Adult Day Care clients use art for personal expression and friendship
Last December, Barren River Adult Day Care received a $5,000 Creative Aging and Lifelong Learning grant from the Kentucky Arts Council. Money from the grant allowed Patricia Ritter – a teaching artist from Burkesville – to give lessons to clients on drawing, collage, and painting over the span of three months. Many clients were introduced to a variety of media and techniques for the first time.
“As the artist working with clients at Barren River Adult Day Care Center,” Patricia said, “this was a joyful project from beginning to end. Their enthusiasm and willingness to try new things and exercise their creativity was inspiring to me and exciting to watch. I believe everyone who participated in the art lessons I provided, as well as those who input ideas and painted on the mural we created, enjoyed themselves and learned something new each time. A few who may have been a bit hesitant joined in to whatever I presented to them, participated to their fullest extent and were very happy with their art pieces. We drew, we painted, we collaged and used different tools and brushes, and discovered individual personal expression through these activities. In doing so, a community was formed each time with people making new friendships and getting to know each other. Everyone was so welcoming and happy to see me — and that made working with the clients and Allison Cash, Recreation Therapist, a great experience. Art enriches all our lives on so many levels and it was truly an honor to interact and teach these wonderful people.”
