MILWAUKEE — This Wisconsin artist creates one-of-a-kind works of art that hold a lifetime of memories.
We all know the saying, "a picture is worth a thousand words." Well, for one artist, her paintings are worth a lifetime.
Cathy Smith, an Ovation Communities day center member has a smile from ear to ear. That’s because she’s talking with artist Angela Shelstad who’s created a one of a kind piece of art for her.
“It just touches my heart it’s great,” Cathy Smith said.
Artist, Angela Shelstad is painting the life stories of Ovation Community day center members who are living with memory loss. She’s just revealed Cathy’s painting, capturing the city of Chicago and the great outdoors.
“I’ve hidden golf balls all along the waters edge because you wanted me to capture your humor,” artist Angela Shelstad said.
The hope is to be able to capture ones life story through an interview process, then Angela takes to her canvas and gets to work.
“It’s been one of the most fulfilling things in my life and I don’t want it to stop. I want it to keep going,” Shelstad said.
It’s rewarding process for her, but also for those living with memory loss because they are now able to hold onto a snapshot of their life.
“It’s not only meaningful to the person thats involved in it, it’s meaningful to the staff, it allows the staff to grow and get to know the people that they care for on a more individual level, and thats what programming is about,” Ovation Communities day services director Dawn Adler said.
In the end, someone is given a piece of art filled with a lifetime of memories, and they will always get to hold onto it.
