Ever so gently, Elaine Williams leans over a canvas, studiously breathing air into a plastic blue straw which directs black ink onto the branches of her painting.

As the dark hue meets the surface it flicks out in all directions, bringing to life vivid little twigs – a beautiful nuance to her creation. Wow.

The complete novice to the world of art is giving her boundless creativity to the artwork – but it is giving her much more in return.

The Mount Maunganui woman has a mild form of cognitive decline which is hereditary. And in the past few months she’s been meeting up with Bay of Plenty award-winning artist Bronwyn Copeland to create her own masterpieces.

Bronwyn is among eight artists collaborating with 12 BOP residents living with Alzheimer’s to create their own artwork to show in a first-of-its-kind exhibition to open in Tauranga next month.

Out of comfort zone

“This was completely out of my comfort zone,” says Elaine. “But Bronwyn was great to work with.”

They began with a huge piece of canvas and ended with a sculptural painting that features coffee cup imprints and pieces of LP covers. “They’re things from my life that I love,” laughs Elaine.

“I have a big family of 11 kids – three of my own and eight step-children – so we added native New Zealand birds onto the frame to represent them. It just evolved and we could’ve gone on and on.”

Elaine is part of a support group for people aged under 65 who have early onset Alzheimer’s and is keen to pass on her newfound knowledge of art. “I do a lot of jigsaws and crosswords but being introduced to art makes me want to do more.”

Don’t ignore it

Elaine continues: “Anyone who thinks a family member might be declining shouldn’t ignore it. It’s not something to be frightened of and there’s no stigma to it. It’s happening to thousands of people.”

Elaine’s artworks will be among “a huge variety of work being produced” for the exhibition, which in turn will support the work of the local Alzheimer’s Society.

The August 29-September 21 exhibition is being showcased into September, which is New Zealand’s Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. Plus, most artworks will be for sale at the exhibition, with funds raised going to the Alzheimer’s Society.

And it was Bronwyn – who works as a Tauranga geriatric psychiatrist – who put her two passions together for the greater good.

Elaine Williams blows paint through a straw while working on her creation for Artful Mind. Photo: Bronwyn Copeland.

Vital 

Why does she think it’s vital for people who living Alzheimer’s to participate in things like art?

“It’s [important] for many reasons. Firstly, cognitive stimulation – the more exercise you can give your brain, the better,” Bronwyn says.

“I think it’s important for just expressing a story or capturing a memory or a moment in time and also improving quality of life.”

Bronwyn had a ball with her four resident “art clients”.

“With one client we worked the whole of Matariki from 9.30am-3.30pm having a fabulous time, painting, chatting and laughing. I’d never met the person before but it was fantastic,” she says.

“And we’re giving people with Alzheimer’s a day of total fun, where they can do something different but also express themselves.”

The exhibition

In terms of breaking down barriers in society, Bronwyn says connecting total strangers through art is so meaningful as it gives the two involved in the project a common goal.

“It makes art accessible to all and collaboration with clients who have their own challenges makes it even more special.”

The Artful Mind exhibition opens on August 28 at 5.30pm at The Incubator Gallery, 159 17th Ave, Tauranga. Everyone is welcome. The exhibition runs 10am-3pm Mondays to Saturdays from August 29-September 21.