Fire Up the Kiln: It's Time to Create Glass Art at Westminster Place

Alice Piepgras will be the first to tell you she's not the most artsy person in the world. But over the last five years, this retired nurse has grown in her love for creating dishes, jewelry, aquariums, ornaments and garden gnomes. It was all made possible without even leaving her Westminster Place retirement community home in Evanston, as she and a dozen or so of her neighbors join in on the weekly on-site fused glassmaking class.

The courses are taught by Director of Community Programs Nancy Ichinose. Nancy is a skilled artist and enjoys sharing her passion for crafts with the residents at the community. The craft room is stocked with glass and all the tools needed to be successful glass artisan. Nearly every Wednesday, she'll fire up the kiln and form shapes and designs, depending on the molds and the creations.

Many of the creations are sold at the community Holiday bazaar in November. For residents like Alice, the classes are a wonderful way to connect with neighbors and spend time with one another. Studies show that creative arts programs, like glassmaking, can lead to decreased rates of psychological issues and it's a wonderful opportunity to learn something new for the seniors. In addition, regular engagement in these programs can have a positive impact on seniors' health.