Sharman Wheatley is a new member of Newtown Cultural Arts Commission (NCAC). She was appointed to the commission in the spring, and she since has taken over coordinating art at Newtown Senior Center.

The Senior Showcase at the senior center aims to spotlight the artistic side of Newtown’s senior population. With the location’s second exhibit now on view, Wheatley talked to The Newtown Bee a little bit about herself and the showcase.

Wheatley is a former district coordinator for fine arts in Wilton. She lived in Monroe before recently moving to Newtown, where she discovered a “well-developed arts community,” she said.

“I really dedicated my life to the arts,” Wheatley said. She told stories of painting at Weir Farm, like Joan D. Cone, the current artist with art featured at the senior center (see related story). Wheatley said she was very excited when she saw that a position was open on Newtown Cultural Arts Commission.

“I probably bored the people to death that were interviewing me,” Wheatley joked.

NCAC Chair Laura Lerman said Wheatley took on the project of coordinating senior art showcases on her own, “without anyone asking her to.”

Wheatley said she knew some people in town who were artists and she wanted to spotlight them at the senior center. The first person whose artwork was on display was Laura Winthrop in August and September.

Wheatley said she wants “high-quality” art that can “inspire other senior artists” to not only show their own work, but make art.

“Both of them were so appreciative,” Wheatley said about Cone and Winthrop. “[It is] nice for me to be able to show that part of our senior community … 80 is the new 60!”

Wheatley noted that senior center staff and patrons “seem to be grateful” for the new installation and she hopes to keep the exhibition series going.

“I’m interested in seeing where there’s a need to help,” Wheatley said. In her opinion, she said, art is “the heart of the community.” She added that art is a “benefit to everyone” because it “heightens everyone’s awareness” and “brings us to a better place.”

For more information about Newtown Cultural Arts Commission, go to newtownartscommission.org.

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Reporter Sam Cross can be reached at sam@thebee.com.