More than a pastime
By Deb GauArticle Photos
MARSHALL - It's never too late to pick up a creative hobby. In fact, doing something creative - whether acting or wood carving - can have especially important benefits for seniors.
Participating in fine arts activities stimulates the brain, Pat Samples, a member of the Minnesota Creative Arts and Aging Network, told a group of area residents on Saturday. Researchers found art classes even helped fight the effects of Alzheimer's disease in one group of older patients.
"These were people with dementia," Samples said. "They weren't expecting to get better. They could hope it wouldn't get any worse. But when they did some of the tests that they have to do for Alzheimer's, their cognition had improved."
Art can also be a means of self-expression, and a way for older adults to tell their life stories.
"It not only brings older people to life, but it brings life into the community," she said.
Samples and area residents, many of them artists, discussed the effects of creativity at a workshop at the Adult Community Center in Marshall. Samples said the conference is one of several events MnCAAN is hosting around the state to gather information and ideas to help serve Minnesota seniors.
A lot of the discussion centered around what opportunities were available for seniors in the region to get involved in the arts. Some options, like Senior College and the Arts Center in Marshall were brought up.
"I think there are a lot of small groups that get together and share something creative," added Jackie Zerr.
Still, Florence Dacey said, "I would like to see a greater diversity in the creative opportunities that are available."
Samples said connecting seniors with opportunities was a big part of MnCAAN's mission.
"One of the many reasons we're doing these things is so you can find each other," she said.
Connecting seniors with professional artists and teachers can be important, workshop participants said, especially teachers attuned to working with adults instead of young children.
Vera Rachuy said in drawing classes she took, "The instructor said, 'Don't ever think that a student needs a lot of talent to draw.' The two biggest things in drawing are observation and practice."
Burta Jacobsen said she thought diversity should be a big part of arts opportunities for area seniors.
"I think we should be getting other cultures involved," Jacobsen said. "I think we have a lot to learn from other cultures in our community."
The workshop also featured exhibitions of different artworks by area residents, from photography to painting and the Odd Tuesday writers' group.
"We meet on odd-numbered Tuesdays, and we pick a theme and write about it," explained Barb Verkinderen.
"A lot (of the artists) came by word of mouth," said Evonne Seivert, one of the workshop's local organizers. "Once word got out, more people came. Some needed a nudge to show their work."
"I always knew Marshall had a lot of creativity," Seivert said. "But in the process of putting this together, I learned there's even more out there."
