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Saturday, November 1, 2008

The Changing Face of Alzheimer's

Ami Simms' mother is one of 5.2 million Americans with Alzheimer's disease. Ami began the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative because she thinks it is possible to make a difference, one quilt at a time. This is an all volunteer organization. Ami and her staff volunteer their time and energy and quilts. Quilts are donated from people all over the world; although most are from the USA. If you would like more information about donating and\or buying a quilt, please click on the link below.

The Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative (AAQI)
Raising Awareness & Funding Research Through Art
http://www.alzquilts.org/

Diane Petersmarck organized a 'Stay At Home Challenge' for those of us in quiltart who are not traveling to Houston to see the biggest quilt show of the year. I decided to join this challenge and see how many quilts I could make by the posting deadline. It is fun.

The only rule is that all quilts have to be 9" x 12" or less because of mailing.
I decided this might be a good time to learn a little more about Alzheimer's. My first 4 quilts are trying to express visually how Alzheimer's may affect a person.

The Changing Face of Alzheimer's 1
Number 1 is expressing how a person's perspective is breaking apart into pieces that become unrecognizable.
Width: 7" Length: 9 3\4"


The Changing Face of Alzheimer's 2
Number 2 is expressing how a person may find their mind divided into compartments which have difficulty communicating with each other.
Width: 9" Length: 11 1\4"


The Changing Face of Alzheimer's 3
Number 3 is expressing how a person's mind may just become split up into garbled pieces that can't connect with each other.
Width: 9" Length: 12"


The Changing Face of Alzheimer's 4
Number 4 is expressing how a person's mind may just fade away.
Width: 9" Length: 12"

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8 comments:

  1. Art by Rhoda ForbesNovember 1, 2008 at 12:54 PM

    Ann, your alzheimers quilts are wonderful, they really reveal the mysteries of the disease.

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  2. Karen Newman FridyNovember 1, 2008 at 1:11 PM

    Ann those are all great pieces! I'm impressed that you've done that much so quickly...they will be a great addition to the fundraiser

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  3. frazzledsugarplummumNovember 2, 2008 at 9:22 AM

    My Aunt has Alzheimers and your quilts express to me..what she has gone through. At number 4 she is only a shadow of the person she once was. Thank you for sharing these thoughtful pieces.
    Shirley

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  4. Johnni SchellNovember 2, 2008 at 9:49 AM

    Ann - when I read your email on quiltart.com that you had 4 new artquilts to show on your blog - I hurried right over - I am such a fan of your work! And these 4 pieces are stirring...my father's family have had quite a few suffer from alzheimers. You have captured visually an intangible disease and the emotional loss surrounding it.

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  5. Kay Koeper SorensenNovember 2, 2008 at 10:55 AM

    Thewse are some VERY powerful quilts.
    K

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  6. TangueraNovember 2, 2008 at 1:27 PM

    Wow, those are great pieces.

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  7. DianeNovember 2, 2008 at 3:33 PM

    Very thoughtful quilts, Ann, for a very good cause!

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  8. Margaret CooterNovember 11, 2008 at 5:54 AM

    These are so expressive, thoughtful, and touching; they really connect the viewer and the maker, as well as sending out a wider message.

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