visual arts | by Sheila Conlin Jones n mid-June days through early July, Still, a n exhibition of artworks completed by seniors w i t h d e m e n t i a is n o t t h e sort of s h o w i n g you expect to see everyday. But it is d e s t i n e d t o a s t o n i s h y o u . The w o r k s have a certain about s o p h i s t i c a t i o n a n d subtlety that adds a n e w d i m e n s i o n t o t h e w a y w e think d e m e n t i a . H a v e w e let o u r o w n p r e c o n c e p t i o n s a b o u t illness blind us t o the when the weather cooperates with sunny a n d l o n g , light-filled will host a n titled: evenings, t h e Ferry B u i l d i n g G a l l e r y in W e s t V a n c o u v e r extraordinary Creativity exhibition and Dementia. As a non-profit organization, the heritage potential of the h u m a n spirit? D a l i a G o t t l i e b - T a n a k a is t h e g u i d i n g force behind this e x h i b i t i o n ; she is the person w h o w o r k e d w i t h t h e seniors/artists. A long-time resident of t h e North Shore, Dalia has been 4SKhe X k * t hXtk^^-44 Gallery, housed in a restored building, occupies a special place in this m u n i c i p a l i t y . A s a c o m m u n i t y gallery, it is o p e n a n d free t o t h e p u b l i c ; in k e e p i n g with its mandate, S it f e a t u r e s local 7U< ^ k x ^ k i A &-|)e i<b 4e/i\^6^4 I 2./ iv 6 w ik*-X %k*-k jjee^4 i t A i k i.e-i*v*jtA.-A A*Ve artists Mindful West a n d supports Vancouver their efforts. it serves, highest Gallery i n v o l v e d in m a n y c o m m u n i t y projects over the last 2 5 years. Today, improving the q u a l i t y o f life o f seniors w i t h d e m e n t i a is her p a s s i o n a n d a r e a o f e x p e r t i s e . "Over three years, I developed a p r o g r a m of creative expression activities for seniors with d e m e n t i a at Hollyburn Seniors House. I w a s so t o u c h e d b y t h e seniors, their personal of the community has the Building percentage of older people in the Lower Mainland, t h e Ferry looks for opportunities t o celebrate this p o p u l a t i o n a n d b r i n g e x a m p l e s of h e a l i n g arts to the p u b l i c ' s a t t e n t i o n . May | June