How the Frist embraced museum patrons with dementia

This isn’t the first visit to the Frist galleries for Mary Tometich, though it may feel that way to her.

“Just amazing,” the 63-year-old says, shuffling through the museum’s outgoing exhibit of Asian textiles. A Persian rug hangs on the wall. A Japanese seat lies in a glass case. An ornate kimono hangs on a mannequin.

Guide Meagan Rust tries to keep the presentation simple and accessible for this group. They all have early-stage dementia.

“Have you all ever worn like a really special outfit for a special occasion?” Rust asks — a leading question she hopes will spark fond memories of a wedding or prom night.

“Like how they do in the TV thing?” Tometich responds with a smile and a laugh. She’s still aware enough to be attentive even if she doesn’t totally understand what she’s looking at.

Before packing up the Frist’s current exhibit, which closes January 2nd, the museum hosted a group through a partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association Tennessee chapter. The program has brought in groups quarterly for 14 years.

As museums have become more inclusive places, they’ve welcomed patrons with dementia. Many, including the Frist, took cues from the Museum of Modern Art in New York, which started its Alzheimer’s Project in 2007.

These visitors take a quick tour, then do their own art project followed by lunch together.

Blake Farmer WPLN News

Edythe Burd helps her friend, Mary Tometich (right), decorate a paper kimono during a visit to the Frist Art Museum.

Frist education director Anne Henderson says the goal is the same as with any other visitor.

“We just want people to feel comfortable,” she says. “And want the art activity to be easy to do. We don’t want anybody to feel intimidated by art.”

On this day, the hands-on project is cutting out and decorating a paper kimono. Tometich gets some help from her caregiver for the day, a neighbor in her building named Edythe Burd.

Burd puts a fresh colored pencil in Tometich’s hand, which promptly gets flipped to the un-sharpened end. Burd then helps reorient the pencil.

“She loves to try to draw,” Burd says as Tometich makes colorful curlicues on the paper. “She used to be an artist. But that’ll entertain her a long time.”

Submitted

A painting by Mary Tometich.

Burd spends a few days a week with Tometich to give her husband, John, a break. He still works as a massage therapist.

Before dementia began taking its cruel toll, Tometich painted. John is particularly proud of a still-life bowl of fruit.

“There are certain things that we do that bring back memories,” Burd says. “And she can either be really happy. Or be really sad, and cry.”

It’s all smiles on this visit. Burd says she hopes her friend will still be well enough to make it back to the next exhibit at the Frist.