Albert Einstein once said “A mind that opens to a new idea never returns to its original size.” Opening Minds through Art (OMA) is a collaborative art program between Cedar Village and the Scripps Gerontology School at Miami University aimed at promoting the social engagement, autonomy, and dignity of people with dementia through creative self-expression. OMA's mission statement "to build bridges across age and cognitive barriers" is founded on the fact that people with dementia are capable of expressing themselves creatively.
Group sessions utilize trained staff members and volunteers on a one-to-one basis with residents to build close relationships with people with dementia. The end of the art-making sessions culminates with a dinner and a gallery exhibition with the artists celebrating their accomplishments while educating the public about the creative capacitates of people with dementia through their artwork.
Your donation will help purchase art supplies for our talented artists.
At Cedar Village we collaborate with the Scripps Gerontology School at Miami University for the Opening Minds through Art (OMA) program. OMA is an art program for residents with dementia that is aimed at promoting the social engagement, autonomy, and dignity of these individuals through creative self-expression. OMA's mission statement "to build bridges across age and cognitive barriers" is founded on the fact that people with dementia are capable of expressing themselves creatively.
The program is implemented in group sessions utilizing trained staff members and volunteers with residents on a one-to-one basis. The staff members and volunteers working with the residents build close relationships with people with dementia. The art-making sessions culminate in a gallery exhibition and dinner with the artists celebrating the artists’ accomplishments while educating the public about the creative capacitates of people with dementia. Showing the public the creative self-expression capacities of people with dementia through exhibitions of their artwork. Your donation will help purchase art supplies for our talented artists.
At Cedar Village, we are privileged to collaborate with the Scripps Gerontology School at Miami University for our “Opening Minds through Art Program.” Our 14th semester began on September 18th, and over 30 Cedar Village residents with dementia are paired with community volunteers and student volunteers from Miami for this amazing art program. Residents, who many times are unable to express themselves verbally, can express themselves through painting to create beautiful works of art. It is always wonderful to see their masterpieces and the titles they give their artwork. Your donation will help purchase art supplies for our talented artists.
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The Opening Minds Through Art (OMA) program allows 30 residents with varying stages of dementia to express themselves through art. Working with volunteer partners, residents have created beautiful works of art in a variety of mediums.
The highlight of each semester’s OMA Program is the opening of the art exhibit including a dinner for the artists, their family members and volunteers followed by an opportunity to proudly show their loved ones the masterpieces they have created.
We just completed our 13th session of OMA in May. The residents once again enjoyed the opportunity to create art that they can share with others. “When I was a teacher, I made art like this with my students. I love working with the paint and sponges,” said one resident.
Your donation to the OMA Program will be used to purchase art supplies for the talented artists.
In February, Cedar Village began our 13th semester of our art program for individuals with dementia, Opening Minds Through Art. Close to 40 residents are paired one on one with community volunteers and college students from the University of Cincinnati as well as from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Opening Minds Through Art is a program established by the Scripps Gerontology Center at Miami University.
It is always so meaningful to observe the sessions which take place on Thursday mornings. The amazing artists create beautiful pieces of art and are able to communicate through their artwork. At the last session, Sarah was so proud of the painting she created and was thrilled to be able to share it with her volunteer partner. Your generous gift will help artists like Sarah express themselves in a meaningful way.
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