Give Me Strength

Judy Shintani, California-based "art facilitator for all ages", keeps a blog called Kitsune.

This week, she shares and reflects on a recent visual art class for Elders:

I enjoy facilitating an Elders’ art class in San Francisco every Friday. For the past 6 weeks we have been focusing on mandalas. I discussed the sacredness of the circle symbol in many cultures, in nature, and in religion. We designed rose window mandalas based on the cathedral stained glass windows of Europe. We made shield mandalas to give us strength.

There is a terrific slide-show of some of the work, which involves leaves, petals and other gorgeous organics. Also, note in her description of the class that she is not working solo:

For the eco mandala inspiration, my two high school aids presented a report on Andy Goldsworthy and showed how he used things found in the environment, nature, to create installations.

Let's go where she is.

A Transformative Artist

Judy Shintani is a "Transformative Artist" based in California. Her creative process takes her on treasure hunts, to second-hand shops, forests and beaches, both here and abroad. In her artwork, she combines and juxtaposes organic materials with everyday objects and the detritus of industry to explore the "conflict and union" of the world we live in.

She's also a professional Teaching Artist with a mission to serve all ages.

As an independent TA, Ms. Shintani has developed a slew of original workshops to bridge the gap between her art and her teaching. A struggle which probably sounds familiar. Her intergenerational approach is of particular interest since, if we're lucky, we all get older. If we are really lucky, there will be a professional TA around to help us keep exploring as we become Elders in our communities.

Ms. Shintani keeps a website gallery page, a blog and a Twitter page.

She says she's happy to share her work with the community and I think it's spectacular.

I bet you will too.

Find Judy Shintani's Alzheimer Creativity Workbook for Families (PDF) and information about her other original workshops on her website - here.