Wartburg Unveils the Latest Commissioned Painting by Christopher Corr In Celebration of Its Upcoming 150th Anniversary
David J. Gentner, President and CEO of Wartburg, one of Westchester’s largest senior services providers, unveiled the latest commissioned painting by Christopher Corr, featuring Wartburg’s Fall Festival, scheduled to be held in October 2014. The return of the Fall Festival will be the start of multi-year festivities that will culminate with the celebration of Wartburg’s upcoming 150th Anniversary in 2016.
The painting, personally delivered by Christopher Corr, explodes with the rich warm hues of autumn and displays traditional components of Wartburg’s iconic Fall Festival previously held on the their historic 34-acre campus in Mount Vernon, NY. The painting, abundant in Wartburg history, pays tribute to Wartburg’s past while simultaneously integrating its latest accolades. The Wartburg Orphans’ Farm School was founded in 1866 as a Lutheran ministry to care for those children in need after the Civil War. Featured from this time period in the painting are apple orchards, cows grazing in the pastures, vegetable gardens and the members of Wartburg’s legendary Boys Marching Band. As time went on, Wartburg transitioned from caring for children to caring for older adults and today is known as Wartburg. Wartburg’s Friedrichs Residence (affordable senior housing), adult day services and rehabilitation center and award winning Creative Aging and Lifelong Learning Initiative complete the painting by bringing it up-to-date.
“There is no better way to begin the celebration of our upcoming 150th Anniversary in 2016 than to commemorate the milestone with a painting featuring one of Wartburg’s most memorable events – the Fall Festival. I am officially announcing Wartburg will once again host the iconic Fall Festival. The Fall Festival painting will be incorporated into all aspects of the upcoming event. The festival is scheduled to take place October 10-11-12. Featured at the 2014 Fall Festival will be music, food, arts, crafts and games. Details will be announced shortly and everyone is invited to attend,” said Gentner.
Fall Festival is the third in a series of unique colorful paintings Corr has created for Wartburg paying tribute to the diversified beauty and grace nature bestows upon its campus each “season”. The collaboration first began in 1998 with the creation of “Winter at Wartburg” and followed immediately with “Summer at Wartburg” the next year. Each piece of art reflects Corr’s traditional method of painting, gouaches on handmade Italian or Indian paper.
“I was honored to be able to preserve Wartburg’s historic past in the Fall Festival painting while also highlighting their recent achievements. My latest painting will add to the legacy the current Wartburg generation is creating for the 21st century,” said Corr.
Wartburg is an award-winning provider of comprehensive senior services, including independent living, assisted living, Alzheimer’s/dementia care, skilled nursing, rehabilitation and hospice care. Its 34-acre campus in Mount Vernon serves seniors and their families in southern Westchester and the northern Bronx. Wartburg’s nursing home has been recognized by U. S. News & World Report as among the best nursing homes in New York State. Over the past few years, Wartburg has launched an ambitious building expansion program, including the Friedrichs Residence, with 61 independent living apartments, and a rehabilitation and adult day services center, both opened in 2013. For nearly 150 years The Wartburg has stayed true to a single mission: to nurture and heal the body, mind and spirit of each person entrusted to our care. The children who grew up at The Wartburg Orphans’ Farm School in decades past received the same compassionate and attentive care as the seniors in our care today living on our campus and in the neighboring communities.
Christopher Corr was born in London and studied at The Royal College of Art (London, England). His round-the-world travels provide much of the inspiration for his work. His first trip to India in 1986 resulted in a one-person show entitled “Welcome To India” which was followed by a book and short BBC TV film of the same name. Christopher’s commissions include book jackets, book illustrations, posters, the World Aids Day 1996 campaign, artist for Qantas, artist for Windstar Cruises, Sherbet animation films featuring Russian folk stories, Saks Fifth Avenue and UNICEF, to name a few. In 1999 the Royal Mail of England sent him to Bosnia to paint SFOR, the Peace-Keeping troops for a commemorative stamp in the Millennium Stamps Project. His art has been exhibited at the Rowley Gallery in London and The Magnolia Gallery in San Francisco. In June 2014, Christopher will be showing art at the Fashion and Textile Museum in London at their “Made in Mexico” exhibition.
