Age would not gradual this octogenarian artist down | Way of life

Though she’s virtually 80, it appears as if nothing can maintain Adrean Bailey from staying busy, concerned, and creating issues of magnificence.

“It’s a must to do all these issues,” says Bailey of Elkins Park. “I believe that’s a requirement for dwelling a protracted and comfortable life, Why, I may even reduce a imply rug on the dance flooring each every now and then,” she laughs.

However nothing this octogenarian does is something to chortle at as confirmed by her upcoming exhibit on the Moody Jones Gallery Dec. 17 advert 18.

Bailey’s inventive expertise caught the eyes of native gallery homeowners, Adrian Moody and Robyn Jones, who had been so impressed along with her creations that they determined to showcase her work at their gallery, positioned at 106b Easton Rd. in Glenside.

A maker of artwork – together with sculptures, fashions, pillows, work and a lot extra — Bailey explains that though she’s labored on all types of artwork tasks by way of the years, and has taught it to others together with her household and mates, it wasn’t till just lately that her handiwork was found and appreciated sufficient to deserve a displaying of her personal.

Born in South Carolina, Bailey says her curiosity in creating issues in all probability started when she began making doll garments. “I believe I simply by no means knew how you can sit nonetheless so I used to be all the time in search of one thing to do.”

Later shifting to Philadelphia and educated within the public colleges, after graduating from William Penn Excessive Faculty, she acquired an instructional scholarship to Cheney College the place she majored in math training. From there, she taught math at Dobson Elementary Faculty, amongst different colleges, for 33 years earlier than retiring.

However even whereas instructing math, she says she nonetheless discovered a option to weave in an artwork mission or two, like serving to her college students craft dodecahedrons and different geometric shapes with toothpicks and marshmallows.

“The inspiration for all of the work I do comes from in all places and nowhere,” Bailey explains. “Once I see an individual or one thing that catches my eye, I mechanically focus in on it. Then I sit and give it some thought, possibly even take out my sketch pad and start to attract what I’m feeling. Finally, one thing involves me and I would start a mission.”

And when folks ask her if she has a favourite amongst all of the work she’s completed, she solutions this manner: “Some items have extra colours that talk to me. Some items come out higher than others. However they’re all my infants so its actually too troublesome to decide on.”

However can anybody do what Bailey does? “Completely,’”she insists. “You possibly can take classes. You possibly can discover ways to create issues. After all, there are some people who find themselves simply born with expertise. I believe these are the fortunate ones. However anybody can be taught to do what I do.”

And everybody needs to be doing one thing, she provides, particularly once they become old. ”By means of all of your years you need to all the time discover one thing to do, one thing that pursuits you, whether or not meaning volunteering or going again to highschool. One thing.

“Simply don’t sit there too lengthy. You need to maintain shifting and doing issues. That’s what’s going to maintain you dwelling an extended and happier life.”