Betty Rothaus celebrates with Reutlinger artist

Virginia Jourdan works with artists at Aspen Healthcare

AWE’s Artist Instructors are practicing and exhibiting professional artists. They have a minimum of a BFA degree (many have MFAs), an affinity for elders, substantial teaching experience, and an ability to adapt their instruction to the diverse needs of their older students. AWE instructors come from diverse cultural backgrounds, and include fluent Russian, Spanish, Cantonese, and Mandarin speakers.

The following professional artists are working in the AWE program:

“Has this work changed my own work? Profoundly. I’ve learned about clarity of expression, using what you have, living in the moment and about taking risks despite doubt. The gifts that the program and the elders themselves have bestowed upon me will require a lifetime to repay.

Mark Campbell

Executive Director, Program Director, Instructor
Laguna Honda, San Francisco

“In working with elders, we are also changing perceptions about what is possible as we age. Many cultural beliefs and myths “define” aging in a negative or limiting way. We find ways to expand possibilities and open the doors to a new life.

Betty Rothaus
Art Director
The Reutlinger Community, Danville

“Convinced that the instructor sets the tone, we are truly fortunate to have Santiago Gervasi as our guide. He brings his love of art, its endless possibilities as well as its challenges to the class, and so much more. His great sense of humor sets everyone at ease and his interest in each person’s development as an artist is as reassuring as it is empowering.”

Kathi Beerbohm
Former Activity Director
Sunrise of Belmont

Row 1 L-R: Crystal Booth, Yvette Brown, Mark Campbell, Insio Che, Yan Chen, Mei Mei Everson, Keesje Fischer, Santiago Gervasi. Row 2 L-R: Sergio Giovine, Dmitry Grudsky, Virginia Jourdan, Dulama LeGrande, Min Lee, Hugh Leeman, Megan Majestic. Row 3 L-R: Andrew Mills, Darcie O’Brien, Miranda Putman, Betty Rothaus, Maïté St. Clair, Patrick St. Clair, Jason Varner, Stephanie Vlahov

AWE Artist Instructors L-R: Mark Campbell, Darcie O’Brien, Patrick St. Clair, Virginia Jourdan, Jason Varner, Insio Che, Mei Mei Everson, Betty Rothaus, Rafael Vieira, Sarah Dwyer, Santiago Gervasi, Yvette Brown, Dmitry Grudsky


L-R: Darcie, Mei Mei, Insio, Virginia, Yvette, Santiago, Veronica, Betty, Dmitry, Min, Mark, and Sarah