Seated "Friendly" Dance, led by Susan Wickett-Ford of Silverkite Community Arts.
A recent Momentia celebration with the UW MBWC featured songs and dances inspired by the Art of Alzheimer's exhibit, revealing music's creative spark for people living with memory loss or dementia.
Storm, storm
Wet on wet
Storm, storm
What a threat
Swirls and then going down
Swirls and then going away
I’ve seen it, I've seen it
I sing it to my soul
How far down the rabbit hole
Do I go?
The lyrics of this song 'Whirlpool' were created at a songwriting workshop held on February 5, 2016 at the Art of Alzheimer's exhibit, The Artist Within, then on display at Seattle City Hall. Judith-Kate Friedman, Director of Songwriting Works™ Educational Foundation and her colleague Keeth Monta Apgar led the workshopping, prompting the group of people living with memory loss or dementia to take inspiration from their favorite paintings in the exhibit (also created by people with memory loss) and put their reactions into song against the strumming of Friedman's guitar.
Some paintings of the Art of Alzheimer's exhibit
Because the Art of Alzheimer's exhibit has moved on from its home at the Harborview Medical Center to grace new venues, the UW Memory and Brain Wellness Center (MBWC) recently worked with community partners to throw a closing celebration for persons living with memory loss and their families, as well as other members of the public who appreciated the exposure to artistic creativity amid cognitive loss. The attendees often participate in Momentia Seattle's dementia-friendly programs, such as zoo walks with the Alzheimer's Association, gardening led by Seattle Parks and Recreation, arts engagement programs at the Frye Art Museum, and much more.
The May celebration at Harborview Medical Center, led by Marigrace Becker, Manager of Community Education and Impact at the MBWC, made music the day's focus, with dementia-friendly seated dances, singing, and a drum circle. Friedman presented the recording of the 'Whirlpool' song. Many in the room had participated in the songwriting workshop. As "Storm, storm, wet on wet," began to play, Alice Padilla, who lives with memory loss, smiled with delight and recognition, swayed, and waved her arms to the music, leading the entire audience to join in the song.
"It’s been so fun to see the sparks light up in peoples’ eyes upon hearing the song or seeing the painting they created," said Gillian Jones, Director of Programming for the Edmonds Center for the Arts, which offers arts and film engagement opportunities for people with dementia.
An inside look at the process of writing 'Whirlpool.' (c) 2016 Composing Together Works.
Friedman shared this photo of the process of writing 'Whirlpool', an illustation of the creative thought processes sparked by looking at watercolor paintings in the company of others.
“Long ago, I fell in love with the magic that happens in experiments with collective songwriting,” Friedman said after the event. As a musician now located in Port Townsend, she has led music programs in communities for 26 years, and dementia-specific musical opportunities since 2007. "It doesn’t matter that these participants can't remember making the painting or composing the song. What matters is the long-lasting positive emotional experience, the joy, they experience."
The event also reinforced the supportive role that UW Medicine plays in the Memory and Brain Wellness Center's effort to provide resources and foster acceptance and compassion for people with dementia in the Seattle community. Dr. Richard Goss, Medical Director of UW Medicine's Harborview Medical Center, spoke about his father, a retired surgeon, who now participates in an intergenerational arts program at Providence Mt. St. Vincent. Goss realized the importance of art in dementia care when his father stated:
Dr. Richard Goss, Medical Director, HMC
'With art, things come out of your hands that don’t come out of your mouth.'
"When he said that, I stood in amazement," said Goss. "I feel like I'm on a journey of learning about the experience of other families. I realize just how lucky I am to work here at UW Medicine Harborview Medical Center."
Husband and wife, Paul and Alice Padilla, longtime Momentia community members, participate in as many zoo walks and arts engagement activites they can fit into their schedule. "Today just reinforced the sense of community that surrounds us," said Mr. Padilla. "At first, I thought that these activites would help to support Alice's wellbeing, but it turns out that they help me to stay socially and physically active, too."
Paul and Alice Padilla
For Mrs. Padilla, one of the creators of 'Whirlpool,' it doesn't take a whole song for her to capture the real reason to celebrate Momentia Seattle every now and then: "We meet such wonderful people in these programs," she said. "We have so much fun, and that's what life is all about." —Genevieve Wanucha
Storm blowing fish from water (2x)
Blowing, blowing
Fish in air
Swirls and then going down
Swirls and then going away
Whirlpool, rain, hurricane
I’ve seen it, I've seen it
I sing it to my soul
How far down the rabbit hole
Do I go?
(c) 2016 Composing Together Works.
Created by participants at the Artist Within Exhibition - an Art of Alzheimer's event at Seattle City Hall on February 5, 2016 in collaboration with Judith-Kate Friedman and Keeth Monta Apgar of Songwriting Works™. Lyric excerpts printed with permission. For more information, visit: songwritingworks.org and Innovations in Dementia Care.
