Shore Hill Senior Center gives longtime art director sweet goodbye

A bittersweet celebration to send off a beloved art program director turned out quite the crowd at Shore Hill Senior Center (9000 Shore Road) on Friday, September 2.

During what felt more like a birthday party than a retirement soirée, seniors stood in a line that wrapped around the hallway of the Community Room to see off Ursula Clark, the center’s vibrant art director for the past 17 years, on her last day.

“She is a creative ball of energy,” said Amy Loewenberg, director of services for older adults with NYU Lutheran Family Health Centers. “Her background as an artist has really influenced the type of programming that she has created for our Seniors in Touch program.

“It’s a very special program,” she continued, “mostly for those who have some sort of dementia and/or other physical frailties – which make it difficult for them just to participate in regular senior center programs – so it’s a very structured, nurturing program and a lot of that comes from Ursula, and her warmth and care for all of the seniors.”

An artist by trade, specializing in large-scale outdoor sculptures, Clark has an extensive resume that includes running a gallery, curating and participating in several art residencies in cities all around the world like Paris and Salzburg. Continuing her career, the German-born artist will hopefully be moving on – and making the journey back – to Germany for her next residency.

While excited about her upcoming trip and the opportunity to focus on her art career, Clark couldn’t help but feel nostalgic about the seniors she’s grown so close to.

“When I came here, I was hired to be a teacher but I think the seniors really taught me more than I could ever experience about growing old and how to do it gracefully,” Clark said. “I still haven’t taken it as a reality [that I’m] leaving.”

Along with the seasonal projects Clark would work on with the seniors, like beach crafts in the summer and Halloween-themed activities in the fall, she also enlisted the help of the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music to take the seniors to a weekly musical therapy session, where they would participate in rhythm and song activities.

“Everything, I’ll miss everything,” Clark said, when asked what she would miss most about working with the seniors. “But, I’ll come and visit.”

Indeed, the seniors she works with felt the same way, made apparent not only with their words but also with the party’s massive turnout.

“She’s just a lovable person,” said 104-year-old Goldie Sohn, longtime Seniors in Touch participant. “She’s so warm and makes everyone feel so good.”

“I think people are just are really drawn to her,” Loewenberg added. “She has a very unique way of presenting herself and people really love her. She’s developed relationships with the residents and really knows, instinctively, the kind of art project that would work for each person, and it helps people, it makes them feel like they’re still competent.

“She just comes with a really great instinct about how to care for and work with people to bring out the best in them,” she continued. “She’s got quite a following.”