The Art of Alzheimer's Presents THE ARTIST WITHIN

The Art of Alzheimer's presents The Artist Within opening January 8, 2019 in Seattle City Hall's Lobby and Anne Focke Galleries. The opening reception on January 10 from 4-6pm and the exhibition that runs through March 6, 2019 are free to the public and presented in cooperation with the City of Seattle Office of Arts & Culture, and Elderwise. Care providers, artists and their families will be at the opening reception to discuss the stories behind these 49 fascinating artworks created by seven persons living with Alzheimer's and other dementias.

The surprising, delightful and inspiring works of art reveal seven distinct views of the world plus more about the artists as creative persons and valuable members of our community. They illuminate a simple truth-while access to language may falter, the imagination can soar.

Exhibition organizer and Art of Alzheimer's founder, Marilyn Raichle, was raised in the shadow of Alzheimer's with nearly everyone on her father's side and many on mother's developing the disease. At the age of 89, Ms. Raichle's mother began to paint witty, inventive, astonishing pieces of art inspiring the first Artist Within exhibition to overwhelming success in 2016. It toured and the reaction to the exhibition was always the same-delight, surprise and gratitude. This exhibition returns with new pieces to spark a new perspective on what it means to live with dementia.

The art in this exhibition was created at Elderwise - creating space to age well. http://www.elderwise.org/

Marigrace Becker, MSW, is the Program Manager of Community Education and Impact at the UW Memory and Brain Wellness Center (MBWC). She develops and facilitates education, support, and engagement programs that promote living well with dementia. She produces resources like the MBWC's patient and family handbook, Living with Memory Loss. She works closely with community partners to spearhead local initiatives that challenge stigma and build understanding. She is a leader of the Momentia Seattle movement and leads the Dementia-Friendly Communities project team for the Dementia Action Collaborative implementing the Washington State Plan to Address Alzheimer's and Other Dementias.

Cecily Kaplan started working for PNA in 2006 as the Director of our Greenwood Senior Center. Since then, senior programs have expanded to include the PNA Village and Memory Loss Programs. She was the Program Director at Temple Beth Am for 15 years and the Senior Adult Department Director of the Stroum Jewish Community Center from 1984-1991. Her background is in religious studies and gerontology. Her passion is community and the importance organizations like the PNA can be in the lives of individuals and society. Cecily's door is always open and welcomes and encourages ideas and suggestions.