The Alzheimer's Services of the East Bay sponsors a program in which persons with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia can participate in making art. As part of their care giving program they have found that even those people, many who are severely cognitively impaired, can draw and paint. In fact, many can still derive pleasure and satisfaction from the activity.

While patients suffering mental illness often express themselves through images of anger, frustration, or rebellion, the Alzheimer patients create mostly cheerful and benign images of trees, animals, and houses. Though their drawings may seem childlike in simplicity and coloring, Alzheimer's patients never use stick figures as children do. Their portrayals of people and human faces, no matter how confused, are complex and sophisticated, reflecting an adult's life experience.

See also: Lecture on Alzheimer Artists on Monday, October 2 at 7:00 p.m.

Gualala Arts Center is located at 46501 Gualala Road in Gualala, and is open from 9 am to 4 pm weekdays, and weekends from noon to 4 p.m. Please call (707) 884-1138 for more information.