The Hickman’s Art of Caring returns!
July 8, 2024
New Mural Project to Celebrate Community’s Diversity and Heritage
The Hickman Senior Care Community ushered in the 2024 summer with an evening of soft summer wind, gourmet food, entertainment, and laughter. The Summer Soiree: Canvas and Cocktails resurrected The Art of Caring, which lay dormant since COVID-19 changed how we gather.
Held on The Hickman campus at 400 N. Walnut Street, West Chester, on June 7, 2024, the Art of Caring (AOC) welcomed donors, residents, families, and friends. The Art of Caring raises funds for the Resident Assistance Fund (RAF). The RAF allows tenured residents to age in place if financial difficulties arise. With the help of the RAF, The Hickman is thrilled that no resident has been asked to leave in its 132-year history because of lack of funds.
The AOC has presented art in many mediums over the years. This year marks an exciting initiative aimed at transforming the tunnel connecting The Hickman and The Jeanes building into a vibrant and engaging landmark. This frequently used pathway will serve as the canvas for a large-scale art installation designed to celebrate our community’s cultural heritage, natural beauty, and the dynamic spirit of its people. The Quaker Testimonies of Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, and Stewardship, known as The Quaker SPICES, are the foundation of all The Hickman creates and will be represented integrally within this mural.
Three local artists presented storyboards of their concept of the mural project. Kendra Beitzel, Al Moretti, and Noah Burns, all West Chester talents, offered unique visions. One of these talented artists will be selected to create and install the first element, incorporating intricate designs and meaningful symbols that resonate with our community’s identity. Expected to be a multi-year project, phase one will be unveiled at the 2025 Art of Caring. Toni Kelly, Executive Director of The Hickman, shared her perspective on the project as it relates to our history and our future, “We are not just decorating tunnel walls; we are creating an artifact that reflects our respect for the past and our promise for the future.”
The Hickman is a senior living community located in the heart of West Chester, Pennsylvania. Guided by Quaker principles and traditions that value all life and welcome diversity, The Hickman offers individualized care allowing older adults the opportunity to enjoy a productive life and to explore the richness of all of life’s possibilities.
For more information, please contact:
Rita Brouwer-Ancher
Director of Advancement
rbrouwerancher@thehickman.org
484.760.6415