A partnership between Sandhill Elementary School and Milestone Senior Living is helping students and senior citizens celebrate creativity.

Last week, Milestone hosted the opening reception for an art exhibit featuring works by fifth-graders and residents under the theme "Hopes and Dreams." The exhibit is inspired by and modeled after Gustav Klimt's Tree of Life painting. Sandhill students and Milestone residents produced artwork inscribed with their own hopes and dreams to be displayed in Milestone.

The exhibit marks the third straight year that Sandhill and Milestone have partnered for such a display, said Sandhill art teacher Natalie Ergas, who organizes the event.

"The event came about when I was planning my printmaking units," Ergas said. "I wanted to have the students do something in the community for Random Acts of Kindness week, but we called it 'Random Acts of Art.'"

Throughout all three years of the program, Ergas said that the overarching theme for the exhibits has been kindness.

"I think the partnership has benefited our students in that they can see that their art has a bigger impact in the community. The Milestone residents absolutely love having the students come and also really enjoy their artwork displayed. In addition, I feel like it benefits the Milestone residents to be able to be creative and do some art that is connected to what the fifth-graders are doing."

Sandhill has partnered with Milestone since the facility, located just up the street from the school, opened several years ago. Milestone residents have read to students both at their facility and at Sandhill, providing opportunities for intergenerational conversations and learning. Earlier this month, Sandhill students also visited Milestone to deliver homemade flowers to residents on Valentine's Day.