Art for Life Program participants to be recognized in Pekin, North Dakota – Grand Forks Herald

GRAND FORKS – A special event to recognize those who have participated in the Art for Life Program is set for noon-1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28, in the Nelson County Arts Council Auditorium in Pekin, North Dakota.

The public is invited to attend the event, which will feature a display of the art projects and an overview of the program, presented by David and Amy Jo Paukert of Michigan, North Dakota. The Art for Life Program is funded by the North Dakota Council on the Arts.

Photo by David Paukert

The celebration will be held in conjunction with an art auction, set for 1-3 p.m., featuring dozens of works by local artists and those who’ve participated in the NDCA activities.

The Art for Life Program is a partnership between the Nelson County Arts Council and long-term care facilities, said David Paukert of Michigan, North Dakota. Its main goal is to improve the emotional and physical health and wellness of elders through intensive interaction with artists and the arts.

Photo by David Paukert

“We enjoy presenting a variety of topics that those who (participate) will be able to relate to,” Paukert said. “The sessions explore seasonal topics or memories of past events and common experiences. They may range from learning about the history of celebrating Mardi Gras, with the inclusion of costumes, mask-making and Kings Cake, or throwing a beach party with elementary students as our guests.”

Photo by David Paukert

The intent of the program, which focuses on elders living in care facilities as well as those living independently, is to address issues of loneliness, boredom, helplessness and social isolation. Having gained national recognition, it serves as a model for creative aging and health initiatives.

“We are so pleased to be involved in such a wonderful program,” David and Amy Jo Paukert said in a joint statement, “and thank the Nelson County Arts Council and the North Dakota Council on the Arts for making it all possible.”

Photo by David Paukert

Numerous studies have shown the positive impact of the arts on health and wellness, according to the North Dakota Council on the Arts, which was one of the first state arts agencies to explore and develop an arts-health nexus in a sustained and systematic way, specifically with regard to elder care facilities. Both folk and non-folk arts and artists are important to its success, as is tapping into social, familial, ethnic and traditions-based networks.

“We are happy to share the importance of this program and recognize the organizations and residents who make it possible,” David Paukert said. “It has truly been a rewarding experience.”

Photo by David Paukert

In the past, the Art for Life Program was provided in only one facility in Nelson County, usually with a regional artist who spent anywhere from a day to a week or more working with residents, he said.

When the Paukerts joined the program about a year-and-a-half ago, it was expanded to include all of the county’s care centers: Lakota Good Samaritan, Nelson County Health System Care Center in McVille, and the Aneta Parkview Health Center.

Photo by David Paukert

As artists, the Paukerts meet with residents twice a month and engage them in sessions that generate conversation and camaraderie through art, music, writing and story-telling.

The Art for Life Program grew out of a small NDCA Folk and Traditional Art Apprenticeship Grant in 1999 and a subsequent National Endowment for the Arts-funded pilot project with an elder care facility in 2001-03. Since then, the program has grown statewide.