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ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION TO PARTNER WITH THE ROCKWELL MUSEUM ON TOURS FOR PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA

Corning, NY, September 9, 2016meetme

Beginning again in September, The Rockwell Museum and the Alzheimer’s Association, Rochester & Finger Lakes Region, will team up again to offer Meet Me at the Museum, a program for individuals who have Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia. Meet Me at the Museum is a free social program for individuals with dementia and their caregivers. 

Meet Me at the Museum will be held from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at The Rockwell on Monday, September 12 and Monday, November 14.  The tours will be led by specially trained docents who will highlight pieces in The Rockwell’s American art galleries to stimulate conversation and reminiscence. 

“Art can be a catalyst for memory triggers and nostalgic thought. Participants begin in The Rockwell galleries viewing art with our specially trained guides,” explains Mary Mix, Senior Museum Educator. 

New to the tour experience this fall, The Rockwell will invite visiting artist, Aleta Wynn Yarrow, to guide participants through an artmaking workshop called “The Colors of Home.”  First, participants will spend time in The Rockwell galleries and will be encouraged to make observations of colors and color preferences.  As conversations continue through the galleries, the art will be used as a trigger tool for memories of family and places.  Mixing color with textile squares on soft material, Aleta Wynn Yarrow will guide this sensory workshop in The Rockwell’s Education Center.  Using a variety of textures and water, this hands-on experience is intended to remind patients of family memories and stimulate an intrinsic reaction to their own lives. 

Meet Me at the Museum is based on a program offered at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City called Meet Me at MOMA. The MOMA program was found to provide not only an opportunity to socialize, but also to provide intellectual stimulation, shared experiences with loved ones, an accepting environment for activity, and positive changes in mood for participants both during and in the days after the tours. The Alzheimer’s Association, Rochester & Finger Lakes Region, offers a similar program in partnership with the Memorial Art Gallery in Rochester. 

“This special connection between The Rockwell Museum and the Alzheimer’s Association offers people with Alzheimer’s a sense of connection and identity through the arts using the  rich collection of American art,” said Mary Mix, Senior Museum Educator at The Rockwell. 

Registration for Meet Me at the Museum is required. To register or to learn more, call Mary Mix at 607.937.5386 or visit rockwellmuseum.org/events. 

About Meet Me at the Museum: Program Description 

Meet Me at the Museum is a series of free monthly programs designed for persons with dementia and their care partners. It is an opportunity for engagement and fellowship for people living with a memory-loss condition. The focus of the tour is an engaging conversation, eliciting memories and providing a warm and welcoming environment. The visit includes viewing and discussing artwork in the galleries. 

The tours will be held on the second Monday of each month from 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.  and will alternate between The Rockwell Museum and the Corning Museum of Glass. The program is offered in collaboration with the Alzheimer’s Association. To learn more, please call 800.272.3900 

About Alzheimer’s Association of Rochester & the Finger Lakes 

The Alzheimer’s Association of Rochester & the Finger Lakes, established in 1981, serves a nine-county region, which includes Chemung, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne and Yates counties.  Our mission: To eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Our vision: A world without Alzheimer’s disease.  For more information about the Alzheimer’s Association, call 585.760.5400 or go to www.alz.org/rochesterny

About The Rockwell Museum: A Smithsonian Affiliate 

The Rockwell Museum, in association with the Smithsonian Institution, believes in arts in education and is passionate about offering authentic art experiences. Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2016, The Rockwell is an evolving community center which showcases the best of America through compelling exhibitions and imaginative programs.  The diverse collection includes a mix of contemporary American art with traditional bronze sculptures, landscape paintings and other works that embody the American experience. Housed in the beautifully restored 19th century Old City Hall building, The Rockwell is active in the local community and holds special events and educational programming with area public schools. The Rockwell provokes curiosity, engagement, and reflection about art and the American experience.