‘So much joy’: Art Spark! offers art programs for people with memory loss

they really remember coming here um it has made an impression an initiative at the Flint Institute of Arts inspiring thoughts of creativity while making waves in the Alzheimer and dementia Community tv5's Lauren piasco gives us an inside look into art spark we know now that there are more than 200,000 michiganders living with Alzheimer's disease right now if you or loved one are living with Alzheimer's disease or dementia say hello to Artpark a new program launched by the Flint Institute of Arts

designed for people with mild to moderate memory loss and their Care Partners to learn more I stopped by the hot shop to check out this month's demonstration glass art as an instructor I feel like it's super similar to a lot of other educational experiences that we goer I think that throughout a given afternoon if we have high schoolers and then grade schoolers we're typically engaging the same way no one's super familiar with the material so we're always approaching get from a very easy approa

chable uh entryway the weirdest part about working with hot m is truly that you work with a liquid as you just saw it was certainly not in a liquid state right I think a lot of the times people are the most interested and sort of inspired by how much they didn't know about glass as a material if it's metal it's going to be hot a lot of the times that's probably the biggest impact we've had on people the idea for artspark was first brought to the FIA by dosent and access coordinator Jennifer Gidd

ings essn mocker during her time working for the Alzheimer's Association she learned there was a real need in want in mid Michigan for a program like this cater to those with memory loss it gives me so much joy I used to work for Alzheimer's Association and knowing that uh four years ago people were asking for you know a similar program what they can do to get out with their loved ones and not feel judged for you know behaviors or actions I ask Jennifer if the art has brought back any memories f

or anyone oh absolutely so um we have a couple of couples that keep coming back and signing up for more they want to know when's the next class when's the next Workshop um and they're inviting people which is fantastic one of the recent examples she gave me was of a man who remembered being back in his own Workshop after our clay tour our fir Master guy he took them back into the Kil room and one of our participants was just like this is amazing this reminds me of the shop um and just hearing th

e noise and the heat after the demonstration I also sat down with David hind a program manager for the Alzheimer's Association to hear his thoughts on the program I really appreciate what we're doing here to see folks again who I know otherwise wouldn't come out and I experienced something with the staff from the FIA that it's not just a craft of glass blowing for these two individuals but it's their engagement with the community why do you think exposure to a program like Artpark is so importan

t for people with Alzheimer's or dementia staying engaged staying active staying socially connected is critical to continuing their journey in a in a positive and Safe Way for their caregivers they typically don't do things for themselves their focus is their loved one so this gives both of those individuals the opportunity to be out amongst others in the community especially with people who understand not only do these staff members understand many have loved ones of their own with Alzheimer's

or dementia I have a grandmother who has dementia and so having this opportunity for her um even if she never attends just knowing that something is offered said that she was interested in coming to our watercolor Workshop so that would just be fantastic because I know that's something she used to do a lot when she was younger right now artspark has two portions first Gallery tours offer the third Thursday of every month these engage all five senses with a big emphasis on sight touch and smell i

n second art making workshops these are offered the last Saturday of every month upcoming workshops include glass fusing in April and watercolor painting in may they really remember coming here um it has made an impression to when are we going to AR spark in Flint Lauren PCO TV