Art show shines light on memory loss patients’ creativity

By Kelcy Dolan
Posted 6/30/16

A crowd gathered outside of Cornerstone Adult Services in Warwick Neck on Tuesday evening, anxiously waiting to see the organization’s art show, which displayed 160 pieces of abstract art created …

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Art show shines light on memory loss patients’ creativity

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A crowd gathered outside of Cornerstone Adult Services in Warwick Neck on Tuesday evening, anxiously waiting to see the organization’s art show, which displayed 160 pieces of abstract art created by more than 70 of their patients facing memory loss.

Nearly 200 people, family, friends and caregivers visited the temporary art gallery to view the pieces displayed throughout the facilities.

In January Cornerstone introduced a new program, Opening Minds through Art (OMA), which partners memory loss patients one-on-one with occupational therapy students to work on abstract art pieces for a 10-week program. Cornerstone is the only facilitator of the national program in the Northeast. Cornerstone partnered with New England Institute of Technology’s occupational department.

The program was so successful, Dottie Santagata, administrator of Cornerstone Adult Services on Warwick Neck Avenue, said the program far exceeded their expectations and she couldn’t see Cornerstone without OMA.

“Every person who has gone through this program has found joy and meaning in their art and being about to creatively express themselves,” Santagata said. “Our participants were so focused during this program and many times it’s that engagement that makes the difference between having a great day or feeling anxious and lost. That’s what we want to do here, make days great.”

Santagata explained that many of the participants had never experimented with the arts previously, but were very enthusiastic once they began. Although patients may not be able to participate in their old hobbies, but they can still succeed and contribute.

“Creativity exists even as memory fades,” she said.

Cornerstone decided to host an art show, to allow loved ones to come in and see the art as a culmination of the program. Santagata said that the art show exemplifies what patients are still able to do, acts as validation for the artists as well as a celebration of their abilities.

Linda Sinott, one of the OMA facilitators said you can see how much the program meant to patients because their “faces light up” when they walk by a piece they created.

“Some of them are posing with their pieces and they are proud of themselves and their families are too. They are smiling the whole time going through,” she said.

For volunteer Cynthia Carrara from New England Tech, the show was an exciting curtain call to an experience that brought her closer to some special people and re-ignited her personal interest in art. Carrara quickly connected with Kathleen H. who she had worked with during the program. The two admired Kathleen’s work as Carrara recalled how they first met and how she reassured her, “I’m going to be hanging out with you.”

Since the program, Carrara said she has taken up painting again and aims to become an OMA certified teacher herself.

Yvonne Annis, who has attended Cornerstone for more than a year, was delighted with the experience. She showed off her red, white and blue abstract painting to her daughter Pamela O’Neill.

“I tried to do the best I could,” said Yvonne.

O’Neill was impressed with the result and hopes to have the work hang in her home.

“She has loved it from day one,” O’Neill said of her mother’s experience at Cornerstone.

Kim Markarian, an art teacher at Hoxsie Elementary, said was astounded to see her father, Anthony Chrones’, work.

Growing up she always saw her father as a “numbers man”. An engineer by trade, Markarian explained it was always her mother and herself interested in art.

“He had his exposure to art, but I never thought he had this ability. I am very impressed and very proud,” she said. “As an art teacher it is very rewarding to see my father involved in a program like this.”

Makarian explained that the OMA program gave her father a “renewed purpose.” He was always excited to go to Cornerstone and paint, to meet with his mentor.

Santagata said, “Art has no boundaries. We all have an appreciation for art; it brings out something different in all of us and these pieces spark so much wonder and fascination in people.”

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