Rolling Green Village to Unveil Massive Mural, Intergenerational Project

GREENVILLE, SC – When Kathryn Trantham moved to Rolling Green Village, she knew she had found an engaging place to call home. Within months, the legally blind woman was helping create a masterpiece of art that will last forever on a wall at the senior living community. She was a part of an intergenerational project that was eye-opening for dozens of people living within the Greenville area, and is now turning many heads.

After seven months, 4,300 hours and 38 gallons of paint, “The Seasons of the Heart” took shape. On Monday, February 27, at 4:00 p.m., the group of painters will complete the finishes touches and host a dedication ceremony. Several students from St. Joseph’s Catholic School participated to help residents, like Kathryn, create a mural on an exterior wall of the community’s health center. The saying, “It takes a village” came into play as residents’ family members and staff members joined in.

When Rolling Green Village decided to create a work of art on an ugly cement wall, the first thing they searched for was an artist who could catch the vision and be inspired. This vision led straight to St. Joseph Catholic High School visual arts teacher Deborah Pickard, who helped to design the mural. “Rolling Green Village wanted to celebrate 30 years in business with a large intergenerational project,” said Pickard. “The idea behind the painting was Ecclesiastes 3:1, and how time changes with each season and in life. We painted the trees in each season, since they’re a big part of the community. People from every generation were out here painting… it truly was a learning experience for everyone involved.”

Recent studies show younger and older generations benefit from intergenerational activities, such as working together to paint this mural. For older adults, it improves their health and cognitive abilities. For younger generations, these communications improve their social skills and enforce positive behaviors at home and in school.

When deciding on the project, Rolling Green Village’s Marketing Director Ruth Wood wanted to get residents and the Greenville community involved. Kathyrn Trantham heard about the mural project, and couldn’t wait to start a new hobby she had never tried before. Now she can point out the yellow and blue backgrounds she helped create with the students. Each color and stroke of the paint brush has a story of an intergenerational experience with the students.

“It’s an amazing feeling to know I’ll always be a part of Rolling Green Village,” says Trantham. “To see something colorless turn into a beautiful work of art is wonderful. I got to meet some amazing kids. I spent one day with a group of teenage boys, and learned that despite our age, we had many similarities in common. We enjoy the same movies and books. It was eye-opening. They were so respectful and I’m grateful that I had this experience to learn from them.”

“It was inspiring to so many people at our retirement community, and we’re proud of the bonds and beauty it created,” says Wood. “It’s a great start to celebrate a special year for us.”

2017 it will mark 30 years for Rolling Green Village of providing a variety of senior living options, amenities and services on its 175-acre campus. The community is distinguished by its engaging activities and full spectrum of health care services on site.