Fashionable Residents are Featured in Community Gallery Show.

For Kat Walker, Life Enrichment Director of American House Riverview, work doesn’t stop at five o’clock. She is always thinking about ways to enhance the lives of her residents. Likely one of the many reasons Kat was awarded the prestigious American House Daisy Award for excellence during National Activity Professionals Week in 2023.

Early in the fall, Kat was scrolling social media and came across Jenna Wyly, a photographer who was working on a passion project featuring Women 65+ called Ladies of the Silver Garden. Jenna would photograph and exhibit beautiful, artistic shots of female subjects for a gallery show. A subsequent photo book would also be published.

Knowing there are plenty of fashionable senior residents in her community, Kat reached out to Jenna. The collaboration was immediate, and Kat quickly found ladies interested in sitting for an October photoshoot. Her fabulous fashionistas were Janet B., 87; Monica P., 88; Mary M., 80; Janet D., 92; Barbara B., 90; and Helen N., who is 91.

After a wardrobe preview, some minor purchases were made and fun colorful outfits assembled. It was fashion week at American House Riverview! Makeup and hair were done, poses were struck, and smiles lit the room. The residents were thrilled with this creative endeavor and the community was invigorated by the excitement.

Helen N., who took part in the project, said, “Kat asked me to do it, and I said sure. I really enjoyed it; I like dressing up.”

Receiving the edited prints, Kat felt tears come to her eyes. “To see the people you interact with every day in these beautiful pictures was amazing. And how excited they were to participate in the shoot, it was the best,” she said. “They may not feel that glamorous anymore, and it’s a great feeling to bring that to them.” She showed the pictures to one of the models, who said, “I can’t believe that’s me!”

Jenna confirmed, her camera does not lie! “I want to give credit where credit is due. These ladies’ photos are barely retouched, and their skin is unedited.”

Jenna is inspired by her grandmothers, both ageless beauties in their own right. “I thought, I bet everyone’s grandma is probably this amazing, and I wanted to photograph them!” Her Ladies of the Silver Garden gallery show featuring the American House Riverview residents was held in Ann Arbor on February 7.

The show wasn’t at the most opportune time for the residents, but Kat had a great idea—bring the gallery show to the American House Riverview!

On March 6, from 5–7 p.m., Fashion Week Part 2 took place at the community! With their photos displayed on the walls, the resident models were celebrated, while the community and guests strolled with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.

Resident model, Janet B. was beaming. When asked what her favorite part of the project was, she replied, “Tonight!”

Helen N. agrees. “This is very nice, I’d definitely do something like this again.”

Jenna was just as thrilled to work with the women of Riverview as they were to pose. “Photographing these wonderful ladies, I loved hearing about their lives and walking through their closets. Some of these women have more life and parties in their souls than I do at 23. They bake, dance and go out for drinks, shows, live music; they go on dates, wear fun clothes and, clearly, they know how to strike a pose!”

Looking ahead, discussions are expected to continue between Kat and Jenna who have ideas for future photo shoots. The possibilities are exciting!