Lions Gate art exhibit showcases residents' talent

Fran Silberfeld shows off "Ancient City," an oil painting she exhibited at the recent Lions Gate Resident Art Exhibit. Wilma Messler knew that there were many residents of Lions Gate who loved art. As the director of programming at the Independent Living section of Lions Gate, she was not surprised when nearly two dozen residents expressed an interest in showing their creations at a recent art exhibit at the Jewish Federation affiliated Continuing Care Retirement Community in Voorhees. What was amazing, according to Messler, was the level of artistic skill.

"I was overwhelmed by the quality of the art and the professionalism," said Messler. She said that the art was simply beautiful. "It's a professional show with astounding work in all different media- oils, acrylics, pencil, watercolors, and sculptures in wood, bronze, stone, and clay," said Messler.

Some of the Lions Gate residents honed their craft in the weekly art class taught by Carol Gooberman. Others have been creating beautiful art their entire lives.

"I've always belonged to artist groups," said 88-year-old Henry Lissauer. A German citizen studying art in England, he was interned when World War II broke out. He was later sent to Canada. He ended up becoming a metallurgist and going into the wholesale business, but he never gave up his love for art.

Sondra "Sunny" Cahn exhibited her bronze sculpture of a woman in the garden, while Sam Skulsky showed "Acrobats," a clay sculpture. The exhibit featured the works of nearly two dozen Lions Gate Independent Living residents. "I get great satisfaction out of painting. It's me. It's my personality," said Lissauer. He said that he particularly likes to paint nudes.

"Art and teaching art have been my life's work," said 86-yearold Fran Silberfeld. "I took a painting class in the 1940s and have been doing it ever since," she said. Silberfeld, who studied at Columbia University, paints landscapes and does a lot of abstract painting. She also taught art in northern New Jersey for over 30 years.

"Every painting is a struggle for me. The reward is the finished product. It's like having a baby," said Silberfeld. She said that painting is a constant source of "discovery, surprise, and struggle."

Silberfeld, who served as one of the exhibit organizers along with Rena Sherman, Sam Skulsky, and Paul Halpern, said that she had no idea that so many of her fellow Lions Gate residents were so artistic.

"I always wanted to do sculpting," said 89-year-old Sam Skulsky. Originally from Brooklyn, he spent his career in the tool and dye-making business. Skulsky turned to sculpting about 12 years ago. Mostly self-trained, he eventually taught sculpting at Lions Gate.

"I do people in clay and stone," said Skulsky. He said that sometimes he will get an idea from what he sees, but mostly he creates from his imagination. "I get enjoyment and a lot of relaxation," said Skulsky of his art.

Sondra "Sunny" Cahn started doing art when she was a child, but did not take it up seriously until her 30's. "I decided to develop my art. I didn't have a career. I wanted something of my own that no one could take away," said the 73-year-old from Cleveland who enjoys figurative sculpture as well as painting and etching.

One of Cahn's works is a woodblock carving of a rabbi with Jerusalem in the background. "I love to work with the human figure," said Cahn, who took classes at the Cleveland Institute of Art. "I love doing it and wanted to be as good as I could be," she said. .