More Than Medication
We invite you to participate in our online exhibition created and curated by members of Curiosity Café. The exhibition is rooted in our dementia positive philosophy which seeks to:
• Enable those living with dementia to direct and develop their creative ideas and individuality in a supportive and affirming environment.
• Support and endorse carers - enabling them to have time to share their lived experience and to make known many of the hidden aspects of dementia which profoundly impact their daily lives.
Dare to Declare
“Remember, anyone can develop dementia, this could be your story too”
You may well be familiar with the ongoing trend for signs which you can see in many gift shops. The signs often indicate lifestyle choices or aspirations like “Prosecco Time” “Live Love Laughter”.
We set the Curiosity Carers the task of creating a series of signs which would reflect the realities of living with dementia. We hope that it may give you pause for thought about the true cost of caring - how it pervades every aspect of life and takes away many of the lifestyle choices values and good times we all take for granted or plan for in the future.
Carers quickly lose their social networks once dementia enters their lives leaving them feeling doubly depleted - exhausted by their caring demands and then socially isolated and lonely.
At curiosity Café we are taking small steps towards bigger change and believe that better is possible.
One way to do this is to let those with the lived experience of dementia have their say their way.
The more people understand the politics and social impact of caring for those with dementia the better services can be shaped and reflect the needs of the true experts i.e. those who live 24 hours a day with dementia.
To be told how wonderful you are – to be told how much you save the NHS or to be offered a large cookie as a “prize” for being a caring hero really does not come anywhere near the sorts of radical change and social justice we need for those who care.
We hope the Dare to Declare signs will go some way in helping us all think about the politics and harsh realities of being a full time carer in our society.
Remember - Anyone can develop dementia, this could be your story too.
Monochrome Rainbow by Carol Southam
In memory of a husband, lover, soulmate and best friend who never asked “why me?”
This monologue is based on a lived experience of 8 years caring for my husband who had vascular dementia. The content is not subject to any artistic license but rather reflects the reality for me. It is not pretty.
I hope that by sharing my experience it will enable others to acknowledge their reality and not feel they need to meet the expectations of others. It needs to be said and understood.
SOS Sewing by Margaret
Margaret has combined the solace and exactitude of her sewing with a need to express the desperation and loneliness of being a carer.
Textural Studies by Pam Wheldon
Pam’s work is the result of a sustained and focused period of mark making on different surfaces following sensory exploration of textures collected from a beach walk. Her marks are focused, intentional and considered. Her work is accepted without influence and interpretation by others enabling her to be immersed uninterrupted in HER process.
Pam has vascular dementia and at the point at which she made this work her condition was affecting her speech and so was unable to verbally articulate her thinking. She was however very clear when her works were complete.
Making Heads Turn by Ed Wheldon
This piece was created as a response to seeing the scan of my wife’s brain following her diagnosis of Vascular dementia in 2016. I hope my depiction of this terminal disease enables you to visualise the devastation it creates.
Studies in Blue by Micheal Apted
“Blue, it’s a very powerful colour”
Expansive and flowing forms exploring the notion of the distant horizon. Michael explored instinctive and organic ways of mark making in this series of paintings.
Michael lives with Lewy bodies dementia.
Zig Zagging Through The Circle by Brian Halliday
“A twisting tree trunk, a sty, a fencepost, perhaps a rabbit and a duck?”
Brian created this series of works with support from Luke McTaggart. Together they devised ways in which to limit the tremors that Brian has, enabling him to have a full sensory experience of painting and to maintain control and direction of the works as they emerged.
Brian lives with Lewy bodies dementia and Parkinson’s disease.
Let’s Hope it Stays by Colin
In this series Colin experimented with the layering and movement of colour. He was totally immersed in the process commenting as he worked about oxides and colours which stay and go.
Colin lives with Alzheimer’s and Vascular Dementia.
Together Alone by Valerie Apted
A profound sense of loneliness and of being alone is common for carers of those living with dementia. This is particularly acute in the evenings and during the night. Valerie’s poem touches on some her feelings of being together and yet so very alone.
Together Alone
Night after night spent together alone
Just him and me and the occasional phone
His disjointed sentences not making sense
Gets agitated, hallucinated, no wonder I’m tense
I put him to bed like his mother not a wife
Dementia has given us this strange kind of life
Both trapped together in this bizarre living hell
All I have now are memories, his physical shell
Little left of the old life which we used to share
We’re always together, he’s always there
The good old days long gone, now we’re together alone
Alone - that’s the word…so very alone
Valerie Apted
More Than Medication
Dry Water Arts Centre
August 2020
CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS
Valerie Apted
Michael Apted
Mo Halliday
Brian Halliday
Margaret
Colin
Carol Southam
Pam Wheldon
Ed Wheldon
SUPPORTED BY DRY WATER ARTIST’S
Frances Anderson
Luke McTaggart
Paula Turner
