Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative

I wanted to tell everyone about a special exhibit that was at Maine Quilts this year.

It was the most powerful art exhibit I have ever seen in my life, and tackles a subject that effects everyone in one way or another but has a special significance for me.

And the way they tackle this subject has special significance for me, too...

The Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative is a grouping of art quilts made by different individuals based on their experiences with Alzheimer's patients. Each quilt was accompanied by a story from the quilt's creator and some sobering facts about the disease.

Here are some words from the AAQI's website:

The Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative (AAQI) is an Internet-driven, grassroots, totally volunteer effort to raise awareness and fund research through art.... All profit is used to fund Alzheimer's research. Since the AAQI began we have raised more than $285,000 for Alzheimer's research. The AAQI currently administer two major programs. The first is a nationwide traveling quilt exhibit called "Alzheimer's: Forgetting Piece By Piece." It contains 52 quilts each interpreting Alzheimer's in some way. So far, more than 200,000 people have had the opportunity to see this exhibit.

The second is the "Priority: Alzheimer's Quilts" project, so named for the urgent need for research dollars and the requirement that these quilts must fit into a cardboard USPS priority mailer without folding. They are small works of art no larger than 9 inches by 12 inches, auctioned on the first day of each month... or sold outright on the Internet or at selected venues across the United States.

The art quilts from the "Alheimer's: Forgetting Piece By Piece" exhibition were on display at Maine Quilts this year.

I was only able to look at one of these quilts.

Then I had to leave the exhibition and I'm sorry I had to leave because I truly wanted to look at all of them, but it was just too raw for me.

The one quilt I looked at was a portrait of a ballerina ( a picture of the author's Grandmother when she was young) that was made up entirely of tiny little squares. From far away, you could see the ballerina clearly but when you approached the quilt and looked at it up close, you lost focus.

It was very easy to see how this concept related to Alzheimer's.

Later on that weekend I met Ami Simms, who is the AAQI's show coordinator.

I wanted to thank her for putting together the show and tell her how much I believed in what she was doing and tell her how powerful those quilts were.

I only got as far as saying Thank You.

Then I started crying in the middle of the civic center and I had to leave and walk laps around the building to calm down.

I know I've mentioned before how when I start crying I generally need a couple of hours to stop, but I didn't have a couple of hours this time.

My Grandfather has Alzheimer's disease, and as confusing and difficult as I know that must be for him, the person I feel even worse for is my Grandmother Florence, because she takes care of my Grandfather.

She never compromises his care or his dignity, and I know it is a frustrating, thankless job for her, but I see every day how much she loves my Grandfather.

Every time he asks a question she answers him honestly, even if that question is

"When are we going home?" when they are in the house they've lived in for 60 years.

"Where are my parents?" when his parents passed away decades ago.

Or "Where is Florence?" when she is right there beside him.

I don't know how she does it.

These are the things I thought about as I was circling the Augusta Civic Center, trying to compose myself.

And I thought, if I could channel those thoughts into a quilt, I would do it.

But I don't want to channel those thoughts into a quilt.

I wanted to deal with things in my own way and write about them here, to make my peace with my Grandparent's situation and just put it out there for everyone to read...

I wanted to say that I am sad for my Grandfather and sad for my Grandmother and sad for myself.

But proud, too.

I'm proud of how my Grandmother faces the hand she has been dealt.

If I am ever in her position I can only hope that I would act with half the grace that she does.

And if I am ever in my Grandfather's position... I would want to be treated the way she has treated him.

So, this is my way of saying Thank You to Ami and to everyone who poured their hearts and souls into the AAQI.

To say that I was touched would be a huge understatement.

I was moved, and I was comforted.

I encourage each and every one of you to visit the AAQI site and learn about the project for yourself.

And if you are ever able to see the quilts in person, be prepared for some powerful art.

Thanks for listening, and I will be back soon with some lighter fare, I promise.




XO,

Rhea