At art exhibit, explore the relaxing world of artist Patricia Southard

Retirement has provided an opportunity for some to pursue their passions they had little time for previously — and Patricia Southard is no exception.

An artist who’s perfected her craft over the last 10 years, Southard’s paintings will be on display at the Bellmore Memorial Library throughout the month of July.

This marks Southard’s first exhibit, featuring pastel, acrylic and watercolor paintings of her favorite subjects and slice-of-life moments.

Southard, who resides in Oceanside, worked in the recreation department for the Village of Rockville Centre for 45 years. After retiring a decade ago, she began taking part in senior enrichment programs through local municipalities, which provided a supportive environment that connected her with fellow artists.

“I seem to enjoy landscapes, and a lot of things dealing with children from when I worked in Rockville Centre,” Southard said. “I’ve enjoyed doing paintings of children fishing at the beach, or I have a couple of paintings of kids boogie-boarding at the beach — my kids used to do that when they were little, and we live right by the water.”

Her library exhibit features seaside landscapes, portraits and wildlife — an assortment of relaxing paintings, Southard said. She discovered her love of painting through public art classes, offered by the Town of Hempstead and Village of Lynbrook.

“I take a lot of kinds of Hempstead classes — the teachers have been very encouraging, and they were of good value,” Southard said. “I appreciate classes that are given by different municipalities, and now that I am retired. I am able to take part in them.”

Her art teacher, Joan Lazarus, who has taught art for 30 years with the Town of Hempstead Department of Senior Enrichment, has seen remarkable growth in Southard’s artwork.

“She’s got an interesting edge, and her paintings are mostly realistic, and they’re all very, very, very beautiful,” Lazarus said.

The town’s senior enrichment programs often accommodate other hobbies and interests as well.

“The program is open to any seniors that are in the vicinity, and they have a lot of activities,” Lazarus said. “They have dancing, they have exercise, they have painting, they have bingo, and they have a writing class, and some of them come to my painting class.”

Lazarus instructs two art classes with the Town of Hempstead — at the Bellmore Senior Center and the Levittown Senior Center. Before the pandemic struck, she had taught even more art classes — which are designed for all skill levels.

“The program is very, very welcoming,” Lazarus said. “Nobody should feel uncomfortable if they want to come to the classes. My theory is anybody can paint and enjoy it. There’s all levels of accomplishment, and many of my students have different stresses from life with their families and all. It just takes you out, and into a wonderful realm for whatever time you’re painting.”

Lazarus connected with the Bellmore library last year to set up an exhibit for one of her other class members, artist Rosemarie Zanetto, whose exhibit was on display throughout November. The positive reception then led to other exhibits being held by the members of Lazarus’s class. 

“It turned out that the Bellmore library is wonderful,” Lazarus said.

Christopher Ham, adult program coordinator at the library, is responsible for making community events like this possible.

“We often exhibit artists from all around Long Island and New York in our community room — that is the room where the majority of our programs that we do for the public take place,” he said. “That can include anything from art classes to cooking classes, to exercise lectures and movies. We feel that the library has definitely become a center for the community that it serves and, for us, that’s Bellmore.”

Bellmore library’s role as a community center is important because it provides a high degree of accessibility for the public, Ham said.

“We really strive to serve everybody,” Ham said. “I definitely want to make sure that these programs have things for people to do. I know that there’s so many options, or sometimes there’s a lack of options, for seniors and vulnerable populations to get out and do stuff. So here at the library, we offer a wide range of programs.”

For seniors around the area, exhibits by members of senior enrichment programs carry a theme of lifelong learning.

“When we’re designing programs and we’re crafting our calendar, we definitely make sure to keep these things in mind, while also giving people an outlet to enjoy themselves and have fun and learn something new,” Ham said.

The Bellmore Memorial Library is at 2288 Bedford Ave., Bellmore.