Many fund-raising calendars show ordinary people in birthday suits.
But the residents of an Oxford care home have – perhaps more classily – done the opposite and dressed up to pose for photos recreating famous paintings.
Wearing borrowed costumes and using makeshift props, 14 elderly residents volunteered to be in MHA Brookfield’s 2022 calendar to raise money for creative activities.
Andrew Reese, 57, who is the cover star in a recreation of a self-portrait by Jan van Eyck, said: ‘A tablecloth and some fur was used for my costume. I really enjoyed being a part of this – it was fun.’
Activity co-ordinator Victoria Davidson said the images ‘just make you smile’, adding: ‘We’d seen the idea online and thought it would be a great way of having fun. It will help to raise funds for future activities at the home.’
Rebecca Phillipson (a volunteer) took these photos and photoshopped them to match the backgrounds in the original paintings.
Describing how residents Win and Bob got their costumes for Grant Wood’s American Gothic, Miss Davidson said: ‘They are wearing my dad’s shirt, my brother-in-law’s jacket, my partner’s dungarees, my daughter’s glasses and an old tabard we found in the cupboard. They loved it.’
Many residents have taken up arts to ‘relax and unwind’ since arriving at the home, which provides nursing and dementia care for 66, said Miss Davidson.
She added the £12 calendars had been selling ‘like hotcakes’.
These recreated paintings feature work by Rembrandt Van Rijn, Paul Cezanne and Frida Kahlo, along with a portrait from Elizabeth I, which dates back to the late 1500s.
Residents of an Oxford nursing home have donned their finest to take photos resembling famous paintings. Andy from Brookfield Care Home is depicted as Jan Van Eyck’s self portrait – alongside the original artwork
These recreated paintings feature work by Rembrandt Van Rijn, Paul Cezanne and Frida Kahlo, along with a portrait from Elizabeth I, which dates back to the late 1500s. Reubens’ painting Resident Bill appears alongside it.
Wearing borrowed costumes and using makeshift props, 14 elderly residents volunteered to be in MHA Brookfield’s 2022 calendar to raise money for creative activities
Activity co-ordinator Victoria Davidson said the images ‘just make you smile’, adding: ‘We’d seen the idea online and thought it would be a great way of having fun. It will help to raise funds for future activities at the home.’ Resident Amina is pictured alongside a self portrait by Freda Kahlo
Many residents have taken up arts to ‘relax and unwind’ since arriving at the home, which provides nursing and dementia care for 66, said Miss Davidson. Frederic Tschaggeny: Anica, Young lady with parrot
Recreated paintings by Rembrandt von Rijn and Paul Cezanne are included, as is a Frida Khlo painting, Amedeo Modeigliani’s portrait, and a Paul Cezanne work from Frida Kalo.
Miss Davidson added the £12 calendars had been selling ‘like hotcakes’. Dave, posing as Amedeo Modigliani’s Man with a pipe next to his original artwork
Barbara as a portrait of Irina Maximovich by Alfred Eberling. MHA Brookfield Care Home at Little Bury (Greater Leys) has designed the year-end calendar
Albert Challen paints Resident Winter portraying Mary Seacole. The residents dressed up in Victorian costumes in an attempt to replicate famous paintings that were created in years past. These include ‘American Gothic by Grant Wood’ and ’The Virgin in Prayer’.