Retired teacher, mentee meet again at Rose Tree Place, share joy of art with others

MEDIA, Pa. (WPVI) -- Paid Sponsor Partnership: Philadelphia Corporation for Aging

Resident Marsha McGlinchey and Activities Assistant Helen Smith teach a monthly art class at Rose Tree Place in Media, Pennsylvania.

"This is what we're looking at as a finished piece," says McGlinchey.

It's a holiday-themed mosaic.

"Her favorite medium is mosaics," says Smith. "And we started just doing small classes."

"Yeah, and everybody liked them," added McGlinchey. "It's unique to you, you know, however you decide to design it, which is really nice."

The class is new, but these two first met about 25 years ago when McGlinchey was teaching at a community arts center.

"I took my kids there because I was afraid they weren't getting enough art. And then I later got her to come to my house and she did another class with mosaics for a bunch of ladies," says Smith.

Smith says their meeting had a profound impact.

"I had gone to art school, I didn't finish, and I always kind of felt bad about the whole thing," she says. "I don't really draw well. I can do things three-dimensionally."

McGlinchey offered words of encouragement. Smith remembers being told she was "no less an artist."

"And from that point on, I did call myself an artist," says Smith. "She really changed my life."

With her new-found confidence, Smith got a job teaching art at her child's school.

"And then she mentored me through my teaching," says Smith. "She gave me pointers on everything, so I really had a very good start."

In addition to teaching kids, McGlinchey had a long career as an art therapist.

"I worked for a community-based mental health facility, and I did art with the people that were living there," says McGlinchey. "I taught in the Philadelphia prisons, which I loved."

McGlinchey says she was mentored by her uncle whose art adorns her walls. She has a drawing of herself as a child watching TV that was done by him, among other works.

Now, she's happy to pay it forward again, together with Smith.

"It's really fun to see people blossom," says McGlinchey.

"It just goes to show you that something little that you say to somebody can really make a huge difference," says Smith.

"That is true," adds McGlinchey.

Now, she's offering words of encouragement to her fellow residents in the mosaic classes.

"It looks great, really wonderful," she says.

"I hope they get a sense of accomplishment," says Smith. "A sense of community."

"It's just fun to do art," says McGlinchey.

For more information:
Rose Tree Place - A Watermark Retirement Community

Rose Tree Place
500 Sandy Bank Road
Media, PA 19063