The Moving Art Program, funded by the Australian Govenment’s Dementia Community Support Grants, began on Tuesday September 27th and saw eight participants from Cooinda Village, Benalla Health, Day Activities and the Benalla community come together, along with volunteers to enjoy visual art activities in the morning and dance and movement in the afternoon. The theme for the day focused on hands. Participants outlined their own hand and then enjoyed the sensory experience of having their partner outline their dominant hand. The hand prints were then decorated with pencils and paint and participants reflected on the many different things they had done with their hands throughout their lives. Later in the music and movement session the morning’s session inspired a lively group dance to keep the stiffness away. Expressive Arts Therapist, Grace Beer commented on the atmosphere of lively conversation that filled the room as participants engaged with each other and the volunteers.
The first eight week workshop series is running one day per week at Cooinda Village and consists of a morning session of art therapy followed by lunch and a dance movement therapy session in the afternoon. Because there are 2 sessions, participants have the choice, depending on their energy levels plus their interests, whether they attend both sessions or only one. Most people have chosen to do either the art therapy or the dance movement therapy, with a few people electing to stay for the whole day and try both. While the art group is in progress, Dance Movement Therapist, Maeve Larkin works with three people with later stage dementia in the Morrie Evans Wing at Benalla Health.
During several of the group sessions we have had the attendance of Jake and Sam Bowtell, young film makers, who have been gathering film footage and stories in the form of conversations and memories stimulated by the art and movement activities. Digital story telling can be thought of as a modern extension of the ancient traditional art of story telling. The use of digital technologies , enables stories to be told from the unique perspective of each person. Jake says digital story telling is a great way tell stories because it combines different art forms such as painting, movement, photos, sound, video and music interwoven with the narrative. Jake says he and Sam are excited to be a part of the Moving Art project and hope that people will see that art is not only a hobby, but a great way to connect people living with dementia.
Moving Arts participants including volunteers have said they have enjoyed the experience so far, particularly the company and the laughter.
To learn more about the Moving Art project and have your say, visit www.cooindavillage.org.au and follow the links.
The first eight week workshop series is running one day per week at Cooinda Village and consists of a morning session of art therapy followed by lunch and a dance movement therapy session in the afternoon. Because there are 2 sessions, participants have the choice, depending on their energy levels plus their interests, whether they attend both sessions or only one. Most people have chosen to do either the art therapy or the dance movement therapy, with a few people electing to stay for the whole day and try both. While the art group is in progress, Dance Movement Therapist, Maeve Larkin works with three people with later stage dementia in the Morrie Evans Wing at Benalla Health.
During several of the group sessions we have had the attendance of Jake and Sam Bowtell, young film makers, who have been gathering film footage and stories in the form of conversations and memories stimulated by the art and movement activities. Digital story telling can be thought of as a modern extension of the ancient traditional art of story telling. The use of digital technologies , enables stories to be told from the unique perspective of each person. Jake says digital story telling is a great way tell stories because it combines different art forms such as painting, movement, photos, sound, video and music interwoven with the narrative. Jake says he and Sam are excited to be a part of the Moving Art project and hope that people will see that art is not only a hobby, but a great way to connect people living with dementia.
Moving Arts participants including volunteers have said they have enjoyed the experience so far, particularly the company and the laughter.
To learn more about the Moving Art project and have your say, visit www.cooindavillage.org.au and follow the links.