HEALING ARTS

The Legacy Project
Please click on the images below to join in on our participants' journey:

     
Mary Austin                              Emma Jane McDermott
     
Natalie Gould Mandell              Mary Roberts
     
Gerald Earnest Smallwood       Forest Warren     
 
You may click on this image to see a video of the reception for "Continuing the Journey."

The Legacy Project began in November of 2009 where participating artists were partnered with Hospice patients to create a visual legacy that patient wished to leave with family and loved ones. The artists underwent a four week training conducted by the Dare County Home Health and Hospice volunteer coordinator and other staff members, and were provided with a manual that included information on all aspects of hospice care. 

In March of 2010, Dare Home Health and Hospice and DCAC held an event called “Caring for the Caregiver”, a free community event supporting family caregivers by offering tools and tips for self care and therapeutic arts to enable caregivers to return to their care giving role replenished and with new tools. Taught by licensed clinical social workers, the training included an art therapy portion led by the participating therapist and artists, a keynote address entitled “Taking Care” by author and psychiatrist, Kathleen Brehony and several other break out sessions dealing with topics such as ‘Asking for the Help You Need”, “Nurturing the Spirit” and Relaxation and Health”.

The primary project activity took place between January 2010- May 2010 as the team of artists, Tracy Bell, John De La Vega and Fay Davis Edwards began to work in the homes of the hospice clients. The artists worked with a total of six hospice patients during the course of the project spending at least 2 hours each week, and taking on a new patient when existing patients died. (There was only one death during the course of the program). The artist's activities included talking with the patients, gathering history and stories, looking at photos and other objects of memory, working with the patients to encourage them to work on a project.

Simple pottery pieces were created and drawings. The artists also created works of art based on the patient’s stories or interest. For example, one patient wanted to see herself in a portrait with her daughter and grand daughters; another patient with no bodily function wanted to see himself through the artist’s eyes. Through a very generous donation from Cheap Joe's Art Supplies, materials were provided to create these works of art.

On June 14, 2010 a display of the Legacy Project artwork, stories and legacies opened at the Thomas A. Baum Center in Kill Devil Hills, NC. and remained through the month of June. A community memorial event called, “Continuing the Journey” was held June 19th to recognize and honor the losses we experience along life’s journey. The event included a public reception for the Legacy project and interactive arts activities lead by the participating artists.  

If you would like more information on The Legacy Project, please contact Dare County Arts Council or Dare Home Health and Hospice.