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Sandy Ibach, a Spirit is Ageless winner, with her 2025 submission. Screenshot from CC Young\u2019s website.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been painting since I was a little kid,\u201d Sandy Ibach, now 79, reflected on the beginning of her art journey.<\/p>\n
Painting was a hobby for most of her life, alongside her job as a nurse. When she was in her 50s, however, she returned to school to study art and graduated from the University of North Texas. Since retiring, she\u2019s committed herself to improving her art, spending four or five hours a day practicing.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt just gets you into a flow. I can really lose track of time,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n
She prefers to paint alone because in a group setting, she\u2019ll often continue painting even after others have left.<\/p>\n
A six-year participant in CC Young\u2019s Spirit is Ageless Art and Writing Contest<\/a>, Ibach is motivated by the competition. She loves how the contest allows the community members to finally see what each other have been working on, and finds herself inspired by others\u2019 artwork.<\/p>\n \u201cYou would not believe how many people are talented here.\u201d<\/p>\n The Spirit is Ageless contest now reaches its 26th year, where Dallas adults aged 55 and over can submit artwork and written works for a chance to win in one of 13 categories. For these seniors, art provides a purpose and a creative outlet for a life that has begun to slow down. This contest helps to keep their passions alive.<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone\u2019s got an experience or a story to share,\u201d said Brian Parman, CC Young Director, Resident & Community Engagement.<\/p>\n \u201cA poem, a memoir, a reflection, whether you paint or don\u2019t paint or do quilting or crocheting \u2014 whatever your thing is, there\u2019s a place for you.\u201d<\/p>\n Many people involved in Spirit is Ageless mentioned that art was a passion they were only able to pursue later in life, once the distractions faded away and they found themselves with extra time on their hands. CC Young provides art classes, group meetings, and exhibitions by local artists to encourage the seniors\u2019 pursuit of the arts.<\/p>\n Fred Baynes with his 2025 Spirit is Ageless submission. Screenshot from CC Young\u2019s website.<\/p>\n While Ibach finds focus in solitude, Fred Baynes, 79, works collaboratively with a group of woodworkers known as the Woodies. Baynes earned his degree in Industrial Arts from UNT, later teaching shop to high schoolers and overseeing construction. He has pursued woodworking as an art in his retirement, and often creates his works upon request.<\/p>\n \u201cI never did think of myself as an artist,\u201d he said. \u201cI just make stuff out of wood. I like it, and it\u2019s easy to do, and I use it as an excuse to buy another tool.\u201d<\/p>\n But an artist he has become, even having his work commissioned by churches and friends, along with the other Woodies. The close-knit, woodworking group spends up to four hours a day working together and often submits group projects for the contest.<\/p>\n Jacque Wacker with her 2025 Spirit is Ageless submission. Screenshot from CC Young\u2019s website.<\/p>\n All seniors from around Dallas are welcome to submit art and writing, not just CC Young residents. Local community members, like Jacque Wacker, 84, value the opportunity to connect and share their art with others.<\/p>\n \u201cI love meeting all the people and seeing what they come up with. It\u2019s amazing what they can fit together. I just love it all.\u201d<\/p>\n Event details:<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Screenshot-2026-07-30-at-2.35.23-PM.png\")
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