By Antonia Morales
For the patients at the Margaret Tietz Adult Day Health Care Program, art has become a way to help them cope and improve their health. With dedicated teachers and staff, many of the seniors at the day care center work hard to create good artwork.
For many, this hard work has paid off.
The Adult Day Health Care Program celebrated the opening Friday of its art show, “Traveling the World Through Art.” It invited 12 of its patients and staff to display their artwork for the community. The art show is being held at the Queensborough Community College Art Gallery at 222-05 56th Ave. in Bayside.
The Adult Day Health Care is only for seniors who have been diagnosed with a primary health condition, such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease, so it is important for the people who run the program to find ways to meet all their needs.
“We want them to make friends, develop their interests as well as have their health needs met,” said Wennie Chen, associate director at Margaret Tietz.
But even with their health conditions, the patients have been able to produce impressive pieces of art.
“Health impairment has brought them to the program,” said Michelle Oxley, who is the program director at Adult Day Health Care. “Art therapy enables them to do the best that they can. They are very talented.”
There was a range of different types of art, from oil paintings to ink on canvas, but most of the pieces had an Asian influence, with many of the clients choosing to do calligraphy. This was one of the reasons behind the multicultural theme of the art show.
“Queens does represent the most diverse of our five boroughs,” said Oxley as she addressed the gallery and presented the artists. “We invite you to take a journey by using your eyes.”
Letitia Culpeper, who was the curator and a participating artist, was pleased with the work the people at the program have accomplished and thought the QCC Art Gallery was a great place to showcase their talent.
“This helps the community know about the interesting things we do at the center,” said Culpeper. “I’m so excited. It’s such a grand stage.”
The executive director of the QCC Art Gallery, Faustino Quintanilla, was happy to help the program members find a place to showcase their work. He said they have found a good partnership and that the art show gave the artists an incentive to do their best.
“The art is good because it inspires them to do better,” said Quintanilla. “This is our second year. This year there’s much more quality in the work.”
Not all of the artists were present at the opening, but those who did attend were honored with a certificate for their achievements and the staff at the gallery were acknowledged as honorary Margaret Tietz staff.
The 22 pieces of art will be on shown at the gallery until the end of the month.
