 – New materials, new directions
We transitioned from wearable art to canvas. I introduced the masking tape technique using painter’s tape and acrylic paint, encouraging the group to explore bold shapes, patterns, and color fields. It was a shift from decorative to abstract thinking.
📅 May 28 – Big reveals and new imagery
We had the pleasure of welcoming Ms. T. (Taeesha Muhammad,) AIE Advocacy & Outreach Coordinator, Brooklyn Arts Council. That day, the participants peeled away the masking tape to reveal their painted compositions. They were surprised to see the tape's effect left on their canvases. We began a new layer of imagery, using stencils of flowers, uplifting words, birds, and butterflies.
📅 June 4 – Music, joy, and texture
The room was full of laughter and Bob Marley tunes as the participants continued painting and began incorporating their air-dry clay creations. They glued small sculptural elements directly onto their canvases, turning them into vibrant mixed-media reliefs. This was a joyful and experimental session.
📅 June 11 – Final touches
With the exhibition just around the corner, everyone focused on finishing their pieces. They added rhinestones, borders, final brushstrokes, and tiny details that brought their work to life. There was a strong sense of pride and accomplishment in the room, and the anticipation was building.
📅 June 18 – Art exhibition and celebration
The culmination event was a beautiful, heartfelt celebration. Skye Kowaleski, Director of Artistic Programs, Learning & Engagement at the Brooklyn Arts Council, joined us, along with Director Harvey, who shared moving words about the impact of the residency. The Gilroy Girls celebrated big—showing their work with pride, posing for photos, and enjoying treats they love but don’t often indulge in. The room was filled with art, laughter, and deep appreciation. It was more than an exhibition; it was a testament to their talent, joy, and spirit.
Coming back to the Hugh Gilroy Older Adult Center was a gift. Every week, my girls, whom I affectionately call this admirable group of women, brought a ray of sunshine to this complicated world.
The classroom filled up very quickly. New lovely faces were added to the group. I was surprised that their cognitive abilities were intact and that we were able to pick up where we left off last Spring. Also, very importantly, our shy Teresa and Opal weren’t shy anymore! They integrated themselves into the group with ease this time around.
My girls were eager to bring their skills to the next level. As custom, we started with tote bag painting, but this time I found larger totes with colorful handles and matching pouches. They personalized these items, as well as their aprons. They took the task very seriously. For the first three weeks, they focus on wearable items and work with various materials, including fabric markers, acrylics, rhinestones, and an extensive collection of stencils. They turned the classroom into a Design Studio. Every other week, I introduced a new material, tool, or technique, using a scaffolded, progressive approach to instruction.
From wearables, we moved to air-dry clay and canvases, introducing new art concepts such as geometric abstraction and color theory. Interesting compositions were generated with the masking tape technique applied to canvases. Color studies were inspired by nature and by memories of the beautiful landscapes from their countries that they had left behind. Many of my girls were from the gorgeous South, the beautiful Caribbean, and West Africa, or the high altitudes of Ecuador.
The series of workshops was a success. The culmination event/exhibition showcased a collection of colorful, meticulously designed wearables and relief paintings, created with tiny brushes, carefully chosen palettes, and intricate compositions. My girls were so proud.
The residency had the support of my artist collaborator and niece, Patricia Cazorla, who designed the posters, documented the event, and assisted during the culmination.