Painting class brings Superior neighbors together

Apr. 3—SUPERIOR — With acrylic paint, balloons and imagination, artists ranging in age from 17 to 98 created a breath of spring Sunday, March 30, in the middle of a snowstorm. Flowers bloomed on canvas as they worked together in the community room at Villa Rita, a senior apartment complex in Superior.

“For two hours, we don’t have any problems,” said Bonnie Berchild of Superior.

“This is just so much fun. It’s so wonderful,” said Diane Heytens, seated next to her.

They dipped partially inflated balloons in acrylic paint, making circular flowers. Heytens used a cotton swab to give hers a 3D look. At the other end of the table, Jean Martinson added green stems to orange and white flowers that looked like peaches.

Many of the participants said they weren’t artists prior to the classes.

“I knew nothing about art,” said Martinson, 98, who was attending her third class. “It’s so interesting. It’s so challenging.”

“I’m a crocheter. I’ve crocheted afghans for everybody in the place,” said Marion Mark, 85, who originally hails from Brooklyn, New York.

“No, I’m not an artist. I like to arrange furniture and do stuff like that, but I’m not an artist. … Now I am,” said Donna Jappe, 92, as she painted.

The painting class traces its roots to 2021 and the pandemic. Judy Bilden, a retired special education teacher, began the monthly sessions to spend time with her mother, Eileen Flyen, who lives at Villa Rita.

“We couldn’t go anywhere and wanted to get together,” said Bilden, of Superior.

She started with a core group of family members, including her mother, her daughter Ali Bilden Camps, granddaughter Vivian Bildan and Berchild, her cousin.

“We wanted something fun to do together and nobody was getting out, so we thought this would be a fun thing to do. And we all like to paint. We paint at home, so it was a good thing to do,” Bilden said. “And then once the ladies here saw it.”

It instantly started to grow, she said.

The classes, which take place monthly from September to May, usually draw 12 to 15 participants. Bilden chooses the project and brings the supplies.

“We always set up like this so everybody has what they need. Afterwards, we usually have a snack or coffee, or while we’re painting,” Bilden said.

The group Sunday included her sister-in-law Lisa Flyen, Heytens’ daughter, Rachaul and Debi Boulanger, who works at Villa Rita as a cleaner. Boulanger has been joining the group for a year and a half. Her favorite part is the socialization.

“Just being with the ladies. You get to know them better and enjoy being with them other than in the building cleaning,” she said.

The painters appreciate Bilden’s leadership and the many different projects she’s come up with.

“She can make you do anything. I mean, look, they all turn out so beautiful,” Boulanger said. “I didn’t think I could do this, but she makes it so easy.”

Art is a family activity for Bilden.

“My dad painted and we all loved it. He always encouraged us to. We always had a box of water colors,” she said. “Vivian and Ali both paint at home and I do. We like to do that. And we got my mom going on it, so it’s been everybody.”

From September to May every year, that family painting group grows. Bilden welcomes everyone.

“She’s a great gal,” Berchild said. “She told me ‘I’m doing this for my mom and for the ladies who don’t get out much.’ Very kind and very giving.”