Senior Access

What is a Totem Canoe? I got to explore this idea while being the summer visiting artist at  Senior Access http://www.senioraccess.org/ -  a senior dayfacility in San Rafael, CA. My guiding concept was to lift senior spirits and impart a feeling of comfort by leading them in making boats to hold them and their feelings of vulnerability.  At their ages, this is a big deal.
We had five 90 min. sessions together over 5 weeks  My final project was inspired by NW tribal totem poles. I combined a simple version of stacked animal mask heads using sticky back foam as the base that they attached to a willow twig and inserted into their canoes made of decorated milk cartons. I brought them the materials while they taught me a new way of practing patience. 

My professional work with seniors began at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, https://deyoung.famsf.org/calendar/artful-discoveries-64 where in 2012, I co-lead the pilot program for what is now Artful Discoveries.  In 2013, I was a key educator to help build the Arts Cafe program at the Contemporary Jewish Museum that has now morphed into a broader program -  http://www.thecjm.org/programs/creative-aging.  My sister-in-law with Alzheimers has benefited from both of these and I see first hand how transformative this time can be.

My driving force behind this work is the experience I had with both of my parents who lived in care facilities for their last years and a long drawn out time with my grandmothers who both also saw their final days in care homes. I realized then how important it is to bring freshness and energy to the elderly who have so much spirit burning inside.

I am proud to be part of a group, Creative Aging,  that includes some most wonderfu, talented and thoughtful professionals I could imagine.  https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=creative%20aging%20sf
This group is dynamic and expanding rapidly as is the field of
Gerontology. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerontology
Watch out- baby boomers will have new tools and support to become even greater teachers of wisdom.




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