Paint and Refresh at Meadowlark

Adelle Ellis
Times Reporter

 

Hope Bridges is coming back into full swing this New Year with a variety of classes scheduled.
The most recent class held was a Paint and Refresh class that took place at the Meadowlark Senior’s Care Facility on Jan. 4.
The class, solely comprised of residents of the care facility, was a two-hour long painting session during which the students painted the silhouette of an owl sitting on the branches of a tree against a blue sky.
Hope Bridges offers a few of these painting classes each month; the first at Parent Link on every second Thursday of every month, and this one at Meadowlark on the first Wednesday of every month from 1 to 3 p.m.
The Meadowlark class is particularly interesting because all the residents of Meadowlark have dementia.
“All the patients here have dementia so it is quite an accomplishment for them to do this. Sometimes they don’t even remember doing this the next day,” said Debbie Wakelam, owner and operator of Meadowlark Senior’s Care Facility.
Wakelam is already seeing the benefit of bringing art into the facility by partnering with Hope Bridges.
“For individuals living with dementia, often it is very hard for them to verbally express themselves,” she said. “It’s surprising how incredible some of the residents are with painting; they become totally engrossed in it.”
Although this class is held in a care facility, anyone is welcome to join in on the class.
“It is an open event (and) anyone is encouraged to come and participate,” noted Wakelam. “It is held here because it is convenient for us and for residents in wheel chairs, but that doesn’t mean someone who wanted to come, couldn’t. It would be great to get some younger people in to mix with our seniors.”
There is a new painting every month and there are different levels of expertise: beginner, intermediate and advanced. The paintings are walked through step-by-step.
“There is no right or wrong when creating these paintings. No one is judging you. You can do it how you want and just have fun,” said Melinda Phillips-Oslund, the artist and facilitator of Hope Bridges’ Paint and Refresh days.
Painting classes aren’t the only thing Hope Bridges has going on this year; they are also offering a Drum fit and drumming class on Jan. 26 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Hope Church Youth Room for $25.
Drum fit is a class that can be done standing or sitting and it involves movement to music while drumming on exercise balls, and will be combined in a two-hour class with drumming on the balls.
Other classes offered include Go Green Upcycling, Sing Your High Note and Hand Built Pottery. Please visit hopebridges.ca to view the classes and to sign up.