Maker Spotlight

CALLING ALL ADULT "MAKERS", AGED 50+

This is a forum where you can share your passions, talents, skills, or entrepreneurial talents with the world!

Are you an expert in your field? An enthusiastic storyteller? Were you part of something amazing? Do you have a passion or hobby to share? We invite you to share your knowledge, wit, and talent with our STEAMwSeniors community, where adult makers come together to celebrate lifelong learning.

*The term "maker" refers to someone who creates, builds, or designs something, often using a hands-on approach. In STEAM, it's a broad term encompassing a variety of activities and skills, ranging from traditional crafts, arts, quilting, cooking, gardening, engineering, science, music and theater, as well as authoring and high-tech projects. If you create, you are a maker!

Email us at steamwseniors@gmail.com and tell us about yourself.

Keyboard with a blue key labeled 'Knowledge sharing'.

Lisa Longacher

Crested Beaut

Framed painting of a winding dirt road through autumn trees with mountains and a cloudy sky.

I use all types of fabric, trash, or really anything I can sew onto a quilt to create original pieces that resonate with adult makers. I combine free motion stitching, homemade stamps, painting, hand stitching, and more to express myself in my craft. I started traditional quilting over twenty years ago, always infusing my work with a personal flare that I learned from my mom, Gloria Hostetler. This personal touch sometimes even covers mistakes, illustrating the beauty of lifelong learning. Over the years, this passion evolved into art quilts, also known as fiber art. I love creating landscapes by painting with fabric and thread, contributing to the STEAMwSeniors community. One of my pieces, “Crested Beaut,” was sold at the Rocky Mountain Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Relief Sale this fall.

Forge Peace

Artistic depiction of a gun entwined with vines and a flower, symbolizing peace.

I also create collage quilts, such as “Forge Peace,” which is currently on exhibit at the Fine Arts Center at Colorado College. The exhibit, “Another Way is Possible,” was organized by Raw Tools. In my work, I focus on themes relevant to adult makers and the importance of lifelong learning. I created this fiber art using gun cases and gun parts from guns donated to Raw Tools, aiming to engage the STEAMwSeniors community in meaningful conversations about art and social issues.

Lisa's Website, Creating Art One Quilt at a Time

https://lisalongacher.com/index.html

Lisa's Business Facebook Site:

https://m.facebook.com/p/Lisa-Longacher-Art-100063901121991/

Cindy McAnulty (Tuesdays Ruby)

Mennonite Bottle

Three uniquely hand-painted bottles with distinct designs and colors.

I have always enjoyed art, taking time with my beloved cousins, Merlin Buss and Aunty Verna Epp—my childhood influencers. I spent four years in art classes with Larry Preston at Newton High, which laid the foundation for my lifelong learning in creativity. Then came marriage, children, and jobs, and I put away my brushes until 2020 when I was forced into retirement and found myself with too much time on my hands. As part of the adult makers community, I began to explore new artistic ventures. My daughter, Briana, got me started on painting rocks to be left at various spots for others to find. It was fun for a moment, but as time dragged on, I sought more fulfilling endeavors. I enjoyed a bottle of wine occasionally—not to excess, lol—but one side effect was a buildup of wine bottles...and I just couldn’t stand to throw those bottles away. Thus, "wine bottle therapy" was developed. My first project was centerpiece designs for my cousin's wedding. Painted bottles with fairy lights graced the tables at the wedding reception. Then, bottles were painted for Christmas, each filled with homemade trail mix, hot chocolate mix, or spiced tea mix, contributing to my excitement for the STEAMwSeniors community.

Furbaby and Flint Hills

Two artworks side by side, one of dogs and one of a horseback rider in a field.

My painted bottles have been sent to 18 states and Canada. Sunflowers have been the most popular among my creations, but custom bottles have kept me busy, especially as I engage with adult makers in our community. The bottle featured on this page was chosen to portray the Mennonite man from Athletic Park in Newton and the Newton railroad tracks. My "Furbaby" post is one in which I combined two of the client's favorite poses to create one image. The final piece features Rod and Deborah Lowe on horseback in the Flint Hills, reflecting my journey of lifelong learning in art. Out of my bottle painting came a newfound love of painting "Furbaby" portraits, and now I am trying my hand at landscapes as part of my exploration in the STEAMwSeniors community.

Contact

If you are interested in purchasing my work or learning more about it, see my TikTok site: https://www.tiktok.com/@tuesdaysruby?_t=8jXyWfvFbq6&_r=1

Alternatively, find me on Cindy’s Art Studio on Facebook. My name there is Cindy McAnulty (Tuesdays Ruby)

Text me at: 1316-249-6376

Virgil Penner

One of a kind and world recognized

Virgil Penner gained recognition for his ink renderings of residences and architectural structures, showcasing a keen sense of perspective. After his retirement, he embraced lifelong learning by shifting his artistic focus to creating vibrant acrylic landscape artworks, which resonate with the STEAMwSeniors community. Virgil honed his artistic skills during a four-year period under the guidance of Marie Orr at Newton High School and continued his artistic journey through college. His paintings are characterized by their vivid and lively colors.

Virgil's Website:

https://www.virgilapennerart.com/acrylic-paintings.html

Virgil's Business Facebook Site: https://www.facebook.com/virgilapennerart/

Interview with Virgil: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=eAghmTcoSPo

Man proudly holding a colorful rural painting with a barn and people.

Kerm Gingerich

Kerm enjoys DIY projects that engage adult makers and incorporate STEAM subjects and thinking. As a former educator who grew up on a farm, Kerm understands the importance of lifelong learning. He explains that STEAM can also serve as a coping mechanism for many of us. While caring for his wife who was battling dementia, he found solace in building a 2,000-piece toothpick Taj Mahal replica, describing it as "sort of a therapy for me." This experience highlights his connection to the STEAMwSeniors community. Here is a clip from the interview, featured on Positively Kansas.