Lisa Hicks’ ‘Stolen Memories’ paintings featured in exhibit
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<p class="p1">The Alzheimer’s Association says that more than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, and the disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. </p><p class="p1">While Alzheimer’s effects are overwhelming, artist Lisa Hicks of Jonesboro uses the disease as a source of inspiration.</p><p class="p1">This inspiration has resulted in a complete sequence of paintings titled “Stolen Memories” that will be displayed in the Southeastern Illinois College art gallery in Harrisburg.</p><p class="p1">“‘Stolen Memories’ is a series of 28 paintings that represent the devastating dementia effects of Alzheimer’s,” Hicks said. </p><p class="p1">“This series reflects how knowledge and memories that have been formed over a lifetime are viciously taken by the devastating disease, leaving the mind to be nothing but a black empty shell.”</p><p class="p1"> Hicks portrays the crippling effects of Alzheimer’s by using a theme of black dominoes as a canvas. She then uses color to show the gradual changes of the development and declining stages of the mind. </p><p class="p1">“Depicting a theme of black dominoes as my canvas, I use contrasting elements of black and white with color to represent Alzheimer’s powerful destruction of the aging mind,” Hicks said. </p><p class="p1">“I chose dominoes as my canvas because of the popularity over the years of this particular mind game. Dominoes can be a simple or complex game, just like the mind is simple in form at birth, yet ready to grow tremendously into great complexity.”</p><p class="p1"> Alzheimer’s has had a large impact in Hicks life. After her paternal grandfather developed dementia and a paternal aunt developed Alzheimer’s, her maternal aunt Erie, who recently turned 100, began showing signs of the disease.</p><p class="p1"> “Aunt Erie and my mother have played dominoes all of their lives,” Hicks said. </p><p class="p1">“It is a game my aunt can still play. I used dominoes as my canvas because it is an old generation game that works the mind.”</p><p class="p1"> While the devastating effects of the disease do hit so close to home for Hicks, she uses those strong emotions in hopes for a better future for those battling Alzheimer’s.</p><p class="p1"> “I feel that keeping my work personal allows for the emotional feel necessary to enhance the meaning or purpose of my art,” Hicks said. </p><p class="p1">“I also hope to insert an emotional desire in society for the development of cures for a better way of life.”</p><p class="p1"><strong>Opening Reception</strong></p><p class="p1">Southeastern Illinois College plans to host an opening exhibit reception Jan. 23 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the art gallery of the George T. Dennis Visual & Performing Arts Center. The show is scheduled to run through Feb. 28.</p><p class="p1">“Lisa Hicks’ show ‘Stolen Memories’ sends a powerful message about the effects of Alzheimer’s disease through form and color,” Southeastern Illinois College art instructor Sara DeNeal said. </p><p class="p1">“When I first saw the series, I knew I had to bring it to SIC. So many people in our community have been touched in some way by this devastating illness that I knew others would be as moved as I was by viewing this series.”</p><p class="p1">The college’s art gallery is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.</p><p class="p1">For more information about the “Stolen Memories” series, or about the art gallery, contact DeNeal at 618-252-5400, extension 2232, or at sara.deneal@sic.edu.</p><p class="p1">(Editor’s note: the accompanying article and picture were provided by Melody Bryant, a communications and relations specialist at Southeastern Illinois College in Harrisburg.)</p>