Beautiful. Interactive. Sophisticated. Stimulating. Durable. Cleanable. Customizable. All these words describe my “beautifully therapeutic” artwork. They're ideal for designers and others who value evidence-based design in health care settings, especially memory care, dementia, Alzheimer’s, senior living, and similar settings. Contact me to discuss your needs!
Wandering Waves
Wandering Waves INVITES viewers to INTERACT by running their hands over its soothing forms, playing with the waves, creating new forms, and feeling its various textures. It’s a beauty-infused experience that can strengthen motor function and control, decrease stress and anxiety, and help people express themselves. It’s also customizable, durable, and cleanable (Cavi-wipes).
Sea Glass
Spinning Beauty
Sea Glass (63x29x3) was inspired by Sea Glass Wine Company's ad on the back cover of Coastal Living magazine. It reminded me of those colorful, sand-smoothed gems we discover while strolling on the beach. I highly recommend enjoying a chilled class of SeaGlass's Pino Grigio to get the full effect of this beautiful sculpture! Soft, glass-pastel colors, hand-shaped forms, hand-knotted cotton twine, and a satin finish provide soothing beauty reminiscent of actual sea glass. If touched by hand or breeze, the forms gently move, adding another dimension to their beauty. Use Sea Glass as a partition (viewable both sides), on a wall, from the ceiling, or on a console (table).
"Spinning Beauty" (25x56x2.75) is a new "spin" on sophisticated, interactive sulpture. It's beautiful, durable (solid steel and hardwood), cleanable (CaviWipes), therapeutic, and customizable. This piece - or a customized version of it - is ideal for healthcare environments desiring art that's aesthetically pleasing AND engaging. Contact me at www.dwmerkey.com to inquire.
Memory Cube PROTOTYPE
This unique sculpture (20x36x2.5) brings beauty and healing to all, especially those wrestling with memory loss. In addition to its therapeutic value as a work of aesthetic beauty and sophistication, it also invites physical interaction with its touchable, turnable cubes. Two sides contain color so a person can create their own colorful masterpiece. One side contains emotion, creature, and food icons so a person can play matching games, and share emotions, memories, and stories. The fourth side rewards with a complete image when a person turns all cubes to that side. Besides being "beautifully therapeutic," this sculpture is customizable, durable, easy to install, and cleanable (Cavi-wipe compliant, the standard in healthcare surface cleaning)!
“‘Beautifully therapeutic’ fine art cultivates consecrated pleasure to bring healing, wholeness, and true human flourishing. It can do this through visual and other sensory experiences, like physical touch and interaction. In fact, fine art that stimulates a wide variety of sensory experiences has the potential to be extraordinarily ‘beautifully therapeutic.’ ”
2024 Environments for Aging Expo + Conference
I was honored that DAC Art Consulting showcased my interactive sculpture “Wandering Waves” at the April, 2024 Environments for Aging Expo + Conference in Atlanta. Together, we met the event’s goal to “offer the latest strategies and ideas for creating functional and attractive living environments that meet the needs of our aging population. During this three-day learning experience, attendees will network with peers while learning the latest innovations and best practices in senior-friendly design for long-term and residential care settings.”
*I included the modifier “consecrated” to distinguish virtuous pleasure from depraved pleasure. There are pleasures that are depraved and destructive: the high from illicit and addiction-causing drugs, the momentary rush of stealing something, the strange satisfaction of lashing out in bitter vengeance, watching violence in a movie, and more. Fine art can fit this description if it’s nothing more than an artist’s vain self-expression, is poorly crafted, arouses vice, and is devoid of hope or beauty. By contrast, fine art that brings consecrated pleasure is that which is both enjoyable and constructive. It’s not that such fine art can’t deal with painful topics or include an artist’s self-expression. But ultimately, healing art, art that brings wholeness and human flourishing, must convey aesthetic beauty along with virtue that lightens the soul and body. Read more HERE.