In 2025, Serra Center marked 14 years of its art instruction program for developmentally disabled individuals, sponsored and funded by Olive Hyde Art Guild.
Twenty artists participated in the 10-week program, held Wednesday evenings at the Olive Hyde Mission Room in Fremont. With the help of City of Fremont art instructor Edie Christensen, who taught the class, and instructor aide Joshilyn Holmes, each of the 20 artists freely created their own paintings and drawings.
“I truly enjoy teaching the artists from the Serra Center. They are creative, attentive and love to paint with color,” says Christensen. “It was a pleasure to see what they would create with their different drawings and paintings. The program also provides a great social experience for the artists to visit and paint together.”
For a special project, Christensen divided a 4×4 ft. canvas into sections for each artist to paint. The Guild funded framing expenses of one artwork for each student.
This year’s participating artists were Roger Anglin, Stephen Arruda, Cary Bell, George Cotts, Donald Dimenco, Joanne Elizarrey, Donald Fields, Maurice Kaasa, Stevenson Jones, Jennifer Lee, Michelle Nachmias, Jen Mellow, Roseann Pinto, Lori Santos, Andrea Stahl, Jennifer Sullivan, Patrick Tracey, Ryan Vevoda, Holly Zeman and Tillie Zelman.
The workshop is made possible through the collaboration of the City of Fremont Recreation Services, Serra Center and Olive Hyde Art Guild. The Guild provides funds for the art instructor and assistant, Mission Room rental, purchase of art supplies and framing expenses.
Serra Center, located in Fremont, provides compassionate care for individuals with developmental disabilities, serving over 80 adults in community-based Residential Care Homes, Independent Living Services and Supported Living Services.
An auction of the artists’ framed works and their mural will be held later in the year at a special Serra Center 50th Anniversary event. Proceeds from sales will go directly to the artists.
