All of the residents in the group live with dementia and the My
Hidden Talent exhibition was organised by ExtraCare's EOP
Locksmith® Colin White-McCarthy.
He explained that the paintings and other works of art on
display were created by residents at the retirement village who
currently live with dementia, but were produced before the
diagnosis.
"We wanted to do that so we can show who the residents were
before they started to experience dementia," he said. "We decided
to hold the exhibition because the appreciation for art is so
innate that everyone has it, even those with dementia."
Phyllis Ebbs was one of the people to have her work displayed.
She had painted two pictures of lakes in nearby Bletchley.
"I'm glad Colin brought me down for this," she said. "Because
otherwise I'd have missed it and that would've been a pity.
Everyone else's paintings here are lovely."
She added that she thinks everyone should give painting a go.
"If you want to paint, you just have to get down to it and start,
otherwise nothing will ever happen."
Inga Sherlock also had some work displayed: a tapestry working
of the Owl and the Pussycat and two paintings of Spain. "All these
paintings are really good," she said. "And it's so nice for this to
be organised."
Inga has only lived at the Milton Keynes retirement village for
around six months, but says she is very happy there. "I love it
here," she said. "I wouldn't go back out there now, it's too lovely
here."
Around 40 or 50 staff, residents and Village Friends came along
to see the exhibition, including Friends Maureen and John Mason,
who were both impressed with the quality of work on display.
"They're all so good," said Maureen. "I couldn't do anything like
it, I just don't have the patience."
Picture: Artist Phyllis Ebbs holding one of her
paintings, with EOP® Support Worker Jean Butler.
See more pictures on Flickr!
Were you at the exhibition? Let us know what you thought on Facebook!
For further information, please contact:
Lucy Henson, ExtraCare's PR officer
0789 105 3062
lucy.henson@extracare.org.uk