Although they may not be able to do the hobbies they once enjoyed, participants at Garden Park Adult Day Center find themselves happily occupied behind the pottery wheel.
Around 10:30 every Tuesday and Thursday morning, Garden Park participants excitedly gather around the table to dip their hands in the soft, cool clay and begin work on the day’s masterpiece.
“We started the program after having a potter visit our center,” said Shirley Garrett, activities director. “Participants enjoyed watching and trying their hands at throwing on the pottery wheel.”
Just like its creator, every piece of Garden Park pottery is uniquely beautiful. The colors vary from rich blues and browns to light creams and greens. Some are big, and others are small. Some pieces even have the potter’s fingerprints imprinted into them. But the self-worth and pride the participants feel when creating their art is the piece’s best feature.
“A person with Alzheimer’s finds it difficult to communicate through speech, but they’re able to show creative ability by working with the clay,” said Garrett. “They really take great pride in the pieces they make, and they feel a lot of self-worth when the pieces they create are sold.”
Participants range from ages 24 to 95, and each one has Alzheimer’s or some related form of dementia. Other conditions include strokes, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, brain injuries and conditions resulting from drug and alcohol abuse.
“Working with clay is good for strengthening their motor skills, and the cool feel of the clay is good for their senses,” Garrett said.
The participants make everything from Christmas ornaments to hanging crosses, bowls, vases and platters.
Although the participants have a pattern to follow when making the clay, they often get creative and make their own unique shapes. “You never know what you’re going to come out with,” said Garden Park Director Cyndi Bassie, “They come up with lots of unique designs.”
“Often times, they aren’t allowed to do much around the house anymore, so we like to let them feel useful around here by doing pottery and assisting with the garden and other projects we offer,” Garrett said. “Here, we treat them like they do everything right.”
On pottery days, each participant gets his or her own flattened block of rolled clay and a mold to place it on. They place the clay over the mold and dab it with a damp sponge. They then cut off excess clay, and set it aside for another project.
Each artist stencils in his or her name on the back of the piece. That way, they can be reminded later of what they have made.
The piece is dried for 2 or 3 days before it is baked in the kiln, where it goes into the “bisque” stage. It is then glazed and painted and ready to be baked for the final time before going on the display table for purchase.
“We pair lower-functioning individuals with higher-functioning ones when assistance is needed,” Garrett said, “And staff and volunteers are always available to assist those who need help.”
The staff ensures that individuals who might eat or drink the clay or glaze are watched carefully to make sure this doesn’t happen. The staff also makes sure that the participants are monitored when they use any tool they could injure themselves with.
Some participants aren’t quite into getting their hands dirty with the clay, so the staff accommodates them as well. “We let them wash the bisque pieces. To them, it’s like washing dishes, and they enjoy it,” Bassie said. They also participate in the staining, glazing, pricing and displaying of the pottery.
“The pottery sells well because people like pieces that are unusual, such as those with fingerprints, nail prints and jagged edges,” Garrett said. “And some people just want to benefit our Alzheimer’s program.”
The money from the pottery sales goes towards activities, supplies and outings that Garden Park participates in.
Participants recently took an Amtrak trip to Yazoo City with some of the money from their pottery sales. The funds also provided a Christmas gift for each participant this past year.
Although they’re known for their pottery, Garden Park participants also make wind chimes out of clay.
Because some participants are on a lower-functioning level than others, they may only be able to roll the clay into balls, but this step is vital in the creation of the chimes. An assistant then comes along to punch a hole in the balls with a large straw to make the wind chime pieces.
The staff makes and sells made-to-order deco mesh wreaths for all occasions. The funds from the sales also benefit the Alzheimer’s program.
Garden Park is a five-days-a-week Adult Day Center that is always in need of volunteers in the pottery program, as well as other facets of the center. If you have a special talent you would like to share, contact Garden park. Pottery can be purchased Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Garden Park Adult Day Center, 2713 Hwy 82 East in Greenwood. Prices range from $5 to $48. For more information, call Garden Park at 415-9058.
nContact Beth Thomas at bthomas@gwcommonwealth.com.
