Woodland Pond program finds ‘therapeutic value in the process’ of making art.

Michelle Eddison, a therapeutic art instructor at Woodland Pond in New Paltz, assists Deborah Idaka in using fresh daisies and paint. Tania Barricklo-Daily Freeman

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Art therapy at Woodland Pond

Residents of Woodland Pond in New Paltz take part in an art therapy class, using daisies as paintbrushes.

Daily Freeman

PatHouk assists her husband Marty in an art project. Tania Barricklo-Daily Freeman

NEW PALTZ > They may not speak about their feelings and concerns, but the residents who participate in an art therapy program at Woodland Pond are able to express themselves through the works they create.

And the process of making that art is often accompanied by laughter and leads to a sense of community amongst the participants.

Residents of Garden View at Woodland Pond, the memory care neighborhood in the senior living community, as well as those in skilled nursing, take part in the program that is led by therapeutic art instructor Michelle Eddison. Each session, Eddison brings in a new project for the residents to explore as they choose. Groups can range from five to 12 people at a time, and can include family members.

VIDEO: Residents of Woodland Pond in New Paltz take part in an art therapy class, using daisies as paintbrushes.

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Eddison said for the program she combines her background in fine arts and her master’s degree in art therapy in a special way because there is not a lot of verbal therapy taking place. Some of the participants, she said, suffer from dementia and are unable to communicate verbally.

“It’s more about the process and the therapeutic value in the process,” Eddison said recently.

During a recent session, Eddison brought daisies for the group to use as paintbrushes. Each participant was able to dip the flower in paint and create their art on colored pieces of paper. Some chose to incorporate the flowers themselves into the finished product, while others thought the dried flowers, covered in paint, in a mason jar were their own kind of artwork.

Throughout, some of the residents talked to one another and complimented each other’s art work, while others chose to observe the goings-on.

Pat Houk said her husband, Charles “Marty” Houk, initially would not participate in the art therapy classes. She said when they started, he would simply walk out. Eventually, though, the activities caught his attention, Pat Houk said.

“How it just puts a smile on their face is the best part,” Pat Houk said of the classes. She said her husband, who she celebrated her 54th wedding anniversary with in August, never was an artist, but art had always been a part of their lives. In the past, the couple would visit museums and art displays, Pat Houk said.

Things changed when Charles Houk was diagnosed with dementia. He now lives in Garden View, while Pat Houk lives in the community’s independent living facilities.

Pat Houk said her husband cannot talk, but he pays attention to what is going on during the art therapy classes and participates the best he can.

“When their mind goes, you want to do anything you can to make them smile,” Pat Houk said. She added that any time she can get her husband out of his room and involved, it keeps him motivated.

And once the artwork is done, the group will sit together, Houk said, noting that it creates a sense of community. She noted that one of the women at a recent session rarely leaves her room unless an aide comes to get her.

In addition to creating that sense of community, the art therapy classes help relax the residents and give them the opportunity to make their own choices, Eddison said.

“Here, when you’re making art, you can make a lot of decisions,” Eddison said. “It’s kind of empowering that way too.” She said she has also seen residents come in to class anxious, but then calm down and relax as they begin their projects.

Eddison said she also tries to bring residents to the community’s garden, or incorporate items found in nature in their projects. She said she tries to connect the residents to natural items because it might be something they are missing by spending a lot of time indoors.

Recently, the group did a round of sun prints and also painted with water colors on coffee filters, Eddison said. She said they also recently created their own Jackson Pollock-esque masterpieces by rolling marbles through paint in a tin pan.

And even though the class is not product oriented, every piece of artwork is celebrated, Eddison said. She said Woodland Pond hosts an annual art show where the residents’ work is displayed. That display remains up for a few weeks so everyone who visits can enjoy it, Eddison added.

The residents’ work was most recently celebrated with an art show on Aug. 24.