Joyce Donahue, left, shares a laugh with Dori Thompson during an Art Without Boundaries therapy session at the Mendota Lutheran Home. (Reporter photos by Bonnie Morris)

MENDOTA – Joyce Donahue smiles with pleasure as she admires her newly completed painting. A resident of the Mendota Lutheran Home, Donahue’s work of art was created during a therapy session called Art Without Boundaries.

Despite its name, this therapy is about much more than art. The sessions incorporate a series of activities - singing, hand movements, storytelling and painting - to assess people with conditions such as Alzheimer’s/dementia, depression, stroke, Parkinson’s and autism while providing an enjoyable experience and improving their quality of life. The combination of activities makes new connections with the brain and sometimes cognition returns to some degree.

Working with Dori Thompson, who was trained by the non-profit Art Without Boundaries organization, the session began by sitting face-to-face with each other and singing, “Bicycle Built for Two.” Donahue chimed in eagerly, remembering most of the lyrics and smiling happily when the song was done.

Thompson, who works with many residents at the Mendota Lutheran Home, as well as the LaSalle Veterans Home and various other facilities, was trained as a Mneme [pronounced nemma] Therapist six years ago. She explained that Art Without Boundaries sessions are presented in a methodical way and each aspect of the therapy has a particular purpose, which she uses as an assessment tool.

Even though the basics of the therapy are always the same, Thompson has learned that there is no “typical” session. Sometimes there is noticeable improvement in patients by the end of a session and on occasion, there is a remarkable breakthrough. At the very least, Thompson makes sure her patients have an enjoyable experience while they work together.

Following their vocal duet, Thompson led Donahue in some hand and arm exercises, all the while engaging in conversation. Using both the right and left hand, there were high fives, knee slaps, and then Thompson moved her hand slowly back and forth through the air like a butterfly. She asked Donahue to try to grab it with her right hand, then her left, all the while tracking eye movement. The singing and exercises are repeated at the end of the session as well. “I am looking for improvement in the exercises we do afterward,” Thompson explained.

Once the initial round of exercises were completed, Thompson and Donahue moved to a worktable where Thompson had paints, brushes and a cardboard easel set up to begin the painting process. They started by looking through a large binder of sample paintings and Donahue was asked to choose which picture she wanted to paint. Going through the pages one by one, Thompson asked questions about the colors, if the painting reminded Donahue of someplace she had ever been and if she liked the painting. The paintings Donahue liked were set aside and the process of elimination continued until only two pictures remained.

On this particular afternoon, Donahue decided on a fall picture but then changed her mind and opted for a beach sunrise. “The other one is ‘dullsville,’” she told Thompson.

Chuckling, Thompson began talking about the beach scene as they prepared to paint. She gavs instructions to Donahue on how to hold the brush and what types of strokes to make. With an impressively steady hand, Donahue applied the paint back and forth as the work of art began unfolding. As each color was added, they talked about the painting’s subject matter, what a person might do at a beach and where it might be. After deciding it could be Hawaii, Thompson mentioned wearing a bikini but Donahue stated matter-of-factly that she would not wear a bikini. Thompson laughed in agreement.

As they continued talking about Hawaii, Donahue said she had visited there and recalled hula skirts and luaus. When the painting was finished, they agreed to name it, “Fond Memories of Hawaii.” After examining her painting closely, Donahue was pleased saying, “I like it!”

Laurie Krager, marketing director at the Mendota Lutheran Home, noted that sessions usually take place in private settings to avoid distractions. A strong supporter of Art Without Boundaries, MLH encourages their residents to take part in the therapy sessions. Krager explained that there is no extra cost to families. Money to cover the cost is received through donations and fundraisers such as Lunch in the Park.

“There is always a follow up after the sessions,” Krager added. “Our Life Enrichment Director, Connie Buchanan, works with families very closely. They can see the picture and can also choose to have prints made of the artwork for gifts or keepsakes.”

Families are welcome to sit in on sessions and often leave very encouraged by the results. Krager said Donahue’s daughter, Beth, was very impressed with a session she witnessed several months ago. “Beth was so excited about her mom’s interaction and her painting. She spoke to our interdisciplinary team about seeing the first painting her mom did - how important that was for her and how emotional,” Krager said. “She said she was just shocked that her mom had done that.”

With her newest painting completed, Donahue and Thompson got ready to go around the facility and show it to staff and other residents. As they started down the hallway, Donahue was told that later her painting would be framed and hung in her room. “That will be perfect, that’s what I’d like,” she replied with a huge grin.

Watching Thompson during a session, there is no mistaking her love of people and the immediate connection she makes with clients. She especially enjoys the challenge of engaging someone who rarely participates in activities. “I just take it slow and they seem to come around,” she said. “I’ve worked with hundreds of people and it’s incredibly rewarding. I believe everybody is a success.”

In the near future, she hopes to create a small studio space in her yard where people who are able could come to sessions. “I’m hoping I can find someone willing to donate some type of shed that I could rehab and convert into a studio at my house,” she said. “That’s at the top of my wish list right now.”

To learn more about Art Without Boundaries or to make a donation, visit artwithoutboundaries.net.