“Art for the Soul” is the title of an exhibition by residents of Abundant Living Adult Day Services, sponsored by Waterworks Visual Arts Center and Abundant Living.
Art for the Soul began in February 2011 with a pilot program taught by photographer Sean Meyers and volunteer assistant Mark Perry, followed by a painting and sculpture class taught by visual artist Marietta Foster Smith and volunteer assistant Patt Legg. The exhibition will be featured in the upstairs Delhaize Conference Room at Waterworks, 123 East Liberty St.
Meyers showed the students photos and talked about composition, interest, and lighting. The students were given digital cameras. Each participant had the opportunity to take photographs of their own interests. Many photographed each other as well as points of interest around the center. They each brought special items to class to photograph.
The painting and sculpture class focused on color and shape. Students created tissue paper collages, sculptures, and paintings on canvas board.
This new series is based on a failure-free environment with the focus being on the process rather than the product. For those with dementia, creative experiences also offer an escape from the pressure of remembering. The opportunity to create provides comfort, satisfaction, and an overall sense of well-being.
This special exhibition allows the community to see the participants’ work and witness that amazing things happen when the focus is on what someone can do rather than what they cannot do.
Art for the Soul was made possible through donations by the Blanche and Julian Robertson Family Foundation, the Margaret C. Woodson Foundation, and the Society for the Arts in Healthcare. The free exhibit will continue through Nov. 12.
For more information, call 704-636-1882 or visit www.waterworks.org