Title: Fertile Mobile with Artist Becky Mitchell - 2011
Lake Agassiz Regional Library sponsored a two day Artist Residency in creating a public mobile at the Fair Meadows Nursing Home in Fertile, MN.
Event Dates, Locations and Attendance at each individual event:
- March 28 - 29, 2011 residency workshops
- April 15, 2011 Public presentation/dedication of the mobile
- 35 people attended the unveiling of this program.
Partner Organization(s):
- Fair Meadows Nursing Home
Partner Organization(s) Contribution/Role in the Program:
- Fair Meadows Nursing Home houses the mobile.
Measurable Outcomes may be collected by survey, anecdotal responses, pre-test/post-test, observations; Describe proposed end user change in Behavior, Attitude, Skills, Knowledge, Condition and/or Status.
- Raising awareness of different forms of art and increasing exposure to art.
- Encouraging community building and teamwork.
- Allowing residents to experience and participate in creating art with no financial barriers. By incorporating abstract art in the creativity, feelings of "I can't do that" are eliminated.
- Having a piece of high quality public art in greater Minnesota comparable to one found in larger communities.
Artist Becky Mitchell spent 4 days at the Fair Meadows Nursing Home in Fertile, Minnesota. Two of the days were hands-on work sessions with 25-30 senior residents creating a large mobile for their common space area. The goal of the project was to find an activity that residents at all levels of functioning could participate in, engage them in a new activity and ultimately create a mobile that could continue to be added to in upcoming projects within the facility. The residents strung beads on wire that were suspended from the mobile. They had a choice of many colors that enhanced the current décor of the facility. The strands ranged in length from 6" to 2'. In the first work session, one resident in particular stood out. She was very vocal, and had limited vision. She was frustrated that the activity required (or so she thought) the use of her eyes. Most of the first day she required assistance to create her strands. By the morning of the second day, she had figured out how to feel for the hole on the bead and subsequently string it onto the wire strand. She ended the project enthusiastic and wanting more! Residents at all levels participated in the project. Some were able to string the beads themselves. Others teamed up with another resident or staff member to assist in creating the strands. Some just came to the table and enjoyed feeling the different shapes and sizes of the beads. The mobile itself is somewhat of a progressive modern concept for this age group and it was interesting to see their responses when completed. It was created in a manner that it can be lowered to eye level for those in wheel chairs and the contents of the mobile can be switched easily with different seasons or activities. The residents of the entire facility gathered in the room when we presented the project. Incorporated into the mobile were old black and white photographs of Fertile, old crystal dishes the artist melted and incorporated into the strands as well as some copper leaves. The nursing home stated they would be purchasing more beads and wire and continue to add to the mobile as the residents enjoyed the activity.