Board of directors chair Sarah Lorance, right, visits with Alzheimer's artist June Reid. Patients and professionals created works for Memories in the Making: A Summer Night in Paris. (Steve Peterson, Special to The Denver Post)
Some people buy a particular piece of art because it speaks to them; others create art because it speaks for them.
The latter is particularly true at Memories in the Making, the signature fundraiser for Colorado chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.
Paintings up for bid were created throughout the year by men and women with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia who take part in association-sponsored classes at 45 care facilities in the Denver area.
A majority of the participants didn't discover their artistic talent until enrolling in the classes.
"The program offers them a sense of purpose,
the opportunity to socialize and a way to express memories and emotions when words are becoming increasingly difficult," notes Linda Mitchell, president and chief executive officer of Colorado chapter.
Such as the cityscape with the poignant title, "Maybe I'll Go to Paris Someday," by the late Kate Lamborne. It was the featured piece at Memories in the Making 2013: A Summer Night in Paris.
Eiffel Towers and twinkling lights decorated the Coors Art Gallery on the National Western Stock Show grounds for this June 6 event that is on track to raise $230,000.
The generosity of the 600 guests brought in $215,000 that night, and donations continue to trickle in, Mitchell said.
The biggest sale was the $8,700 that a bidder who wishes to remain anonymous paid for the paired package of "Steer Leader," by Memories in the Making artist John George, and "Make My Day," by professional artist Margaretta Caesar.
June Reid, 92, introduced the benefit's special appeal by reading a verse she had written after attending an association-sponsored program for those in the early stages of Alzheimer's. It touches on growing old and becoming forgetful, and so moved guest Stephen Koch that he got the ball rolling with a $5,000 gift.
Reid, who attended Memories in the Making with her daughter, Debbie, also contributed a watercolor painting, "The Wind Blows," to the auction.
In keeping with tradition, several of the works sold in the live auction are paired with paintings, sculptures or jewelry created by professional artists.
Seventeen of the 28 who donated their time were at the event, including Madeleine O'Connell, Julie Havel, Cheryl St. John, Cheryl Scott, Kent Lemon and Merrie Wick.
Other guests were Sarah and Michael Lorance (she's with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield and chairs the Colorado chapter board of directors); Drs. Val Dean and Don Murphy; George Young, regional vice president of United Healthcare; Eric Lindsey, chief executive officer of Villagio Senior Living; Jay and Joyce Moskowitz; and such chapter board members as Don Bechter, Adam Duerr, Margy Christian, Phillip Heath, Perry Herrmann, Tom Hurley, JJ Jordan, Venetia Marshall,Greg Pfahl, Kelly Rogers, Dan Thomas and Chip Watson.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314, jdavidson@denverpost.com or twitter.com/getitwrite
Online: More pictures from these events denverpost.com/seengallery
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