The second in a series of four seminars entitled Living Art – Living Well Studio will be held Wednesday, April 30 at the Caribou Inn and Convention Center at 7 p.m. The seminar will feature one of the most gifted basketmakers of the Passamaquoddy Nation, Molly Neptune Parker. The series of seminars are designed to increase awareness and knowledge regarding the impact of arts in aging and how creativity matters to the health of the body, mind and spirit of older adults. Through the series of four seminars, Living Art – Living Well Studio offers participants the opportunity to explore the connection between traditional art, cultural legacy and life review; it also explores the role these play in health, aging and positive decision making and how this informs the practice of health care.
As a child, Neptune Parker learned basketmaking from her mother and she continues the fancy basket tradition at her home on the shores of Lewey Lake in Indian Township. Her work is much sought after by collectors and has been featured in several exhibitions. She will have samples of her work at the seminar and will discuss the importance of her craft to healthy aging.
Bill Flagg, director of community relations and development at Cary Medical Center said that he was very pleased with the turnout of the first seminar which featured expert woodcarver Tom Cote from Limestone. Flagg said that the program made the connection between art and health.
“I was fascinated by the connection that was made between the art and health,” said Flagg who is collaborating with the Aroostook Area Agency on Aging to bring the seminar series to the County. “The work of the elder artist becomes their life’s work and takes on such significance that it becomes part of who they are. It is important that healthcare professionals recognize this as they provide care so that the elder’s ability to continue their craft is always considered.”
The series of seminars is sponsored by the University of New England Maine Geriatric Education Center, in partnership with Cultural Resources, Inc. and the Maine Arts Commission.
The seminars are free and open to the public.
