SPANISH FORT, Ala. — According to artist Nancy Raia, ”In your imagination, you can go anywhere you want.”

Raia is the Arts Bridging Creativity director for the Eastern Shore Art Center in Fairhope. She spoke to interested residents at Westminster Village last week about Vanessa Ai’s work. Ai, who lives in Point Clear, uses simple acrylic paints to produce primitive art and paints on X-ray cardboard.

Residents were encouraged to try their hand on making their own creations using Ai’s work as an example.

Raia was invited to Westminster Village after some residents visited ESAC on a field trip where Ai’s work is on display. Residents used their creativity to produce work on cardboard, inside boxes or on paper they had collected and try Ai’s painting style.

“I will invite people after the gallery talk to re-create art the way Vanessa does,” Raia said. “I am a cheerleader for the artistic soul.”

Raia showed the residents how to paint a palm tree by repeating the bark patterns. Raia said she truly enjoys working with residents who live in retirement or assisted living centers.

“I think they love it when you share a story and give them a little taste of the outside,” and residents are happy to participate she said.

She said sometime older people think they are beyond their artistic years. Raia said she tells them to “come play with me,” and the ones that do it love it.

Raia said she has been at ESAC for approximately six years and has been teaching children art for 17 years.

Last week she brought some art club students from Faulkner State who had requested to work with the residents at Westminster Village.

Raia said the gallery talks are important because there may be some residents who cannot travel but would like to know what is going on at ESAC.

Ai’s work is part of the African American art show on display at ESAC now.

“She is an amazing primitive artist,” Raia said.

When people look at Ai’s artwork they say it looks real peaceful and they can tell how much she loves children, Raia said.

“Her art shows real simple joy which is reflective of her heart,” Raia said.