The Redmond Senior Center Gift Gallery, 8703 160th Ave. NE, has a special "Artist in Action" exhibit on display through Dec. 31.

The featured artist, Wallace J. (Wally) Pesznecker, creates needlepoint pictures.

"I began doing needlepoint pictures after I retired from The Boeing Company in 1989," Pesznecker explained. "I wanted to do something creative with my hands while watching TV or when it was too cold to work in my shop. I had never done any needle work before, but my mother-in-law and wife helped me learn the stitches."

His needlepoint pictures are based on personal interests such as hiking in the Cascades. They've been exhibited at the Eastshore Unitarian Church Gallery and at a Redmond Arts Commission show where he received an honorable mention.

In addition to needlepoint, Pesznecker carves images on maple rounds and builds small wooden jewelry boxes.

He was born in Washington and has lived in the state most of his life.

"During World War II, I joined the Army and served in England, France and Luxembourg, was taken as a prisoner of war and was in a German POW camp for about four months," Pesznecker noted. "I was released when the invasion of Europe by U.S. troops overran the camp."

The Redmond Senior Center Gift Gallery is open during regular Senior Center hours and on some weekends during special events.

For Redmond Senior Center information, call (425) 556-2314.

For information about Wally Pesznecker's art, e-mail wbpesz@verizon.net.

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