Art exhibit seeks ‘progress over perfection’

The ‘Happy’ display in the Creative Expressions exhibit at Lynnwood Arts includes pieces celebrating the things that bring the participants happiness.

Lisa Timpf

Advocate Correspondent

Seeking ‘progress over perfection’ is good advice for anyone.

It is one component of the Creative Expressions’ artist’s oath. That oath is included as part of the Creative Expressions art exhibit currently on display at Lynnwood Arts in Simcoe.

Creative Expressions is one of many programs the Alzheimer Society of Brant, Haldimand Norfolk, Hamilton Halton offers to “optimize the lives of individuals living with dementia (such as Alzheimer’s) and their care partners.” Through the Creative Expressions program, participants attend classes where they complete various forms of artwork.

On Sunday, April 13, Lynnwood Arts hosted a well-attended ‘opening event’ for the Creative Expressions art exhibit. In her remarks, Kim Shippey, Lynnwood Arts’ Executive Director, was enthusiastic about the exhibit, stating the artwork serves as a reminder of the “powerful presence of creativity within each of us.”

Shippey also noted that a number of ‘guest artists’ lent their expertise to the program.

Michelle Lewis, CEO for the Alzheimer Society of Brant, Haldimand Norfolk, Hamilton Halton, said that between September 2024 and March 2025, over 150 Creative Expressions sessions took place in Brant, Simcoe, Hamilton, Ancaster, Burlington, and Milton, with almost 1,500 participants. Almost all of the participants reported feeling more engaged and less isolated as a result of their involvement.

While some of the sessions took place at Alzheimer Society offices, others were hosted by Lynnwood Arts, as well as Legions in Milton and Hamilton. Lewis expressed gratitude for the availability of these spaces.

Lewis noted the Creative Expressions program offers many benefits. Some of the participants tend to be reticent, or have difficulty expressing themselves in words. Creating artwork provides an addition avenue for self-expression.

The program is also an opportunity to make social connections, and a way to keep the brain active. Stimulating different areas of the brain is important, Lewis said, and creating art is one way of achieving this. In addition, the act of creating art can trigger memories, which can be helpful for those living with dementia.

Creative Expressions classes encourage participants to explore a number of different art techniques, and several of these are on display at the exhibit. 

The display titled ‘Mixed Media,’ for example, is composed of artwork that uses magazine clippings, napkins, and old songbooks, as well as other items, as a foundation for the pieces. ‘Happy’ includes artwork celebrating things that bring the participants happiness.

Vibrant colours are a feature of a number of the pieces, and those touring the exhibits can appreciate the universality of many of the themes, particularly when it comes to the ‘Happy’ display.

Among the exhibits are paintings of birds created by a program participant who started his creative journey at age 90, and found increasing enthusiasm for art as he continued to attend Creative Expressions classes.

Given the many benefits offered by Creative Expressions, there’s value in seeing it continue. Shippey was pleased to announce at the opening event that Lynnwood Arts has been given a Trillium grant of over $12,000 in support of the Creative Expressions program.

The Creative Expressions exhibit is on display until May 24, at Lynnwood Arts, 21 Lynnwood Avenue, Simcoe. It includes pieces created by program participants in Brant, Haldimand, Norfolk, Hamilton, and Halton.