The psychological impact of art is undeniable, and art has been used as a tool for self-exploration through both therapy and meditation. On May 19, the museum held the event “Making Time with Art: Partners in Memory Care,” hosted by associate curator of education Sage Kincaid and art therapist Mary Safrai. The event consisted of a series of activities for individuals living with memory disorders and their caretakers that, under the guidance of an art therapist, would provide space and opportunity to use art as a tool for memory assistance. Memory care aims to decrease stress by providing a safe and structured environment for people living with memory disorders such as Alzheimer’s or dementia.
The group of participants was small and intimate, providing a comfortable setting for interacting with art directly. Kincaid and Safrai led the group to the galleries to view and discuss the painting “La Confidence” by Elizabeth Jane Gardner. The work, which depicts a woman leaning over and whispering into the ear of another woman sitting next to her, was a great place to begin. “The work was a perfect painting to talk about because it is beautiful to look at, and clearly communicates that there is a story to be discovered about the figures in it,” Kincaid said. The group observed the close relationship between the women, wondered what they were whispering about and remembered what it felt like to walk outside with bare feet like the women in the painting.
After reflecting on the work and sharing their personal insights, the group moved to the art studio to make art of their own. The teaching artist for the class was Mary Safrai, an art therapist who recently moved to Athens. She prepared an art activity that was design-based and involved arranging bright, colorful shapes onto black paper and then framing the work. Participants enjoyed the activity and got to take home the works they created to share with friends and family. One participant in particular was excited to show the work to his daughter and hear her thoughts about what he had created.
Processing visual images works the occipital lobe of the brain. This lobe is most associated with visual and spatial processing, distance and depth perception and memory formation. By collectively completing activities connected to visual art, participants were able to work this part of their brains. Additionally, participants had the opportunity to work closely with their caretakers and meet other people in Athens living with memory disorders. “My goal for the program is to bring people together who may be going through similar experiences and provide a space for us to connect to each other through looking at and making art,” Kincaid said. “Doing a program like this with a talented art therapist like Mary Safrai helps the museum serve an even wider audience.”
At the end of the event each participant left with a copy of Roz Chast’s graphic novel “Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant(opens in new tab),” a memoir that tackles the topic of aging parents and coping with a parent experiencing dementia. This event was part of the University of Georgia’s Big Read program(opens in new tab), sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts.
By Francesca Felicella
