Brookline’s Goddard House Opens New Resident Art Exhibit

Goddard House Assisted Living opened a new art exhibit in its Gallery M featuring the paintings of resident Arlene Williamson.

Williamson has been involved with acrylic painting at Goddard House since 2015, when she joined the Open Art Studio taught by Nancy March, and has painted one day a week ever since. Prior to living in Brookline, she dabbled in oil painting, completing a painting titled “Creation” while living in New Seabury, Cape Cod in 1975.

“I have grown with it and it’s a great outlet,” said Williamson. “I think at this particular point I’m just thinking of being an advocate for the class.”

The art exhibit features about 50 of Williamson’s colorful paintings, some of which were completed in March’s classes. Goddard House residents are able to go view the artwork on their own time, something Williamson said is very beneficial.

“It was my kids that were so helpful because we’re all creative so my daughter and son did all the curating and hanging,” she said. “It turned out to be such a good feature for our residents because it’s so bright and cheerful.”

Williamson hopes to introduce painting to more people at Goddard House in the future, as she considers it a great form of therapy that allows for creativity, relaxation, and healing.

“It’s just a gift, that’s all I can say,” she said. “It’s in our DNA.”

Goddard House’s Gallery M, named after the institution’s namesake Matilda Goddard, opened in 2016 and has become a space for local artists to show their work. The gallery usually features a new artist each month to keep the space interesting for residents, their families, staff, and guests.

Link to original article: https://patch.com/massachusetts/brookline/brooklines-goddard-house-opens-new-resident-art-exhibit