From the negative to the positive

As part of the Improving Dementia Experience And Living research project led by the University of Exeter. Gallery Oldham has been working with “The ragamuffins” a group of local people with dementia. From workshops led by the artists Ian Beesley - photographer Tony Husband - cartoonist Ian McMillan - poet they have created this exhibition of photography, cartoons, and poems that express their thoughts, hopes and experiences. This is not a reminiscence project. Re-membering practices, within narrative therapy, are not about reminiscing but about relationships and witnessing the effects of those relationships and connections. It is a special form of re-collecting.   Here, each month, Ian, Tony and Ian have collected an amazing aural and visual smorgasbord. They have provided a safe fun context for people labelled with a dementia and their carers to come together. They have gathered to re-collect their memories, to laugh and to create and in doing so relationships and connections have been built. Profound issues and themes have been addressed with a lightness of touch. In creating and witnessing each other all are members and re-membered into the fabric of the community. When we hear and see this work we too cannot help but be changed. It has been a journey from negative stereotypes to the positive relationships. I am honoured, along with DEEP (Dementia Engagement Empowerment Project) to have helped this to happen and get brief glimpses of its evolution.   Community psychology at its best   Polly Kaiser – Consultant Clinical psychologist Pennine Care Oldham