JOAN’S BLOG- THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2008 – A PORTRAIT OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE by the AD artist, William Utermohlen

I found an article yesterday in The Alzheimer’s Daily News that was as fascinating as it was disturbing. It concerned the artist, William Utermohlen, who “created a series of self-portraits, intentionally chronicling his descent into dementia and Alzheimer's
disease.” (Click here for complete text of article).”

Although I love perusing art museums , I am a reader more than an art aficionado. To that end, I have recommended countless books (click here for the list) dealing with caregiving, coping, understanding, and living with Alzheimer’s Disease. The books I have found most educational and revealing have been the ones written by Alzheimer patients themselves.

But no book I have ever read has been as powerful as the self portraits I viewed that were painted by William Utermohlen.  These portraits brilliantly express the loss of self experienced by an Alzheimer patient in a manner more compelling than any words. We are always lamenting the loss of the person we knew and loved. These portraits chillingly demonstrate that is exactly what happens in Alzheimer’s Disease – the disappearance of the essence of what makes our spouse the person they were.

My words are few today – instead I am offering information in the form of a stunning artistic achievement. IMPORTANT: As always, it is my intention to educate and inform. I do not wish to cause distress to anyone, so please make your own decision about viewing them.  I try to write different blogs for different stages of the disease – not every blog is appropriate for each stage, but overall, I have managed to touch upon every stage. It is my hope that those of you with spouses in the later stages will gain a better understanding of their thought processes through these portraits. Those of you with spouses in the earliest stages may want to skip this exhibit, and wait for my upcoming blog on where to turn in the confusion of the initial diagnosis.  If you are interested in seeing them, you may click this link for a slide presentation. When that page loads, in the upper right hand corner, keep clicking "next" to see each picture, noting their dates.

Note: "The international art exhibition, sponsored locally by Aging Services of California, will be exhibited publicly without charge at two Sacramento locations throughout February. The complete 19-piece show -- titled "Inside Alzheimer's: Portraits of the Mind" -- will be on display starting February 6 at the Art Foundry Gallery at 10th and R Streets. And high-quality reproductions of key pieces will be on display for the entire month at the State Capitol at the entrance to the Governor's Office."

Feedback to joan@thealzheimerspouse.com