'Re:Collection - Living in Memory'
Collaborative Show
In late 2019, CSUCI students, Baylor Duncan, Elijah Jimenez, and Mia Seelos developed an artistic project that focused on engaging with seniors who reside in the local community. The project was fueled by a mutual compassion for those who have witnessed loved ones affected by Alzheimers.
Exploring the mind and its ability to form and recall memories was at the forefront of the project. After reaching out and connecting with a local retirement home, Clearwater Independent Living Facility. The three artists developed a series of art workshops that would provide a space for Clearwater residents to engage with and create alongside one other. From this experience the Re:collection body of work was made.
Clear Water Assisted Living
Art Workshops
The opportunity to share a space that thrives on communal creativity with other individuals, was a blessing and reminder of how precious time spent together can be. Out of the three workshops planned for Clearwater Senior Living residents, our first workshop was uninterrupted by the COVID-19 Pandemic. Before in person gatherings were restricted, we held a collage workshop for residents interested in participating. Three residents joined us in making a unique collage that reflected on their life and memories collected.
Residents Collage Pieces
Although two of three workshops were postponed due to the Pandemic, Duncan, Jimenez, and Seelos were grateful to have the opportunity to host a single free-flowing collage workshop for any Clearwater residents interested in participating. This experience alone produced and inspired the works seen in this exhibition.
Re:Collection Mission Statement
Beneath the protective skull a fragile organ reasons and labors. Neurons whisper fond memories; collecting them over time and bringing them to the conscious present. Take yourself out of the present moment to ground in a past experience stored in the precious mind. The action to Re: call; member; visit; collect.
The value of the mind is priceless, and each individual brain is unique — holding complex experiences. This was seen firsthand during our visit to Clearwater Senior Living Facility in Oxnard, California where we had the opportunity to host a creative workshop with a handful of residents. In this collaborative show, the importance of memories are declared through artistic creations, both produced and inspired by seniors in our community. It was an honor to provide a creative outlet to the Clearwater community, allowing them to express and document the fragility, importance, and beauty of memory. Furthermore, this one experience with the Clearwater group served as lasting inspiration for our creative approach. Our paintings for this show were derived from the shared moments we had with the residents at Clearwater.
Each piece of work represents a moment for the artist, a reflection and manifestation of their mind, life, and presence. Through “Re:Collection – Living in Memory” we aim to bring a message of mindfulness to the audience members.
Re:collection Gallery
Mia Seelos's Work
'Internal Dialogue'
Mixed Media on Canvas
30 x 40
Mia Seelos
2020
My second piece was representative of how a person can recall the same memory each time it will inevitably be slightly different each time. I painted the from of my childhood home nine times for the viewer to see the slight discrepancies in between each painting.
Baylor Duncan's Work
'31 N Carriage'
Baylor Duncan
Mixed Media on Canvas
30 x 40
2020
Baylor's second piece was a fabric artwork sewn together. Representing how individuals sew multiple memories together. These sewn moments coming together parallel how a lifetime of experiences make any person's point of view unique and valid.
Elijah Jimenez's Work
"My Only Sunshine"
Elijah Jimenez
Mixed Media on Canvas
30 x 40
2020
Elijah Made a second art piece for the in person show. A Multi-Media piece of videos complied together to represent how memory is recalled in random memories, time frames and details. This piece was playing in the background during our show.
Advertising Show Pamphlet
This was a great learning collaborative experience. As I was able to work beside two of my dear friends we were able to make an impact with the local senior community and make a statement of the importance of memory. We had a small audience over a zoom meeting during quarantine showing our work. Then we were blessed to finally have our work shown in person over a year after completion in late 2020.
Please feel free to visit our website linked and visit all of our social media and personal websites to know more about my dear friends Ms. Baylor Duncan and Mr. Elijah Jimenez.
