Woodbury resident and artist Joel Serota wanted to say “thank you” to his caregivers at the Hartford HealthCare Center For Cancer Care in Torrington and used a very special painting to do just that.
After a skin cancer diagnosis later in life, Joel renewed his passion for painting as he found it therapeutic and donated a print of one of his paintings, “Flags and Facades,” to Dr. Elizabeth Whalen and the staff at the Center, where he receives treatments as a special token of thanks for their care.
“I received the finest level of care from the finest people,” he said. “Giving back is a worthy tradition that I’ve felt is very important throughout my life and I’m so pleased to share this work with everyone at this wonderful place of healing.”
Painted in a style inspired by one of Joel’s favorite artists, Camille Pissarro, the piece is a framed print of his original oil on canvas and depicts an early winter morning in New York City where he worked for many years. Painted in 1967, it is one of his favorites. Joel always had a love for drawing and sketching, and enjoys painting local landscapes and scenes of friends, events, foxhounds and horses from his favorite pastimes. A collection of his oil paintings will be exhibiting at the Mattatuck Museum in Waterbury later this year.
“All of us so appreciate this meaning gift from Joel. We have placed it in a special spot for all to enjoy.” said Dr. Whalen, a radiation oncologist at the Center For Cancer Care.
Painting is just one of Joel’s many talents and passions. He is President and Principal of The Serota Group, LLC, an executive search and talent acquisition company based in Woodbury. He has served the Town of Woodbury as commissioner and chairman of the Planning Commission, as a member of its Board of Selectmen and as chairman of the Woodbury Reservoir Acquisition AD Hoc Committee.
Joel is also a founder and Master of Foxhounds of Woodbury Litchfield Hills Foxhounds, a former Board of Director of Smithtown Hunt on Long Island, and co-founder of Nassau Suffolk Horsemen’s Association, a 1,400-membership association, and currently president emeritus.