Bridge to Expression

Bridge to Expression consists of dual exhibitions by Alzheimer’s Orange County and HOPE Center for the Arts.

Lasting Impressions: Paintings and stories by persons with dementia  presented by Alzheimer’s Orange County
Lasting Impressions features watercolor paintings created during Memories in the Making®, the signature art program of Alzheimer’s Orange County. Access to creative expression is essential to the human experience and is not lost in a person living with Alzheimer’s. With the stroke of a paintbrush, participants are able to express themselves, often painting memories from long ago or images to represent what they can no longer verbally communicate. The collection also features companion art created by local artists who were inspired by Memories in the Making® paintings.

Upon the completion of a painting, the Memories in the Making® artist is asked to title their work. This becomes a catalyst for conversation and a chance to connect with the participants to better understand who they are and what their life experiences have been. The images are their voice. Lasting Impressions validates their achievements, reminding their family and the community that all is not forgotten.

For more information, please visit www.alzoc.org. This exhibition was made possible through the generous support of BlueSea Care Services.

Rhythmic Bond presented by HOPE Center for the Arts 
This exhibition features the collaborative work of HOPE artist, Marvin Castillo, and Los Angeles based artist, Cheryl Walker; both mark makers, one living with disabilities, one without. This is the story of their work together in the studio as part of HOPE Center for the Arts visiting artist/mentorship program HOPE Art Lab.

Marvin speaks through movement, through gesture; the gesture of the mark, the movement of his hand. All of the pieces in the show are truly collaborative, touched by each artist’s hand. This process changed Marvin. It was as if, through his interaction with Cheryl, the title of artist was bestowed, transferred through the shared space of making. In the making of this body of work, Marvin clearly began to regard  himself as an artist through an awareness of being recognized and validated by an established artist (Cheryl) for his contribution. And for Cheryl, she learned to take her cues from Marvin, to follow his lead, to adjust to his mark. In turn, Marvin gave Cheryl the space to reconnect to the intrinsic therapeutic value of art making, connecting to the flow of life and to each other, speaking in marks. What transpired between them was the alchemy of connection, the rhythmic bond.

For more information about HOPE Center for the Arts, please visit www.hope4arts.org. HOPE Art Lab is funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.