Art exhibition brings generations together
A three day exhibition with artwork created by people living with dementia has opened in Mosman Park today.
The art exhibition of Project Picasso includes a piece created by people living with dementia together with local preschoolers.
Over a seven-week period residents and clients from Amana Living centres in Perth and Kalgoorlie created more than 200 artworks, including one piece created together with pre-schoolers.
The exhibition is part of Project Picasso, an annual enrichment program for people living with dementia in Amana Living care centres or attending the care providers day respite clubs.
Art is known to be an effective way to engage with people living with dementia, and this year there was a very special connection between clients at one respite club and young children.
Three- and four-year-olds from West Kinross Kids Care Preschool have been visiting Club Kinross for a range of activities, including a piece of intergenerational art for Project Picasso.
Club Kinross coordinator Yvonne Pedersen says: “This is a fantastic opportunity for the generations to come together. Many of the children don’t have older relatives in Australia, and our clients have so much fun with them. It’s a joy to see them all light up!”
Volunteer and Enrichment Manager, Emily Scarff, says: “Project Picasso is an opportunity for people living with dementia to express themselves when words elude them. We provide as much freedom as possible to create a variety of artworks, by supplying art equipment and lots of encouragement from staff and volunteers.”
Visitors of the exhibition are invited to purchase pieces by anonymous donation. Funds raised will be invested in art supplies for Project Picasso 2016.
The Project Picasso exhibition is held at the Cortile-Wright Bennett Centre on St Hilda’s Chidley Campus, McCabe Street, Mosman Park. The exhibition opened today and will be open from 10.00am–1.00pm on Wednesday 9 and Thursday 10 December 2015.
