Judy Donley’s art at the inaugural Vicksburg Senior Center show took many a dry run to perfect.

“The first ones, I never would have put out here,” said Donley, one of the budding artists among regulars at the South Street center who contributed to the Friday sale.

“I hadn’t taken an art class in my life,” Donley said, pointing out her oil-on-canvas rendering of a fountain in a courtyard, one of about 60 pieces offered to the public. Works sold for $10 to $50. Senior Center director Jennifer Harper said $1,250 was raised to benefit the center.

“You can’t find this stuff on eBay!,” Harper said.

In the works for the past five months, the show featured the talents of seniors who said they benefited from art classes given at the center in 2001 and 2006 by Vicksburg artist Lee Grant, also an Army Corps of Engineers project manager.

“We learned pen and ink,” Mildred Sumrall said, whose works included a hand-drawn rendering of a cannon in Vicksburg National Military Park titled “Day In The Park.”

“I never knew how to paint before. I just came here to have something to do. Then, I just enjoyed it,” Sumrall said.

Original pieces hung on art stands supplied by the city alongside concepts artists took from other media, such as newspaper and magazine photographs.

“I just find pictures that speak to me,” said Isabel Adams, who drew upon photos of nature and outdoor scenes to produce several works at the show.  

Those who went to the center to see the art may become regulars, too. “I may start coming here to do it,” Martha Taylor said.

The center on South and Walnut streets offers art classes once a week, with anyone 50 and older eligible.

Whether large-scale art shows become regular events may prove daunting, yet exciting.

“We’re doing it again, for the holidays,” Harper said, adding crafts, quilts, afghans and greeting cards may be available.

“Anything made by hand, we will do,” Harper said.

Seniors will still contribute to Holly Days Arts and Crafts Show at Southern Cultural Heritage Center, Harper said.

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Contact Danny Barrett Jr. at dbarrett@vicksburgpost.com