Artist John Ryan unveils first phase of his provincial mural honoring the resilience of people with Alzheimer's

MONTREAL, Jan. 10, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - "The participation of people affected with Alzheimer's in the creation of this mural has transformed my understanding not only on the power of art over disease but also over life in general," declared artist John Ryan during the unveiling of the first phase presenting two panels of his provincial mural, which took place today at Centre St-Pierre, in Montreal, as part of the National Alzheimer's Awareness Campaign.

From left to right: Artist-painter John Ryan is joined by Pierre Dubois, affected by Alzheimer’s, Société Alzheimer de Lanaudière, Dr. Alain Robillard, neurologist, Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Pascale Godbout, art-therapist, Société Alzheimer de Montréal , Lisette Joly, President of the Board and Jean-Francois Lamarche, General Director and CEO, both from the Federation of Quebec Alzheimer Societies (FQAS), to unveil in Montréal on January 10, 2018, the first phase of the provincial mural created with the collaboration of people affected from the 20 Alzheimer Societies throughout Quebec. (CNW Group/Federation of Quebec Alzheimer Societies)

The first phase of the provincial mural created with the collaboration of people affected from the 20 Alzheimer Societies throughout Quebec, was unveiled on January 10, 2018, in Montreal. (CNW Group/Federation of Quebec Alzheimer Societies)

An initiative of the Quebec Federation of Alzheimer Societies (FQAS) and carried out in collaboration with people affected with Alzheimer's disease from the 20 Alzheimer Societies across Quebec, the mural seeks to honour not only the resilience but also the many talents of all those affected with Alzheimer's disease, the courage of their caregivers and the efforts deployed for more than 30 years by the 20 Alzheimer Societies in Quebec, who help them retain the best quality of life possible.

"The person-centered approach of the Alzheimer societies all across Quebec is intended to highlight individuals in their current state. Everyone affected with Alzheimer's has reserves of creativity in many areas that they can express if given the chance," noted Jean-François Lamarche, FQAS Executive Director and CEO, "and the mural project enabled us to demonstrate this in striking fashion. The resilience of those with Alzheimer's disease, supported by their caregivers, is beyond admirable."

To execute this artistic project, the Quebec Federation of Alzheimer Societies invited the 20 regional Societies to participate in painting a mural to be produced by noted artist John Ryan. During a regional tour that took place from October 31 to December 5, 2017, Mr. Ryan visited the Societies and, with his support and artistic advice, persons with Alzheimer's who have a passion for painting collaborated on the mural by painting the canvas representing their own region as part of a stimulation or art therapy activity. The result indicates that the power of the arts can triumph, at least momentarily, over the disease, their suffering or their isolation.

"Art therapy makes it possible to engage the whole person, at the social, emotional, cognitive and psychomotor level, while stimulating the abilities they retain," explained Pascale Godbout, art therapist at the Alzheimer Society of Montreal.

A magnificent mural expressing the passion of those affected with Alzheimer's

Some technical details:

• The whole mural will be 82 inches high and 220 inches long or approximately 6.8 feet high and 18.3 feet long.
• The mural will consists of 5 panels, each 44 X 82 inches in size, presenting a background artistically representing Quebec.
• Each 12 x 16 inch canvas is superposed on the larger canvas, to give it a 3D dimension.
• The small canvases each represent a region where there is an Alzheimer Society and present the special features of the region or the Society.
• The canvases created by the Societies were done with acrylic paint and the big panels created by the artist mural were done with acrylic and oil paint, the artist having applied the background colours to the canvas.

The public is invited to admire the first phase of the mural as well as other works by artist John Ryan as part of a special exhibit at the Centre St-Pierre, located at 1212 rue Panet in Montreal, until January 30. The final mural will be unveiled at a future date.

To obtain additional information on the mural, and its progress, visit 
Web site : www.alzheimerquebec.ca
Facebook : @LaFederationQuebecoiseDesSocietesAlzheimer
Twitter : @FqsaAlzh

About the Quebec Federation of Alzheimer Societies (FQSA)

For more than 30 years, the FQSA has represented, maintained and defended the rights of the 141,000 Quebecers with Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia and their caregivers. It serves as provincial spokesperson for the 20 Alzheimer Societies that are present in every region of Quebec, where they offer persons affected and their caregivers, through programs, services and training, support designed to enable them to retain the best possible quality of life. Moreover, the Federation makes the general public aware of the personal and social consequences for those affected with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia and contributes to promoting research into their causes, treatment and cure. 
For information: www.alzheimerquebec.ca 
Facebook: @LaFederationQuebecoiseDesSocietesAlzheimer 
Twitter: @FqsaAlzh

SOURCE Federation of Quebec Alzheimer Societies

Sylvie Piché, Director, Communications and Special Events, 514 369-7891 # 225, [email protected]

Related Links

http://www.alzheimerquebec.ca