By: Ryan Duey
Since 1980 Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America (PMMA) has been holding its annual “Art is Ageless” Calendar Competition and it has grown significantly over the years.
From April 4th through the 11th, area senior artists will be showcasing their talents in the annual “Art is Ageless” exhibit at the Clay Center Presbyterian Manor.
The exhibit will feature a variety of artistic works from seniors aged 65 and up. Amy Altwegg, Clay Center PMMA Director, said it’s fun to recognize these talented people.
“It is something that we really enjoy because it showcases all of the different talents of our seniors in this area. We have quilting, we have mixed media, we have woodworking.”
“We have had some super creative things that people have done, and it’s fun to see and recognize those people for their talents.”
Artist entries are currently being accepted, with a deadline of March 31st. Artists may choose to enter their art just for the exhibit or as a competition piece. Competition works must have been completed within the last five years.
This exhibit is not just limited to PMMA residents, but any artist in the area 65 and older, and Altwegg encourages anyone who’d like to showcase their work to reach out to them.
“If you’re creative and you’re a maker, reach out! You don’t have to be from just Clay Center, you can be from anywhere in the area.”
“There is a time frame for when stuff is created for the Competition, but we’ve had some people who have also been added, bringing some older pieces that didn’t meet the deadlines and sharing them in a collection. So don’t hesitate to bring stuff in from other time frames. We would love to see it.”
Winning pieces will move on to systemwide judging for a chance to have their pieces displayed in the 2026 Art is Ageless calendar.
Artists can contact Debrah Wood or Shelley Eisenmann at 785-632-5646 to arrange a drop-off time. More information on this year’s exhibit can be found on the Manor’s Facebook page or at https://www.presbyterianmanors.org/.
