StoryPoint Chesterton celebrates healing with the arts through paintings, sculptures, and music

StoryPoint Chesterton celebrates healing with the arts through paintings, sculptures, and music

For centuries, various forms of art have been the centerpiece of each and every era. It allows us to freely express our feelings, remember important connections, find inner strength, and simply be a source of enjoyment. This is why art is so prominent at StoryPoint Chesterton; whether observing or creating, residents are able to find healing and tranquility. To celebrate this, StoryPoint decided to invite both their residents and the community in for a time to talk with local artists, and enjoy their favorite classics on the piano. 

“Sometimes we just need to get out of our own way and stretch our minds and find the things that make us feel whole,” said Tonya Carter, life enrichment director at StoryPoint. “It’s important to get away from the stress that’s going on and art can really help us do that.”

Carter, has been hard at work planning events and activities for her residents that get them away from screens and toward face-to-face interaction. Art has been one of the mainstays in her curriculum, with a goal of utilizing and growing all five senses. 

StoryPoint Healing with The Arts 2020

StoryPoint Healing with The Arts 2020 16 Photos
StoryPoint Healing with The Arts 2020StoryPoint Healing with The Arts 2020StoryPoint Healing with The Arts 2020StoryPoint Healing with The Arts 2020

“For national Inspire Your Heart With Art Day, I thought we could bring in some art to StoryPoint not only for our residents but for the community,” Carter said. “The purpose of today was to connect with art in various forms because art is healing in itself and it’s a way for us to appreciate art in a different way.”

Residents sat and engaged with local artist, Jackie Kalin, for hours as she showcased her unique paintings which encompassed glass and glitter in portraits of Einstein and Marilyn Monroe. Time spent learning, chatting, and laughing about art, hobbies, and life is time well spent. 

“In 2015 I decided I was done painting what people wanted me to paint and started painting things I wanted to paint, which is why these are portraits of Einstein with fuzzy slippers and things with glitter and glass all over them,” Kalin said. “I like things sparkly and metallic, and I do things differently because I don’t want you to be able to go online and find it anywhere.”

One resident, EJ Taplin, has loved art for as long as she can remember, and is one of Carter’s regulars when it comes to art classes despite issues with her vision. She was happy to be able to interact with a local artist of stature. 

“I’ve always liked art, it’s a great hobby, and I love looking at any kind,” Taplin said. “It’s very relaxing for me.”

Friday, February 7th, StoryPoint will be hosting a Veteran’s Breakfast at 9:30 AM followed by “Get in the Know About Women’s Heart Health” at 10:30 AM. 

For more information, visit www.storypoint.com/chesterton-in.