Month long project receives grant

By: Miranda Wycoff

Posted: 3/24/05

The significance of memory in the lives of those diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease is the focus of an Alzheimer's Awareness project on display at Central.
The Heart of America Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association has given a grant to Central to bring "the FORGETTING and the REMEMBERING" to Central this month. The Department of Sociology and Social Work is sponsoring the event.
The month-long project featured a formal program that took place Monday afternoon in the Union Ballroom.
The program included a display of "Memories in the Making," artwork that was created by patients with dementia, and dramatic interpretations by the Creativity Connection.
Also, as part of the month-long project, an interactive sculpture by Matt Dehaemers is currently on display in the informal discussion area to the left of the main entrance of the James C. Kirkpatrick Library.
To begin Monday's program Michelle Niedens from the Heart of America Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association spoke, informing the audience that over four and a half million people are affected by Alzheimer's.
Niedens' remarks were followed by three readings from Ron Zoglin and Deborah Shouse of the Creativity Connection. Both Zoglin and Shouse had a parent that was diagnosed with the disease.
Shouse was inspired to write about her mother' "moments" with Alzheimer's and has been published in Chicken Soup for the Caregivers Soul.
"After that I began noticing the gifts...my mom still had so much to offer me and I could still connect with her in a deep way," said Shouse. "It (Alzheimer's) may not be the first choice for this to happen, but you have got to remember to stay in the moment."
Jean Nuernberger, Chair of the department of sociology and social work at Central spoke next about her experience with her sister who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in her 40's.
"Memory is still there...I always saw my sister there, in the occasional smiles, in the times that I heard her say 'hi' when I hadn't heard her speak in weeks...she was still in there," said Nuernberger.
Matt Dehaemers, artist of the multi-media interactive sculpture that is on display in the library spoke at Monday's program as well.
The sculpture is entitled "The Significance of the Moment" and is a four foot wooden head with a seven inch LCD screen in the forehead. The screen plays a video of Deheamers' interaction with the "Early Stages Group" at the Heart of America Chapter.
"The piece I created is about a wonderful relationship with the people I got to know through the Early Stages group," said Deheamers.
Coming out of the back of the sculpture is a ten foot long drawer. The drawer holds 1500 envelopes each containing a small piece of paper. Viewers of the exhibit have the opportunity to make a small donation, then select an envelope out of the drawer and write a memory from their life. Donations will go directly to fund Alzheimer's research.
"It's beautiful to see that something that came from my expression as an artist has blossomed into everyone's expression of their own memories," said Deheamers.
"I have Alzheimer's. It's alright. I can live with it," said Louis Bussjager, who has a doctorate degree. "I always call it the disease where you don't know what you don't know and when you don't know it."
Also as a part of the Alzheimer's project, additional artwork is displayed in Lovinger 2190, the Department of Art office, and in a display case outside of Wood 203. A display of children's books, written to help children understand Alzheimer's disease, is also available in Lovinger.