STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

Jordan Dooley read the words of Emily Dickinson that were contained in a wire sculpture of artist Lesley Dill.

“Now, we’re going to create wire images that reflect your experience with nature,” she told 16 adults sitting in front of her after they had talked about the meanings behind the words contained in “I Had a Daily Bliss.”

“You can use wire to form the letters of a word that expresses how you feel about nature. Or, you can use the wire to form an image.”

The men and women gathered for the Sun Valley Museum of Art’s Art Therapy workshop titled “Stepping Out of the Frame” thought for a moment, then offered their thoughts.

“I am calm in nature,” said one.

“I love to take my dog out and watch her. I feel connected to nature through her,” offered another.

One person outlined a leaf with her wire. Another formed the word “Ocean.” Still another turned her wire into a u-shaped form, then strung it with red, yellow and blue beads signifying a rainbow.

“I used to string popcorn necklaces and bracelets,” she said.

Retrieving memories is one of the objects of this particular museum-based art therapy session, which is designed for those who are experiencing memory loss or loss of sensorimotor capabilities due to aging, neurodegenerative disease, stroke or heart attack.

Kimberley Jones, assistant activities director at SilverCreek Living in Hailey, noticed her partner’s relish for beading.

“I suspect she did a lot of crafts in the past—she’s really getting absorbed in it. It’s almost like meditation for her,” she said. “This is harder than I thought but it’s good because it makes me use my fingers, my fine motor skills. These kinds of activities help with things like dexterity and gripping, even confidence.”

The eight-week workshop is provided free of charge—one of a growing number of art therapy projects springing up around the country.

Its teacher Jordyn Dooley pursued a Master of Science degree in Art Therapy at Florida State University.

“What’s great about bringing people into a museum is that it’s a non-stigmatizing space,” she said. “It’s not a hospital or rehab facility. It’s a place where all kinds of people of all ages come.”

Katelyn Foley, the museum’s director of education and humanities, agreed: “This is an audience we haven’t seen a lot of because they’re not able to come on their own. For them it’s like getting out for a gallery walk. It gives them a safe place to come and provides them with a museum experience they weren’t getting before.”

The setting allows Dooley to introduce students to various pieces in the museum’s current exhibition, “The Bottomlessness of a Pond: Transcendentalism, Nature and Spirit.” They talk about Dill’s wire sculpture, then they turn to her man made from material titled “To Be Alive is Power.”

During the previous session they had learned about Spencer Finch’s work based on an 1846 survey of Walden Pond. They considered his use of light and color as he delved deeper in the pond and they talked about how color impacts their memory of place.

Then they created their own art weaving branches with yarn that boasted colors from Finch’s palette. And they used tissue paper to create a stained glass-like piece reflective of William Lamson’s “Solarium” modeled on Thoreau’s cabin.

They chose favorite items from their past—from garden flowers to butterflies—and put them in a landscape during an exhibition focusing on the Great Basin. And they recreated their versions of favorite snacks, including Hershey Bars, Reese’s Pieces, watermelon and a fish on a platter, during an exhibition on the Marketplace.

Occasionally, Dooley asks participants to tell the person next to them why the colors they chose or the piece of art they’re creating is important to them.

“Art is a form of self-expression, something we use to express ourselves from kindergarten to our older years,” said Katelyn Foley. “Many of these people think their thoughts and feelings are not valued anymore. This is a way they can connect with others. This gives them a voice.”

The meditative nature of many of the art tasks alleviates the anxiety that some people experience at this stage in their life. And the repetition increases focus and attention. The kinesthetic and sensory aspects promote increased brain activity, and the finished product offers a feeling of accomplishment.

One woman who rarely speaks surprised everyone when she blurted out, “Wow!” I did that!”

“it’s neat when you see their eyes light up and when you see them become more engaged,” said Dooley.

Anita Northwood, who co-founded SilverCreek Living, says her residents enjoy taking part in the workshop.

“Our residents enjoy getting out and doing something,” she said. “And the nice thing about these art classes is that there’s no right way or wrong way. It’s a chance to be here among others with no expectations.”

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