Gulf War Birds
References
Joan Aaronson
Heavens to Hoffman
Red Cross Student Group Quilt
Student Group Quilt
Joan was the first person I met when I came to Florida six years ago. I was walking my bulldogs and encountered Joan, with her flowing red hair and huge smile, and “Baby Tica from Costa Rica.” I learned immediately that Tica had been an emaciated, parasite-riddled, pregnant, homeless Costa Rican street dog who had the intelligence to repeatedly follow Joan back to her hotel room. After a few inquiries as to ownership . . . or lack of . . . Joan decided to adopt the dog and took her, at great expense, to a veterinary clinic for rehabilitation while she prepared the immigration paperwork for the dog. I frequently say that Baby Tika is the luckiest dog on the planet as she has truly lived a Cinderella life and now in her role as “princess” even goes along with Joan to various facilities to assist with Joan’s “healing arts” programs.
Joan is very modest about her accomplishments but they are numerous and spectacular. When I first met her, Joan had just returned from Rwanda Africa in the capacity of Art Ambassador as part of The Art in Embassy Program and had been awarded a State Department grant. It was here that she worked with the survivors of the genocide and perhaps here that she first saw how lonely older people could be. Perhaps it was in Rwanda that the seeds of her “healing arts” programs were sprouted. She first started teaching healing arts at Ringling College and over the past few years has added numerous retirement/assisted living facilities including Sarasota Bay Club, Desoto Beach Club, The Pines, Horizon Bay, and Glenridge. I have seen Joan work with elderly people and she has a kind, compassionate, humorous, delightful demeanor.
I have also been one of her students at ACE (Adult Community Education). I took a class in making greeting cards and each week we learned a new “skill.” This may sound a little “ho hum” but let me tell you there was some beautiful work done. Some people had more talent than others, but everybody made something creative, something to be proud of, and best of all, we all had fun. Joan would arrive ahead of the class and bring in heaps of extra materials in case somebody forgot something. She was extremely generous with her own supplies.
I also took Joan’s “crazy quilting” class. Now I haven’t touched a sewing machine or an iron since seventh grade, but Joan got me up and running. Each week I learned new skill sets which I applied to the quilt . . . that I FINISHED!!! Yes, I made a quilt. I ironed. I sewed. We ALL made beautiful things. But again, even if someone wasn’t able to sew, there were other projects that anyone could do . . . like stenciling onto fabric or ironing fabric pieces together with sticky tape.
Joan made sure everybody had something to do and ended each session on a high note.
Joan made sure everybody had something to do and ended each session on a high note.
I could go on and on and tell you about how she was invited to spend the day at the White House. Or tell you how her fabric art was displayed for a long-term exhibition at the US Embassy in Cuba. But I think the best thing to tell you is that Joan is a lovely, compassionate, warm, creative, dependable person. Sincerely, Virginia Dalton, Sarasota, FL
Bebe Tica From Costa Rica Certified Therapy Dog
Leo Therapy Dog in training
