Aitken Helen

Article by Kathryn Burham
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July 5, 2012

Helen Aitken stands with her paintings of her Martintown farm (top two), which won her a prize for best residents' artwork.

Cornwall - A mini-art gallery sprung up in Glen Stor Dun Lodge's lobby in recent weeks, with paintings of flowers, cottages, and a band providing
some beauty and diversity to the senior's home.

Tucked amongst the paintings provide by local artists through Focus Art are also paintings of butterflies, a Spitfire plane, and a Martintown farm - memories of the residents.

The Martintown farm on two paintings is the work of Helen Aitken - her home of 12 years after marrying and moving from a farm now part of the Lost Villages to Martintown. Her home and the garage, and two trees can be seen in one painting, and the barn in another.

"I loved farming,'' she said."I worked outside with my husband and I loved animals.'' The painting project helped residents show off some of their dearest memories, said Linda Geisel, supervisor of resident services. It also provided much amusement as they picked out favourites.