Creativity Meets Collaboration
Welcome to the transformative and vibrant fusion of shapes, colors and textures represented in the "Let It Shine!" exhibition – a collection of abstract artwork created by older adults in the Opening Minds through Art (OMA) in the Community program facilitated by Goddard House at Mount Pleasant Home in Jamaica Plain.
This virtual exhibition is a collaboration between Goddard House and Lesley University, whose Expressive Therapy graduate students have been vital contributors to the Goddard House arts programming for 25 years.
The vivid artwork and eloquent voices of the artists, and the thoughtful quotes from Lesley alumni bring to life the creative and community-building impact of OMA.
We invite you to view this virtual exhibition showcasing the remarkable creative capacity of older adults.
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What is Opening Minds through Art (OMA)?
Opening Minds through Art (OMA) is an award-winning, evidence-based, intergenerational, abstract art-making program for older adults. The goal of OMA is to challenge assumptions and build respect and genuine connections between older adults and student interns and other volunteers as they come together through artmaking. OMA demonstrates that older adults across a wide spectrum of physical and cognitive challenges (and strengths) are highly capable of demonstrating their creativity through art.
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Goddard House and Lesley University – 25 Years of Collaboration
Goddard House has been a training site for Lesley University Art and Expressive Therapies graduate student interns since the not-for-profit assisted living community opened its doors in 1997. Opening Minds through Art (OMA) became a core addition to art programming at Goddard House in 2016 and was joined by a music therapy cohort, a team of four students overseen by a Lesley faculty member on site.
In 2021-22, Goddard House Community Initiatives piloted OMA in the Community at Mount Pleasant Home in Jamaica Plain, MA. Over the past year, the OMA team of facilitators and volunteers included three Lesley graduates from the Art and Expressive Therapies Master’s Program: Silvina Ibanez, Ginny Mazur and Isabelle Olsson.
In fall of 2022, a new cohort of Lesley Art Therapy graduate student interns will participate in the OMA in the Community Program for the full academic year, broadening the base of training and collaboration between Lesley University and Goddard House.
“The steps of the OMA process are like notes on the scale. We learn and practice them, and from there we improvise and let our artistic imagination be expressed. There’s both a sense of wonder and growing confidence in one’s abilities, every time we gather and sit down to make art.”
- Ginny Mazur, '85, LMHC, ATR, Goddard House OMA Facilitator
"Each OMA session is a celebration of creativity. No matter if the participating artists have previous experience with the arts, OMA invites people of all abilities and backgrounds to awaken the inner creator and shine."
- Silvina Ibañez, '21, Goddard House OMA Facilitator
“OMA provides its artists with a place to come together and explore the inner world of imagination. The process reveals a natural resonance with the mind and soul which can be felt in the room.”
- Laura Newbold, '87, Goddard House OMA Facilitator
“OMA provides a safe, caring, and creative platform for older adults to express their personalities with color, texture, pattern and thoughtfulness. Their joy and excitement is such a gift to witness. Older adults are capable of so much more than society and even they, themselves recognize!”
- Sarina Van Zyl, '17, LMHC, Former Goddard House Intern
Meet the Artists
About Goddard House & Mt. Pleasant Home
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Goddard House
Goddard House embraces the aging experience for seniors living in the Boston area by operating a high-quality assisted living community and by creating innovative programs which support the need for purpose, engagement, autonomy, and choice.
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Goddard House Community Initiatives
Individuality, expression, social connection and innovation are all driving forces behind Goddard House Community Initiatives, which engages diverse older adults from Greater Boston in participatory programming that includes art, music, dance and other forms of creative expression.
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Mount Pleasant Home
Mount Pleasant Home is an independent, non-profit residential care rest home for seniors sixty-two and older, licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Mount Pleasant Home supports the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health of women and men.