OLLI students will showcase annual art gallery

Silk scarves and paintings created by senior citizens attending the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Cal State Long Beach are on display this week for its Ninth Annual Art Gallery.

Betty Hutchens, an OLLI student and assistant, heads the art gallery. She said the gallery started in 2006 and has become an annual event because of positive response from students, their families and others who attend the gallery.

Hutchens said the art gallery features a high number of pieces from students.

“We average between 60 and 100 pieces,” Hutchens said. She also said that art of all kinds is displayed in the gallery.

“Woodwork, such as whittling, [and] sculptures are all presented,” Hutchens said. “Some of the work is also from the photography classes.”

Only OLLI students may submit pieces to the art gallery, and anyone interested in purchasing a piece must contact the artist because the gallery doesn’t facilitate sales, Hutchens said.

Hutchens said the OLLI program hosts non-credit classes in various subjects, including computer literacy and the arts, for adults 50 years old and older.

“OLLI is a fun campus for we old folks,” Hutchens said. “That’s one thing I want to get across in my program.”

She said her son, who is also an artist, inspired her to work in art. He encouraged her back in 2002 to create art in the hopes that their pieces would one day be hung together in galleries.

“I try,” Hutchens said. “I do watercolors, pastels and drawing.”

The art gallery will be held in the Human Services and Design building, Room 101. Admission to the exhibit is free, and art will be on display through Sunday.