Home Arts & Entertainment ‘Through Our Eyes’ exhibit opens at the LIM

‘Through Our Eyes’ exhibit opens at the LIM

by Heidi Sutton - November 23, 2016

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facesinthecrowd-845x321 — 'Faces in the Crowd'

In recognition of National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month and Family Caregivers Month in November, The Long Island Museum, 1200 Route 25A, Stony Brook will serve as a showcase for the 4th annual Through Our Eyes exhibition in the Carriage Museum’s Gillespie Room through Dec. 13.

‘Beckoning Blooms,’ beads on canvas, by Marie G., Jean C. and Shirley D., residents of North Hills Bristal Assisted Living, is one of 33 works on view. Image from LIM

Discover the beauty in 33 unique works created by residents from 13 communities at the Bristal Assisted Living. Photographic portraits and artist statements presented beside each artwork provide a richer context and a deeper connection with both the piece and artist. The exhibition is an extension of the museum’s In the Moment: Art Engagement for People with Memory Loss program.

Piloted in 2011, In the Moment is a gallery program of art engagement for people with memory loss and their care partners. To date, the program has served more than 750 participants. Developed with the nationally recognized Meet Me at MoMA program in New York City and the Alzheimer’s Disease Center at Stony Brook University Medical Center, the program is led by trained museum educators.

“Observing art created by individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia is truly a gift. The person’s diagnosis is no longer the focus, rather it is the art that becomes the expression of their unique identity,” said Darlene Jyringi, program director for the Alzheimer’s Disease Assistance Center of Long Island.

Programs take place in the Carriage and Art Museums and offer opportunities for mental stimulation and social engagement. Participants are able to connect with the artwork on display, gain a sense of importance, and share and relay memories, unique experiences for many of the participants, who “rarely speak otherwise” according to one care partner. For more information, call 631-751-0066 or visit www.longislandmuseum.org.