a visual lens into Alzheimer’s

As some of you know my mother lives in a nursing home with Alzheimer’s disease.

I’ve been struggling with subjects to paint and what keeps resounding is “paint what you know”. I certainly have come to know many folks who are victims of this disease by visiting my mother almost daily for the past year or so. I’ve learned much about myself in the process.

I hope you enjoy a peek at the people who have affected my life.

fractured

16″ x 16″ acrylic painting

surface – stretched canvas
(unframed and ready to hang)

I will be not using this one for the planned show. My hope is that the residents and their families will be able to attend. I’ll paint her entire face for that reason.It’s fascinating that although many ‘blocks’ of their lives may be misplaced or missing, that each person, depending on the severity of the illness, maintains much of her/his personality. Yes, as the disease progresses the fade increases and physical problems become more acute, yet each person remains unique.
I read about a study which showed how important it is to visit loved ones in nursing homes. The study found that even though they might not remember your visit an hour later (for some five minutes), the effects of the time spent with loved ones remain for hours past their actual memory of the visit.

Marge

“Marge”
16″ x 16″ acrylic painting

surface – stretched canvas

 First in a series of Alzheimer’s patients entitled Fractured.

As some of you know my mother lives in a nursing home with Alzheimer’s disease. Marge is one of the residents on my mother’s floor. Residents are free to roam within the confinements of their floor and Marge is one of the top walkers. She’s also quite sassy in a spirited sense.

I’ve been struggling with subjects to paint and what keeps resounding is “paint what you know”. I certainly have come to know many folks who are victims of this disease by visiting my mother almost daily for the past year or so. I’ve learned much about myself in the process.