The residents at the Great Laurels of Junaluska Apartments, which provides affordable housing for senior citizens, were surprised on Feb. 27 to discover the many gifted artists living just down the hall.

Nancy Burleson, Great Laurels assistant manager, said they arranged the first ever art show to allow artistic residents to show off their craft. Since the apartment complex doesn’t offer any type of art classes, it is just by chance that so much artistic ability resides at Great Laurels.

“We have about 16 residents participating,” she said. “There’s no judging or competition. It’s just so they can share their talent with others.”

Demetrius Denis

For some residents, art is simply a pastime and an outlet. But for Demetrius Denis, art is what he has done for a living. Denis, originally ...