Chabad’s Art Program for people with memory loss proposed for town gallery and festival; commissioners supportive

Rabbi Mintz of the local Chabad and program lead Judy presented a proposal on May 20 to exhibit work by participants in a community arts program that serves people experiencing memory loss, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

The presenters said the program meets weekly with participants and caregivers, and that the participants produce paintings and mixed‑media work for display. Rabbi Mintz said the organizers had hoped to exhibit the work in conjunction with the Tiburon Jewish Festival on Sunday, Aug. 10, and that the exhibition could be on display for a longer period if the commission preferred. Judy described the program details: she said classes begin with chair yoga and light movement, include watercolor and acrylic instruction by volunteer professional artists, and produce works accompanied by short biographies written from interviews with participants; she noted many participants were in their mid‑90s.

Commissioners complimented the artwork and the program’s therapeutic benefits, discussed practical details for showing unframed canvases in the lower gallery and encouraged the organizers to prepare a short curatorial statement and individual write‑ups for each artist. The commission said it would consider a month‑long exhibition and that the chair would add an action item to the June agenda to form an ad hoc committee should commissioners want to move forward.

No formal vote was taken on the exhibition at the May 20 meeting; commissioners asked organizers to coordinate hanging methods and to return with written artist statements and logistics.