Piece by piece

How United is building community, through art and connection

What makes a house a home? If you go back in time—all the way back—to the dawn of civilization and the first human-constructed structures, you might be surprised to find homes, even then, were more than just foundations and supports.

If you look closely, you’ll see traces of pigments on the walls, carvings and sculptures made of clay, pathways and flooring consisting of small stones and shells arranged in patterns, and evidence of a myriad of other decorative elements incorporated into the structures.

While these decorative elements may seem superfluous, they played a key part in the development of a functional community and communication. Before the evolution of written language, ancient civilizations used symbolic imagery to define the purpose of a building. Think: religious iconography used on the walls and entrances of temples, or descriptive images like bread or wheat to represent a bakery, a wine jug or grapes for a tavern, a hammer and anvil for a blacksmith, and so on.

Similarly, ancient people used home décor to define their place in the greater community. Some objects and ornamentation were used for their personal spiritual practices, while others marked the owner’s occupation or social status. It turns out interior design isn’t a modern concept—even ancient humankind stepped back to have a look at their new abodes and thought: “This works, but we really ought to jazz up the place.”

History repeating

Let’s skip ahead a few millennia—while human society has evolved and changed significantly, there’s plenty of visual conventions and cues in modern society that have carried over from the very beginnings of civilization.  Even now, thousands of years later, there are echoes of the past in many of our modern structures. Building materials such as clay or stone tiles are still prevalent in many homes and businesses. Modern logos and signage still rely on unwritten cues to identify a business’s purpose—think about it: chances are if you see a sign displaying a sheaf of wheat, you’ll find a bakery within.

And the same still rings true for our homes. From family photos and artwork, to hobbies and home offices, to decking the halls to celebrate holidays, our homes reflect who we are, and what we care about. Those personal touches are what creates a safe and welcoming space, and for many, are the key to making a house a home.

When you think of a retirement community, often what feels lacking is the magic of personal touch—that homey, welcoming feeling, which can make it difficult for some to find their place and feel a sense of belonging.

Filling in the gaps

So how can you cultivate a sense of home in an older adult community? If you’ve visited a United Active Living community, one of the first things you’ll notice is the artwork throughout the spaces is constantly changing. It’s also resident-created. The art studio is open to all residents, regardless of their prior experience—from joining in on workshops to starting their own practice, residents gather in the art studio to connect, to create, and to have fun.

But, even with an open studio beckoning, there are still some who hesitate to put their creative ideas to paper. Luckily, United’s creative facilitators always find ways to inspire even the most artistically disinclined. Most recently, they looked back through their art history books to come up with a creative project that would not only inspire creative expression, but would bring the community together in creative connection: mosaics.

Under the guidance of creative facilitators Jacquie Brown and Chantel Traub, residents participated in a series of workshops to hand-carve and glaze clay tiles, which would later be set into upcycled coffee tables for the art studio's lounge area. The project culminated in a final workshop, where residents collaborated to arrange the finished tiles into colourful mosaics on the tabletops.

"It was such a memorable afternoon," says Jacquie. "Everyone gathered around the table, carefully placing the tiles and ensuring each person's tile was included and fit well with the others—the sense of pride and community is reflected in the final pieces—the tables represent the community coming together to create something beautiful.” Jacquie adds, “It was an absolute blast to have everyone get so involved, and it was apparent everyone really cares about their fellow residents. We were all thrilled with how the final pieces turned out.”

More and more, collaborative works are appearing in the spaces throughout United communities. From a large-scale homage to van Gogh’s Sunflowers, to a dazzling array of three-dimensional butterflies bursting from a canvas, residents have opportunities throughout the year to make their mark.

“After the experience of the pandemic, I think we’re all excited to get together to create something meaningful,” says Chantel. “Collaborative projects like the mosaic table have brought residents to the studio who otherwise wouldn’t join in. These projects offer everyone a chance to participate and contribute to the community, in a way that is accessible.” Chantel continues, “In fact, after residents join us for a group project for the first time, we’re more likely to see them in the art studio. We love being a part of their creative journeys!”

“Before moving to United, I hadn’t really spent any time pursuing creative hobbies,” says Vim, a resident at United Active Living Fish Creek, “But being in the art studio has been wonderful. The mosaic tables really brought us together—the sense of camaraderie we felt by creating a project that represented us all made us feel like we really belong.”

The bigger picture

Aside from creating amazing art pieces to adorn the walls, establishing an integrated community has benefits for residents as they progress through their aging journey. “When residents feel seen and heard in a community, they are more inclined to participate in programming, and feel supported to try new things,” says Amy McDonough, Executive Director at United Active Living Fish Creek. “The projects in the art studio create opportunities for new residents to feel welcome and make connections with other residents.” Amy adds, “And for residents living with dementia, being included in a broader community is a powerful reminder that they are still valued as a person. It’s incredible to see how their outcomes are improved by being an integral part of the community.”

The mosaics aren’t just a project in the art studio: they’re a paradigm for United’s philosophy. If you step back and have a look at the overall picture, you see vibrant communities with bright spaces. But as you allow yourself a closer look, you’ll see United is comprised of a vast array of contrasting and complimentary elements, all working together to create a cohesive and inclusive community. A mosaic of sorts.

As United’s art collection grows, we have to wonder: what will we see next? Stick around to find out how we’re building community piece by piece!

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