is spring in the WAC Grand Staircase Gallery, discover a new narrative surround-
ing the experience of Alzheimer's. e Art of Alzheimer's exhibit, set for installation
in early April, celebrates the creativity of people living with dementia, many of
whom see art and beauty in amazing ways.
e exhibit will be on display for three
months. Here are a few of the artists' stories.
Julia Blackburn
Julia Blackburn began painting with a pro-
found loss of vision. Despite this, Blackburn's
wet-on-wet watercolors dance and billow
with the full spectrum of the rainbow. Black-
burn has fond memories of road trips, sing-
ing, and evenings spent listening to music.
Much like her past, Blackburn's current art
conveys a sense of melody, freedom
and celebration.
Lenny Larson
Lenny Larson spent much of his childhood in
the forested foothills of Mount Rainier, where
he developed a lifelong love for nature. Now-
adays, his life's passion for the green towering
trees, dynamic sunsets, and Pacific Northwest
palette shine brightly through his watercolors.
Rafe Schwimmer
A former attorney, Rafe Schwimmer pours
his vibrant mind onto paper in the form of
blazing colors, wild and abstract shapes, and mesmerizing patterns. Using colored
pencils, oil pastels, and watercolors, Schwimmer creates movement-filled drawings
that shi in perspective and take on new angles with each glance.
Gloria Kinney
Lifelong musician Gloria Kinney played piano and guitar; sang in her church choir;
and loved to dance, especially flamenco. Find the grace and power of music in the
deep, dark blues of her work. Oen contrasted by stark whites and bright reds, these
cerulean seas stand out in a way only a flamenco dancer could—passionate, mysteri-
ous, and full of drama.
first take
Staircase gallery / online extras
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facebook.com/thewacseattle
instagram.com/thewacseattle
u
Discover more
on wac.net
Find out what
Travel + Leisure
magazine says are
the best destina-
tions in 2019:
wac.net/travel-2019
u View photo galleries from WAC
events: wac.net/ photo-galleries
u Know an awesome WAC junior
member? Tell us their story. Email
mjacobson@wac.net.
u WAC Magazine back issues
online: wacmagazine.com
Go further. Browse
our reciprocal club
story archive:
wac.net/
reciprocal-archive
—To meet more of Art of Alzheimer's artists, please visit
wac.net/art-of-alzheimers. Art created at Elderwise.
Painting hope
Navigating Alzheimer's through art
MARCH
/ APRIL 2019 9
