Alzheimer’s Iron
Fading Memories Made Into Eternal Artworks
Alzheimer’s Iron
is a multi-step, cross-generational art project that will benefit the
Alzheimer’s Association. The project is made up of three steps: production of
artwork by elderly community members, interpretation of these works and
rendered sculptures by iron castors, and
an auction featuring the artworks.
The first step of the project involves the Golden
Years Club (a community service based gerontology club) facilitating the making
of artwork in nursing homes and assisted living communities in Allegany and
Steuben Counties. Each two hour session allows residents one on one interaction
with our trained club members. Elderly artists create paintings from red and
black iron oxide and gesso. “The human brain supports-perhaps thrives
on-creative activity and certain types of creative challenges- ones that may
foster repair and growth of brain structures and their attendants behaviors.”[i]
A handful of elders that participate in the painting
session will also get an alginate (a mold making material that captures
extraordinarily small detail) mold taken of their hands. The hands will be cast
in Iron and duplicated, one will be given as a memento to the elders’ families
and others sold for fundraising purposes.
The paintings are given to students at The National
Casting Center Foundry at Alfred University to create sculptures in response or
homage to the elder’s artwork. The artist involved is provided with information
about Alzheimer’s disease and it’s affects on the elderly individual and their
families.
After the students has sculpted their art out of wax
or non drying clay, they rally together to perform a cupola iron pour (an
ancient art form which melts iron in a furnace). The community and families of
the elderly involved in the Alzheimer’s Iron project are encouraged to come
watch the pour and meet all of the wonderful cast iron artists involved.
All paintings and sculptures will be
shown and auctioned off. All proceeds will be donated to the Alzheimer’s
Association.
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