Bartlett centenarian makes artistic debut in solo exhibit

If you think you're too old to try something new, then you'll think again when you meet Victory Centre of Bartlett resident Helen Frank.

At age 96, Frank began creating fine art for the very first time in her life, and now, at 100 years old, she is hosting her first solo art exhibit at Arts in Bartlett.

The exhibit, aptly named "Hundred Year Blossoms," is on display and open to the public through Oct. 27 at Arts in Bartlett, 215 S. Main St., Bartlett. Fifty-seven pieces of Frank's abstract collages are showcased and available for purchase.

Growing up one of nine children, early in life Frank exhibited a "magic touch" for succeeding at creative endeavors.

"Somehow things just magically turned out better than expected," Frank said.

From making paper dolls to clothes to holiday crafts, the results were consistently above par. The same is true today at age 100, with Frank's artistic talent blooming well beyond anyone's expectations later in life!

"She is a genius with colors," says Sigrid Wonsil, the volunteer art instructor who discovered and helped hone Frank's talent and is now a close friend.

Every Thursday, Wonsil, an art teacher at Elgin Community College since 1997, hosts an art class at Victory Centre of Bartlett, a senior living community where Frank resides.

Always one to try new things, just four years ago Frank told Wonsil, "I don't know anything about art, but I want to learn."

Frank's "magic touch" quickly revealed itself, much to Wonsil's surprise.

"Helen has a real design awareness and intuitive sense of color and texture," Wonsil said. "I think she was born with it and, 100 years later, finally found an outlet in which her talent can shine."

Under Wonsil's guidance, Frank, who had no prior formal art instruction, learned color theory, mixing primary, secondary, and complementary colors.

She started creating collages on recycled paper and advanced to creating original paintings using multiple layers of acrylic paint on paper and canvas to create shimmering, textured layers of color.

"Creating makes me feel great!" said Frank, who despite her arthritis, opens her own jars and tubes of paint to keep creating.

Frank explained her process: "I look at a piece and wonder 'How can I blend all of these colors?' Suddenly, my mind just snaps. I pick a color and another color and roll them out with my little rollers. Sometimes I use my hands and fingers to change the pattern. I love every minute of it."

Wonsil says that Frank has "a fire in her belly," which roared during the pandemic when she created a prolific amount of work.

She spent countless hours rolling out various hues of acrylic paint over paper and canvas. She produced six canvases and filled three, 50-page albums with her color and texture designs.

"Thank goodness for Sig for bringing me art materials and calling every week to check in on me and my work," said Frank. "The exhibit is a great honor to both of us."