The Art of Conversation

Community Care connects isolated seniors with local artists

Connecting older adults in the community with local artists has fostered not only meaningful engagement and conversation in this time of a pandemic, but lasting friendships too. The Prince Edward County Community Care for Seniors Association in conjunction with the Prince Edward County Arts Council (PECAC) have been working on a new project called The Art of Conversation. Made possible by funding through the Seniors Community Grant Program, the project paired 15 local seniors with 15 local artists, with the idea being the artist and the senior would connect, whether by phone, virtually or in person, as each of the 15 pairs of strangers got to know each other through an enriching process of ensuing conversations and exchanges.

The role of the artist, over a series of conversations, was to establish a connection and a link to something significant in the senior’s life, centred perhaps on an interest or a significant milestone, where the artist would be inspired to create a one-of-a-kind personalized piece of art for the individual senior. The aim of the project, very much geared to addressing those most vulnerable in our community, embraced those individuals most specifically affected by isolation and loneliness. “These connections that we made were all strangers at the beginning of this project, so the first couple of conversations were just getting to know each other,” explained Colin Gillis, Project Coordinator with Community Care for Seniors. “Then the artists’ gained inspiration, probably from a meaningful story that the older adult had shared, that they were able to draw from that and create the piece of artwork.”

Debbie MacDonald Moynes, Executive Director with Community Care for Seniors said the goal of the project is to address social isolation during the pandemic. “Fifteen clients were identified that were believed to be more isolated than the average client,” she said. “The matches were done by finding one thing that the artist and client had in common to help start the natural flow of the conversations.“ While the pairings did have an element of randomness to them, the idea was to identify those clients that would gain the most from the project. Gillis said they selected those who had the most to gain from increasing their socialization levels. “Once we connected our clients to the artists, my goal was to find some element of similarity between the two of them so the conversation could naturally start from there and they could connect with that similar aspect they had in their life.”

With 15 pieces of art individually created by 15 local artists for 15 local seniors, The Art of Conversation project was born. The participating seniors have yet to see the piece of art that was created just for them based on the conversations they had with their assigned artist, and the big reveal will come this Friday when the online art show goes live on Facebook, when the created works will be seen publicly for the first time. Gillis will be joined virtually by Janna Smith, PECAC Executive Director and the artists to watch the art show where there will be an element of interaction. “People are able to comment on it and if they have any, we can comment back and answer their questions.”

For senior Ralph Hall and artist Gwen Roberts, the bond came through a love of motorcycles because as well as being an acyclic painter, Roberts publishes a national motorcycle magazine. “He’s got a big history with motorcycles,” says Roberts, who says both she and her husband would like to talk further about the bikes Hall owned and learn more about his stories. “It was neat to talk to him and I’m sure I will continue talking to him every couple of weeks,” she said. Roberts says the project was a great idea and wanted to participate knowing there were a lot of seniors stuck at home with not many connections with the outside world. “I would never have met Ralph if I had not signed up for this, and it’s a neat connection to find another friend you can relate to with similar things you have in common.”

Gillis said when the pandemic started, isolation levels were increasing among older adults in Prince Edward County. “The Art of Conversation project has done a great job over the last few months to increase socialization levels among older adults, especially when we’ve been in a pandemic and a stay-at-home order for a full month of January and part of February,” explains Gillis. “When it’s cold outside and there’s not many social activities to do for older adults, the virtual projects and activities Community Care have been doing have done a very good job to increase socialization levels.”

Ceramist Andrea Piller was matched with senior Phyllis Sibthorpe who said she was intrigued to meet someone who did ceramics because it’s something she is interested in, adding she was thrilled she was picked for the project. “I told Andrea all that I did with my life and it was a great experience; it was great meeting this artist, she is a beautiful person, I was thrilled, her work is incredible,” enthused Sibthorpe, who not only got to speak on the phone with Piller, but was able to meet in person. “I am very excited and I can hardly wait until Friday to see it.” Sibthorpe said the project is a wonderful idea and she hopes the new friendship she has developed with Piller continues as she is looking forward to visiting her studio.

The seniors will be gifted their piece of art next week. “It is going to be a surprise to the client; they know they will be getting it, but they don’t know exactly what it is, what the painting is going to be, what the poem is going to be,” said Gillis.

“They have been looking forward to each conversation, as well as the piece of art they will be gifted, and hopefully it will be a meaningful piece of art that will continue to bring them joy.” He said after the project is over, he doesn’t think the conversations will stop once the art has been gifted. “I think friendships have been formed from people from the feedback I have been given, and these conversations are probably going to continue in the future, which is pretty amazing.”

MacDonald Moynes says the conversations have positively impacted both the artists and the seniors and has provided something for the older adult to look forward to. “Having this sense of companionship has helped the older adults to navigate the pandemic. Ultimately the project has provided something for the older adults to look forward to; it has increased socialization and reduced isolation,” she says. “Lasting connections will be the legacy of this project.” Gillis is hoping other agencies around Canada will view the event and recognize the value of the project. “Hopefully, more of these can happen moving forward all over to increase socialization levels, not just in Prince Edward County, but all over Canada is my hope,” he said.

The Prince Edward County Community Care for Seniors Association Art of Conversation Facebook Art Show will be live on Friday, March 26 at 10 a.m. where all are encouraged to view the free event at: tinyurl.com/artofconversationexhibit. The virtual art show will remain accessible via Facebook until further notice. Details of the services and programming offered by Community Care for Seniors can be found at communitycareforseniors.org.