What’s New at RiverWoods

Watercolor Exhibit Held at RidgeCrest

Dick Hinkelman poses next to one of his favorite pieces of art.

June 13 , 2008

A watercolor exhibit was held in the Creative Arts Room of RidgeCrest (on the RiverWoods campus) on April 18 and 19. The exhibit was attended by many residents, staff, and visitors. Rev. Richard ‘Dick’ Hinkelman, a Garden Cottage resident, was one of the featured artists that had many pieces of his art on display – and some on sale.

Dick and his wife, Doloris, moved to a Garden Cottage in 1993 after he retired as a pastor. He always had a desire to learn how to paint, but never took the time to learn until after his wife passed on in 2001. RiverWoods, at that time, offered adult education classes through ALLI (Albright Life Learning Institute), one of which included a beginner water color class that Dick participated in. He was encouraged by his daughter, who bought him paint and brushes. Dick’s painting skills improved over the years, as was evidenced by the exhibit displayed in the Creative Arts Room in April.

Through changes made by Albright Care Services (the corporation that owns RiverWoods), ALLI was discontinued but residents were still interested in taking classes and wanted a space to do so. A temporary space was set up in a vacant apartment at RidgeCrest Court until it became occupied. The idea of moving the art room to a vacant cottage was researched, and Studio 35 was created! This space, which was a quad of cottages that was going to be demolished, allows residents to not only paint, but to work on stained glass, take a computer class, hold a cooking demonstration, and much, much more!