Twice a month the seniors from Clatsop Care Nursing Home visit the Arts & Cultural Exchange for activities especially designed for them. Wilma Williamson, age 97, said, “Art is so satisfying! It helps to round a person out. It is like eating a healthy diet. I do it to stay alive! I enjoy the workshops immensely. I think I will use my book for autographs. I will have my friends write a verse and sign it. I had an autograph book when I was in high school. Today it is in my old cedar chest.”

Wilma has always enjoyed art. Once she had raised her children, she took many art classes at the community college. In the 70’s she worked for a ceramic doll maker. Wilma would bring each doll to life as she carefully painted on their faces.

Wilma tells a wonderful childhood story about how a doll she received as a gift, nearly wasn’t a gift at all. The year was 1922 and Wilma was ten years of age. Each Sunday morning after church she would stand outside Loops Variety Store window waiting for the street car to take her home. Inside the store’s window was a beautiful porcelain doll, which she longed to call her own. Her mother learned of her hopes, and told her father to buy the doll for her when he was paid on the fifth of the month. The first two days after being paid, her father forgot to stop by Loops. But, on the seventh of the month, he remembered and made the special stop in order to purchase the beautiful little doll for Wilma. That night, the historic 1922 fire struck downtown Astoria and Loops Variety Store, along with nearly the entire downtown area was destroyed.

All the residents of Clatsop Care Nursing Home have been a great addition to the Arts and Cultural Exchange family. We hope to have an exhibit of their fine works during the fall of this year.