Items bring memories flooding back to residents at Edenderry
Unveiling the wall of memories at Edenderry Day Care Centre are, from left, Edel Bennett, chair of Craigavon and Banbridge Arts Care Committee; Jill McKeown, artist in residence; Joy Walker, day care worker; Bell Johnston, service user; Irene Douglas; service user; Lynne Cairns and Charis Cairns, Mrs Johnston's mother and granddaughter. INPT05-015
AN eye-catching wall of memories now greets visitors to Edenderry Day Centre in Portadown, after the completion of a successful arts project involving a number of elderly people.
Up to eight people who use the centre, and who suffer from dementia, worked with artist Jill McKeown to make and decorate ceramic tiles based on reminiscences of their lives.
Tales of rural and farm life, and of times during the war, emerged as the group used objects such as an old pipe, a smoothing iron, a butter pat, a tin of Brasso and a Singer sewing machine, as the basis of their reminiscences, conversation and storytelling.
Their tiles were later combined with photographs on porcelain tiles to frame a large notice board which is used for notes and photographs of different activities and projects within the centre.
Jill, who is artist-in-residence with Craigavon and Banbridge Arts Care Committee, said, “ Often when working with older people it doesn’t take long before stories turn to distant memories and often memories of childhood. Many of the service users in the Craigavon & Banbridge areas of the Southern Trust have grown up in rural locations surrounding the towns and often have fantastic tales to tell of rural and farm life which I learn so much from.
“This group of people were children and adolescents during the war and I often feel I am getting a local history lesson while we are making art together.”
The project, and the day centre, has been praised by Lynne Cairns, daughter of Bell Johnston, who attends the Edenderry centre. She said, “From a relative’s perspective, I am so grateful for this facility and I would like to thanks Arts Care and the staff for the time they have taken with the service users to give them a way to preserve their memories- not just a piece of paper but a permanent piece of art work.
“We must remember that these people were young once and had lives like you and I, and it is lovely that when they come to Edenderry they are among friends and to know that the carers don’t just look after them but really care about them.”
She added, “When my mum first came to Edenderry I felt I got my life back and I am so grateful for the love and care she is given. I would like to thank Joy and all the carers and also to Arts Care for helping them make and preserve memories which due to their illness they forget.”
Day care worker Joy Walker said, “Art is a wonderful way for service users to express themselves and this project provided the opportunity for our service users to share their memories.”
Dr Jenny Elliott, chief executive of Arts Care for Northern Ireland, thanked the service users for sharing their “creative gifts” in the creation of the wall installation artwork which, she added, “really enhances the Edenderry Day Centre”.
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Weather for Portadown
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
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