Rachel Hausmann-Schall, artist residency and adult program manager
We are so lucky to have long standing programs at the Woodson Art Museum that benefit the community in many ways than simply looking at art. SPARK! has been one of these programs–providing individuals with memory loss and their care partners a variety of creative and interactive experiences. SPARK! participants enjoy hands-on making, collaborative storytelling, and building connections with other community members each month. It’s clear when there’s a SPARK! program going on in the galleries, because our spaces are filled with laughter, smiles, and cheerful conversations. A couple of current SPARK! attendees describe their outings to the Museum as their “monthly date.” How cute is that?!?
As one of the five founding institutions of the SPARK! Alliance, the Museum has been offering these engaging experiences since 2009. SPARK! has grown immensely since its inception, and similar programs now exist at cultural organizations across the state, the Midwest, and even extending into Texas and Colorado.
Research suggests that individuals with memory loss and their caregivers are populations that battle a declining quality of life because of their condition–finding it difficult to enjoy daily tasks or feel seen, heard, or understood. SPARK! challenges this notion and shatters the stigma around memory loss. By offering positive experiences rooted in observation and building connections to the present moment, SPARK! facilitators nurture and strengthen relationships between those with memory loss and their care partners, as well as provide space to foster friendships and community amongst an audience who share similar positions in life.
The past two months of our SPARK! programs have been extra special. Through a collaboration with two schools in the Wausau School District, SPARK! participants enjoyed visits from Wausau East and West High School students as well as students from GD Jones Elementary.
In April, the Museum’s SPARK! family enjoyed hearing from the student artists included in Portfolios. SPARK! participants had the opportunity to ask the artists questions and share their observations about the students’ individual portfolio topics, ranging from the fast fashion industry to struggles with mental health and childhood trauma.
Two weeks ago, fifth grade students from GD Jones Elementary welcomed SPARK! participants in the lower-level gallery to explore Hot Off the Press. Attendees were paired with 3-4 students for a scavenger hunt in the gallery before collaboratively carving and printing a block inspired by floral motifs. Students and SPARK! participants enjoyed filling their “Print Passport” with designs carved and printed by other groups. Fellow educator, Emily Wesenick, our volunteer coordinator and education assistant Andy Jacksack, and our host of SPARK! volunteers were integral in bringing these programs to life.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, there are nearly 7 million Americans living with some form of dementia. Chances are likely that someone in your life has memory loss. Research also shows that these individuals greatly benefit from creative engagement: drawing, painting, playing or listening to music, writing poetry, participating in theater productions, dancing, etc. In addition, many professionals have noted positive impacts on brain health and mental health from engaging with younger audiences. It’s for all these reasons that the Woodson Art Museum wants to provide quality experiences for our SPARK! participants, including the opportunity to interact with local high school and elementary school students.
The Museum is lucky to have another local student involved in the SPARK! program. Alyssa Williamson, a Medical College of Wisconsin-Central Wisconsin (MCW-CW) M1 student, has collected data from these two SPARK! programs in April and May to analyze the impacts of intergenerational engagement for audiences with memory loss. She also surveyed the students participating in the programs, both before and after their experiences, to collect information about their knowledge of dementia and how connecting with our SPARK! audience directly shaped their understanding of it. Alyssa’s project is part of MCW-CW’s Physician in the Community Project, which encourages medical students to collaborate with local organizations on a research project related to their interest in the medical field. She will present her findings during a Student Project Showcase in August.
The Museum is grateful to have strong relationships with many community organizations like the Wausau School District and the Medical College of Wisconsin-Central Wisconsin campus. We take pride in providing quality experiences for our audiences, and to us, the impact is clear: when SPARK! participants leave with a smile on their face and a pep in their step, we know we are doing something right.
