When photographer and writer Amy J. Schultz got her first glimpse of how high schoolers in Texas do homecoming mums, she was hooked. For someone who loves great storytelling through pictures and words – and who is drawn to unique aspects of modern culture that hide in plain sight – exploring the mum phenomenon was irresistible. In her talk at The Preston of the Park Cities on October 29, “MUMENTOUS: The Upsizing of a Texas Tradition”, Schultz shared her passion with residents of the senior living community.
“Homecoming mums are a nearly 100-year-old tradition that is practiced in high schools across the southeastern United States, but ubiquitously in Texas,” explained Schultz, “I wanted to go beyond the sheer size of a typical mum (short for chrysanthemum) and focus on the people who create, sell and wear – or don’t wear – them; the history of mums; how moms and women are the driving forces behind the tradition; and where the tradition stands today.”
What began as a series of photographs shot at one high school in North Texas, MUMENTOUS came into its own during her tenure as the inaugural Artist-in-Residence at the Arlington Museum of Art in Arlington, Texas. The Museum debuted MUMENTOUS: The Upsizing of a Texas Tradition in Fall 2019 as an exhibition featuring Schultz’s much-expanded photography series; five original narratives based on real-life accounts from across the state; a mini documentary she produced about the history of homecoming mums; an original audio installation; digital art; a live InstaGram feed; and a 40-foot three-dimensional “wall” she created and curated of homecoming mums and garters borrowed or donated from Texans who wore them between the late 1970s through 2019.
“The residents, some native Texans and others who moved here from out-of-state, enjoyed seeing how this homecoming mum tradition has evolved over the decades,” said Ke’o Velasquez, Executive Director, The Preston of the Park Cities. “We like to present programs such as Amy’s talk on her MUMENTOUS project, which combines history and personal creativity, as an expression of what we celebrate here at The Preston and highlight through our Watermark University sessions.”
The talk by Schultz was part of the community’s Watermark University fall series, which features integrated programmatic offerings in the seven dimensions of wellness (spiritual, emotional, vocational, physical, social, environmental, and intellectual).
The program is a signature of Watermark Retirement Communities® at the 58 communities in 21 states it manages, including The Preston of the Park Cities, which is owned by Dallas-based Silverstone Senior Living.
The Preston of the Park Cities, parkcities.watermarkcommunities.com, is a full-service luxury rental retirement community offering Assisted Living, The Bridge and Memory Care. The community is located at 5917 Sherry Lane, Dallas 75225.
ABOUT THE PRESTON OF THE PARK CITIES
The Preston of the Park Cities is a full-service luxury rental retirement community with 134 residences offering Assisted Living, The Bridge and Memory Care. Located at 5917 Sherry Lane, Dallas 75225, in the prestigious Park Cities / Preston Hollow area, the community features an amenity-rich lifestyle with dynamic programs, fine dining, and concierge services. The Preston of the Park Cities is owned by Dallas-based Silverstone Senior Living and operated by Watermark Retirement Communities®. Visit parkcities.watermarkcommunities.com for more information.
ABOUT SILVERSTONE SENIOR LIVING
Silverstone Senior Living develops high-quality senior housing communities which provide independent living, assisted living and memory care services in Texas, Florida, and the Mid-Atlantic states. The principals of Silverstone have extensive experience and an excellent track record in the real estate industry. This experience includes designing, developing, managing, operating, and owning premier properties throughout the nation and across all the major asset platforms for both public and private companies. Silverstone is committed to developing and operating “best in class” communities that are as comfortable as home, luxurious as a country club, and provide the highest level of care. Visit silverstoneseniorliving.com for more information.
ABOUT WATERMARK RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES®
Watermark creates extraordinary communities where people thrive. We believe aging is about renewal rather than retirement. Watermark communities are known for highly trained and caring associates, a lifestyle built on choice, fine amenities, integrative wellness, and innovative programs including the award-winning Watermark University featuring a wide variety of engaging classes for residents and area seniors. Watermark has been named in the top 25 Best Workplaces for Aging Services in a national program conducted by the Great Place to Work Institute and published on Fortune.com. A privately held company with a reputation for over 30 years for service, innovation, integrity and financial stability, Watermark manages more than 65 retirement communities coast to coast. Based in Tucson AZ, Watermark is ranked as the nation’s 9th-leading senior housing operator by the American Seniors Housing Association. Visit watermarkcommunities.com for more information.