DAYTON, Ohio — Mixed-media Artist Karen Fisher and Gallery Director Dana Wiley are touring a new art gallery called "Connections: Moments of Clarity."

What You Need To Know

  • A new art gallery is called "Connections: Moments of Clarity" is up at the Dana L. Wiley Gallery in Dayton

  • It features the works of memory care residents

  • The gallery will be auctioned off to benefit the Miami Valley Alzheimer’s Association Chapter

  • The gallery runs from April 2 through May 16, and the virtual silent auction is May 15 

The gallery features the watercolor artwork of people living with dementia or mild cognitive impairment. Those paintings are then paired with a professional artist’s recreation. 

Fisher said allowing the memory care residents use their creativity has a great benefit.  

“Somehow just painting, the act of painting, gave them this portal into their mind in a place where they could realize who they still are,” Fisher said.  

Fisher created the concept for the gallery after working on a similar campaign called Memories in the Making, a national campaign of the Alzheimer’s Association.  

Wiley said what makes this new gallery so different is its unique artist pairing concept. 

“The artist coming in, picking the water color, doing their own interpretation and then the gallery will auction these off May 15 in a silent auction,” Wiley said. 

All the proceeds will benefit the Miami Valley Alzheimer’s Association. Executive Director of the Alzheimer’s Association Eric VanVlymen said it’s amazing to see this gallery come together. 

“They are amazing,” he said. “They are really inspiring. So many people are really engaging, because the artwork is beautiful. The story is really heartfelt and the people involved are really amazing because they are giving their time and talent to make this happen.” 

Knowing the silent auction will benefit the organization is something that makes both Fisher and Wiley proud because both have family members impacted by dementia. 

“I too just want to be of service,” Wiley said. “I just want to do something. I just want to contribute somehow. This is my way of doing that.” 

“Bringing awareness to a community and creating a program or creating a project that can impact so many lives,” Fisher said.  

Fisher also has another gallery currently featured at the Dana L. Wiley Gallery in Dayton called "The Darker Sooner."

“I wanted to create artwork to raise awareness of what it’s like (for) a family to go through this disease alongside of someone that they love who is experiencing the de-creation of the self,” Fisher said.  

The two galleries combined highlight the difficulty of living with dementia and the impact it has on loved ones and caregivers, but also show the positive impact art can make. 

“It was just beautiful to see, not only the individual light up and enjoy themselves, but the family members really appreciate that they had those moments,” Fisher said. 

A preview of the silent auction begins on May 13 and the virtual auction will be held on May 15. More information can be found on the Gallery’s website. 

For those with more questions about Alzheimer’s or Dementia, visit the Miami Valley Chapter’s website or call the help line 1-800-272-3900.