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The passage of a painting: The learning process of students creating art for people with dementia
- Source: International Journal of Education Through Art, Volume 16, Issue 2, Jun 2020, p. 209 - 225
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- 30 Sep 2018
- 02 Sep 2019
- 01 Jun 2020
Abstract
Making Art for Making Place, a joint education and research project, engaged post-secondary fine arts students in the creation of paintings for residents of a transitional care facility. The purpose of the project was to explore how improving the living environment through art could benefit the residents with dementia while considering the impact this had on the students themselves. This article draws from participant observations and follow-up interviews to examine the learning experiences of students who created paintings for the facility. Further, it explores the impact on their learning through interactions with nurses and expert researchers who joined the class to participate in group discussions and share their expertise working with people living with dementia. The research revealed that the project fostered positive community building; engaged students in discussions and reflections about how art affects people; prompted consideration of experiences of the elderly – particularly those with dementia; and expanded understandings of the roles of art in the society.