4 Ways to Display Art in Your Senior Living Community
4 Ways to Display Art in Your Senior Living Community
4 Ways to Display Art in Your Senior Living Community
Learn how you can turn your senior living community into a gallery and build a creative culture for your residents.
The importance of showcasing artwork in your senior living community extends well beyond aesthetics, as it supports both the mental and emotional well-being of residents. By fostering a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere, art encourages conversations among viewers, offering intellectual and sensory stimulation. Specifically, displaying artwork created by residents instills a sense of purpose and pride in the creators, providing them with a platform to share and express their creativity.
1. Set up a Rotating Gallery Wall
Tip
Rotate the artwork on a monthly basis to compliment the season, holiday or special events!
2. Organize an Art Exhibit
Showcase the talented artists in your community with an annual art exhibition. Collaborate with the dining team to enhance the event by offering appetizers and beverages. Extend invitations to friends, family, staff, and the general public to join in the celebration. With the artists’ consent, you can include price tags to facilitate the sale of their artwork. The proceeds can be directed toward a charity, a communal fund, or directly to the artist.
Tip
Organize musical entertainment during the art exhibition to enhance the viewers experience. Select music that reflects the theme and ambience of the event.
3. Highlight Resident Artists in Your Community’s Newsletter
Each month, approach a different resident artist and inquire if they would like to be featured, along with their artwork, in the community newsletter. Include a “Resident Bio” section to provide additional context about the artist and their creative journey. Recognizing and highlighting the artistic talents of residents plays a crucial role in fostering creative expression and building a culture of support within your senior living community.
4. Hang Art Everywhere!
Decorate your community with resident-made art to create a sense of home! Utilize wall space in communal areas to highlight the talented individuals living in your community. Here are some tips to keep in mind when hanging artwork:
- To ensure comfortable viewing without straining viewers’ necks, center the piece at eye level, typically around 57 to 60 inches from the floor.
- Use appropriate hanging hardware based on the artwork’s weight. For heavier pieces, consider using wall anchors or hooks specifically designed for larger loads.
- Prevent crooked artwork by using a level to ensure the piece is positioned straight and evenly.
Illustration of American Artist, Jean-Michel Basquiat
©Artfull Enrichment Inc.
Jean-Michel Basquiat
Basquiat rose to fame in the 1980s, beginning as a graffiti artist on the streets of New York City before transitioning to fine art. He was often seen in the company of prominent figures in the pop art world, such as Andy Warhol and Keith Haring. A collaboration later emerged between Warhol and Basquiat, resulting in a series of artworks in the 1980s that showcased the unique fusion of pop art motifs with Jean-Michel’s expressive graffiti art style.
Basquiat’s status within the art world soared significantly after his collaboration with Warhol. Although his life was tragically cut short, as he passed away at the age of 27, his legacy has endured through his work. In 2017, his piece “Untitled,” created in 1982, sold for a staggering $110.5 million during an auction, making it one of the highest sums ever paid for artwork created by an American artist.
