Meet me at the museum...The unifying effect of art

Dear donor,

Thank you so much for your generosity! We are very touched that you have chosen to sponsor our cause.

In this report, you'll find four testimonials that illustrate the importance of our work for people with Alzheimer's disease and their loved ones. We also share an example of a commentary on a work of art that enables persons living with Alzheimer's to stimulate their memory and exchange with others.

 Caregivers express gratitude for the respite offered:

"My husband is happy to participate, and it gives me a sense of freedom."

"It was great; it allowed me to do something else."

"It provides moments of freedom where I can engage in activities that would otherwise be impossible with him."

Other caregivers emphasize the importance of stimulation and socialization in their feedback:

"In-person sessions allow him to meet other people, and his attention is awakened... It changes their daily routine, makes them feel part of society, and, most importantly, helps exercise their memory."

"This program is very useful; it provides essential socialization moments where she is personally engaged, with your immense kindness and care."

Participants shared the added value they experience with the visits offered by ARTZ:

"The setup is pleasant thanks to the availability of seating, and the limited number of participants makes it enjoyable."

"It’s better than a traditional visit because we spend time in front of each artwork and view the pieces with a new perspective."

"The stimulation comes from the interactivity, the constant exchange—not just with the mediator, but also between the participants."

Below you will find an example of our approach to the discovery of a work of art. This content is available on our online tour application: This is a commentary on a famous work by Gustav Klint entitled "Roses under the trees" and painted in 1905:

What are some words you would choose to describe this work?

Text to help you: Look at the different elements: tree trunks, foliage, roses, bits of sky. Scan the tree foliage to emphasize the filling of the canvas. Using the zoom.

In this painting, the eye is immediately caught by the multitude of colorful touches that cover the canvas. A yellow, lavender and orange flowering foliage fills almost the entire painting and overflows the frame. At the bottom of the painting, we notice the presence of three small tree trunks, an expanse of greenery and two white and pale pink rose bushes. A third rosebush adorns the corner on the right of the painting. At the top of the painting, in the distance, we can see two corners of blue sky.

Space is almost absent in this landscape. How do we notice it ?

Text to help you: Notice the particular framing of the work and the size of the surface covered by the foliage of the trees. The sky is reduced to very small pieces of the canvas located at the edges.

The framing of the work challenges us. The foliage of the trees make up almost the entire work. This is characteristic of Klimt's style. The canvas is as if invaded by vegetation and space is flattened, almost absent. The lower part of the canvas suggests a green expanse without really introducing a feeling of depth. Everything seems almost on the same plane. Two distinct pieces of blue sky introduce the idea of a larger space without really creating a perspective. Far from being wild, Klimt's nature evokes an enclosed garden or a park that is conducive to walking, in calm contemplation of its vegetation.

Notice Klimt’s technique of creating tightly packed strokes of color that form the foliage. What effect might this technique create ?

To help you: The touches of color bring light and make us feel the vitality and abundance of nature. We have the sensation of contemplating the tree from very close.

Klimt loves nature and likes to settle in the open air to paint. He uses a very particular technique, carrying around an ivory tablet with a viewfinder to get intimate, up close views of the space. This allows him to capture shapes and patterns that he reproduces on his canvas. This technique creates a strong sense of unity and explains a near absence of depth perspective. The viewer discovers the foliage of the trees in close vision and at a distance. Klimt invented a new aesthetic, while also drawing inspiration from other artists, other eras, and other currents. His colorful, scattered, rapid brushstrokes evoke the vitality of nature inspired by the French painters and Van Gogh’s neo-impressionism.

This extract gives you an insight into our method of cognitive stimulation for people with Alzheimer's disease.

If you wish, we would be pleased to invite you to take part in oneline visits planned throughout the year. You can join us in these groups if you have a loved one with Alzheimer's disease.

Warmly

Cindy Barotte