When Sacramento State teacher Nancy Schier-Anzelmo instructed her Gerontology 101 students to volunteer at the Ethel M. Hart Senior Center or the Triple “R” Adult Day Program, she had no idea that one student would take the assignment to the next level.

Maria Cristina Falasci quickly coordinated a one-day art show, “A Day of Art and Socializing,” with all works done by older adults. About 43 pieces were displayed in the cafeteria of the Ethel M. Hart Senior Center on 27th Street Saturday afternoon.

Falasci said, the goals of the event were to allow people over the age of 50 the opportunity to express themselves through non-verbal communication, and to give elderly people who do not have the capability to travel afar the chance to view fine art.

“Sacramento has a significant older adult population,” Falasci said. This is a way to give Sacramento a piece of the Bay Area by sharing the area’s art with the elderly, she said.

Also, the one-day art gallery gave older adults a new venue for socializing with each other and younger people.

The exhibit featured a few world-renowned artists. Joe Cleary lent his sculpture, “Alamo,” which is of a young woman holding a saddle. Cleary is most known for his 30-foot winged goddess at the New Orleans Port Authority.

Bill Webber, the curator of the Brentwood Arts Commission, appeared at the show. He brought a portfolio of his works, and displayed several of his paintings.

“I wanted to help out any way that I could,” Webber said.

A photo of the Jazz Mural on the corner of Columbus and Broadway Street in San Francisco that Webber and Tony Klaas painted was also displayed.

“It took me eight months to paint (the mural) in 1987,” Webber said. “I’m repainting it now due to fading. When the rain’s over, I’ll finish the last quarter.”

Jim Bryant, a former professor at San Jose State University, also attended. Of his numerous black-and-white photographs, he only displayed one – a photograph of a ponderosa tree overlooking the Bryce Canyon in southern Utah.

“This event was very nicely done,” Bryant said. “The senior center is very fortunate to have this.”

Stanley Mouse, another artist, could not attend the gallery but offered five of his artworks. Offhand people would not recognize his name, but when shown his creations he is instantly recognized. He had one painting of the band The Grateful Dead with the skull of a Cyclops. He also displayed some of his later works of portrait paintings.

Mouse is known for his Grateful Dead album covers, such as “American Beauty” and “Europe ’72.” He also drew the cover for Journey’s “Infinity” album.

Among the paintings were sculptures, some of which were made by a local woman in her early 90s, Cecilia Czerwinskin. Her sculptures were composed of different materials, including ceramic and wood.

As Schier-Anzelmo walked around the makeshift gallery room with her daughters, she smiled proudly.

“It’s fantastic,” Schier-Anzelmo said. “I’m very proud of Cristina (Falasci). She went way beyond the class assignment to create a fabulous project.”

Jamie Gonzales can be reached at [email protected]