An intergenerational debut at the Art Gallery - Not-For-Profit Report

Nursing Homes, August, 2003 by Sandra Hoban

It wasn't an exhibition of Old Masters or a collection of modern avant-grade artist--or was it? In June, visitors to the Esther M. Klein Art Gallery were treated to a body of work conceived and crafted by a collaboration of Philadelphia-area nursing home residents and schoolchildren. The Klein Gallery, located at The Science Center in Philadelphia, hosted the premiere of the one-month exhibition, "Comfort & Joy[TM], Celebrating Intergenerational Artistic Achievement," an exciting amalgam of art and cultural achievements by the residents of the six nursing homes in the NewCourtland Elder Services' network and area students.

NewCourtland originally designed Comfort & Joy in 1997 as an arts and entertainment experience, but it has since evolved into a hands-on, interactive, goal-driven program. Prior to embarking on a project, everyone involved--the artists (accomplished professionals who dedicate their time and talents to this enrichment program), staff, residents, and children--receives sensitivity training to help him or her understand others' perspectives on life, age, and the world. The fruits of that training are evidenced by the close affection shared by all parties. Pam Mammarella, NewCourtland Elder Services' director of corporate communications and creator of the Comfort & Joy program, says that many of the volunteer artists continue to stop by just to say hello to their elderly friends.

According to the Klein Gallery's Director and Curator of Exhibits Dan Schimmel, the gallery has always emphasized art and science exhibits--its historical focus has been on the parallel relationship between the scientific and artistic approach to solving problems--but in the last 10 years many community outreach initiatives have been incorporated in the gallery's mission, such as the Art & Community Series, which showcases local organizations that use art to enhance the lives of their members.

While searching for the right intergenerational partner for this exhibit, Schimmel heard about Rodney Whittenberg of Melodyvision, Inc.--a nonprofit sound, music, and video production company--who had been a guest on WXPN-FM's Kids Corner and is heavily involved in NewCourtland's Comfort & Joy program. On this children's radio program, Whittenberg introduced "Intergenerational Moments," a series of 10-minute radio spots that would run on Kids Corner to discuss the dynamics and positive outcomes of NewCourtland's initiative in which students and residents jointly participate in arts and cultural projects. Schimmel contacted Whittenberg and together they approached NewCourtland with their plan to exhibit NewCourtland's intergenerational creativity at the Klein Gallery. The exhibition became reality. "The partnership with NewCourtland was a natural match for us to meet our outreach objectives," says Schimmel.

"This was such an exciting venture," agrees Mammarella. "It gave us an unparalleled opportunity to show the public what our residents can do. Blending elders with students gives both groups unprecedented opportunities to learn, teach, interact, and react not only to each other, but also with the professionals guiding the various projects. It is so rewarding to see residents discover their untapped talents. For many, their lives are now richer and more diverse than when they were living on their own."

Among the displays the visitors enjoyed throughout the gallery were mosaic murals, handmade quilts and dolls, a small-scale village based on the reminiscences of elderly residents, and more.

"A photographic display of mosaic murals that residents created on the walls of our various facilities was displayed at the gallery so the public could experience the beauty and intricacies of these large works," says Schimmel. Mammarella confirms that, despite the murals' complexities, residents were involved in every aspect of the project--from design to final execution. "At the Care Pavilion facility, kids from Andrew Hamilton School joined the residents in creating a mural based on people and events of the 20th century, which included mosaic images of Martin Luther King, Jr., and Neil Armstrong.

"Although most residents don't have the manual dexterity to draw freehand," explains Mammarella, "they can trace images and can use a small hammer to break up the and put it up on the wall as well as anyone." The students enthusiastically shared their ideas and skills to assist the residents with concept suggestions, preliminary drawings, and some of the higher-placed the assembly.

As the murals depict shared history, so did the Sacred Village and Dollmaking projects give the students insights into the personal lives and histories of their elders. Through interviews for the Sacred Village project, the children learned what life was like when these residents were young. For instance, they would ask questions such as, "What place do you remember fondly?", "What was your school like?", and "Where did you feel safe?" These reminiscent sights and locales were translated to paper, glued on balsa wood, assembled, and became the Sacred Village--a town built from many legacies. "It is wonderful to look at these little buildings and revisit the stories associated with them," remarks Mammarella. In a similar project at other facilities, interviewers asked residents about how they saw themselves, how they used to be, or how they would like to be seen. From this information, dolls that reflected residents' self-images were created. For example, if a resident loved to cook, the doll wore an apron and maybe had its hair tied back. Like the Village buildings, these dolls also serve as reminders of each person's individuality.