Art Awareness - A Global Initiative - 6th Edition

Autism and Alzheimer's by the artists' view.

Artists: Neil Kerman, Paula Delmanto, Zé Dassilva, Marize Koerich

Curatorship: Alcinda Saphira and Riccardo Tartaglia

Co-curator: Regina Nobrez

On View: April 24 – June 9, 2019

Opening Reception and Conferences: April 30, 5PM

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

The 6th Edition of the "Art Awareness - A Global Initiative" program held in Rio de Janeiro, brings together a conference and collective exhibition of paintings, digital art, sculptures and installations bringing themes such as Autism and Alzheimer's.

The pieces presented at the exhibition are by American Neil Kerman and Brazilians Marize Koerich, Paula Delmanto and Zé Dassilva. Neil Kerman reveals a refined dialogue of the creative process, a mix of colors and different screen formats. Alzheimer's Awareness is used in the everyday lives of patients in the nursing homes of the artist who also uses art as a therapy in the treatment of the disease. The exhibition also features the digital artwork by Marize Koerich (MAK), an artist and activist who uses art to give visibility to autism. Paula Delmanto exhibits sculptures and installation on the themes and also the illustrations of the artist and screenwriter Zé Dassilva.

The benefits of art for people with Alzheimer's extend to observing works of art. This interaction helps in relieving the symptoms of the disease, along with artistic projects aimed at the patients and the importance of the interaction with the family. For autistic children, art is a valuable tool in the treatment because it is a fundamental element to promote activities that constitute a stimulus for its social insertion and communication development, increasing the capacity of abstraction, motor coordination, imagination, creativity, sensitivity, affectivity and internal organization

The "Art Awareness - A Global Initiative" program has already been held with the theme: Alzheimer's Awareness at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, London, Madrid and Turin (MIIT-Museum).

In São Paulo, the exhibition took place at Saphira & Ventura Gallery in partnership with the Mirshcan Menachem Synagogue. The program was created by gallery partners Alcinda Saphira (curator) and Louis Ventura (PhD economist), both established in the international market for more than two decades.

Speakers invited to the conference (April 30 at 5 p.m.) will explore Alzheimer's and Autism issues and bring them to the discussion, highlighting the importance of bringing people together to share their experiences and show the benefit of color and physical and mental activities as complementary therapy, helping in the treatment of people with these diseases. Participating in the panel are Dr. Vilma Câmara - Neurologist and Geriatrician specializing in Alzheimer's and member of the Brazilian Association of Alzheimer's (ABRAz), the artist Neil Kerman, Dr. Yolanda Boechat, Kaká Koerich, who is dedicated to the cause of autism and to the site Autistólogos , as well as representatives of supporting companies.

"Art Awareness - A Global Initiative" is an achievement of the New York International Contemporary Art Society (NYICAS), Saphira & Ventura Gallery, International Society of Contemporary Art and Gastronomy of São Paulo (SIAGC) in partnership with TARTAGLIA ART and has the support of ABRAz (Brazilian Association of Alzheimer's - Regional Rio de Janeiro), SAP (a multinational company of software and business applications that works with social inclusion and employs people with autism), Correios (which launched commemorative stamps of Autism and Alzheimer's with the aim of propagating the awareness of society to the theme).