Art at the
heart of it all

By Tom Waring
Times Staff Writer

Larry Cummings takes a very simple approach to his choice of artwork.
"If I see something I like," he said, "I try to sketch it."
Cummings, an 86-year-old who lives on Lansing Street in Holmesburg, takes classes at the Diskin-Gallagher Community Arts Center, at 7143 Edmund St. (at Friendship Street) in Tacony.
The center, operated by Pat Gallagher, has been open for three and a half years. On Saturday, it will take a big step forward with its first showing of the art students’ work.
The event will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. at Republic First Bank, at Frankford and Cottman avenues. There will be a silent auction and sales of the artwork.
Thirty pieces of Cummings’ work will be highlighted. He’s modest about his creations, but his teacher and fellow students are big fans of his art and the vaudeville songs he sings during class.
"His work is pretty cool," Gallagher said. "It’s real colorful."
Added classmate Alice Owens: "I sit beside him, and you can see the intensity of him working. He studies his work."
Cummings is a Northeast High School graduate who earned a Purple Heart while serving as a combat infantryman in the U.S. Army during World War II. He received an engineering degree from Temple University in 1950.
In 1983, he retired from his job as a machinery repairman at the former Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. He lost his wife, Gertrude, in 1993. The couple had two sons.
For the last 12 years, Cummings has been taking classes with Gallagher. He started with her when she had a studio in Lawndale and moved to the present site in 2005.
"I always did a little sketching, but she’s the only one who gave me instructions," he said. "She taught me a lot."
Cummings is also a coin collector, but he finds himself spending a good bit of his week sketching. He typically completes 10 drawings on his own and brings them to class on Tuesday mornings.
"I like pastels. I like vivid colors," he said. "It seems like I always end up drawing birds."
Cummings is looking forward to Saturday’s showcase. He’ll look sharp in a suit and has already promised to take Gallagher and the other ladies in his class out to dinner at Gallo’s Seafood Restaurant. He’ll receive a congressional certificate from U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz.
The amateur artist didn’t take formal classes until he was 74 years old. He encourages fellow senior citizens to draw, go to libraries or visit museums instead of sitting home doing nothing.
"People say they can’t find anything to do. I think there’s something wrong with them," he said.
Cummings is the oldest student; the youngest is 5. Classes are held year round for one- and two-hour periods.
While Gallagher is excited about Saturday’s event, she would like to hold future art showings at the center. She plans to knock down some walls in the building to create a large gallery space.
The non-profit organization will be seeking grants to pay for the work and has been fortunate to receive funding in the past from the state Department of Community and Economic Development, the Philadelphia Activities Fund and the Community Life Improvement Program.
Gallagher taught art for 19 years at West Catholic High School. She brings her experience traveling and living overseas to the studio.
Some of the young students at her center have gone on to earn high school scholarships or attend the High School for Creative and Performing Arts.
At the studio, she welcomes about 50 students a week. She’s assisted by volunteer interns from area art schools. Young and older students occasionally work together.
"The main focus is bringing arts to the community," she said.
Students pay just $10 an hour. Materials are included.
"It’s very reasonable price-wise," she said.
The students have their choice of drawing, painting, watercolors, acrylics, pastels, clay and computer graphics. They are proud of the garden-themed mural they created on the side of the building.
All of those genres will be on display on Saturday.
"We’ll have a very diverse showing of work," Gallagher said.
Besides taking art class together, the students become friends and consider themselves a family. They go on trips, offer encouragement to one another in class and enjoy watching others making progress.
The students appreciate the individual attention and the convenience of a neighborhood studio.
"It’s great to have something like this in the neighborhood," said Carolyn McCabe, who used to drive to the Fleisher art gallery at Seventh and Catharine streets in South Philadelphia for night classes.
Added Joan Dahlberg: "I love coming here. We spend our youth working hard, and now we have time to do something we like." ••
Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215-354-3034 or twaring@phillynews.com

Check out the art show

The Diskin-Gallagher Community Arts Center will present its first showing of artist work on Saturday, from 4 to 7 p.m., at Republic First Bank, at 7300 Frankford Ave. (at Cottman Avenue). The public is invited. Admission is free.
The show will highlight the works of Larry Cummings. The art will be for sale, and there will be a silent auction. Refreshments will be served, courtesy of the Community Life Improvement Program (CLIP).
For more information, call 215-624-0437 or visit www.dgcac.org