An exhibit this month at Schlow Centre Region Library brings together the perspectives of local teenagers and older adults living with memory loss through a unique blend of photography and poetry.
“Telling Our Stories Together,” organized by Ridgelines Language Arts, features photographs created by State College Area High School photography students paired with poems written by residents of Centre Care Rehabilitation and Wellness in College Township. The exhibit will be on display throughout June in Schlow Library’s Betsy Rodgers Allen Gallery.
The project grew out of Ridgelines’ “A Poem in Our Eyes” program, which provides creative writing opportunities for people living with memory loss. This year, organizers invited students from teacher Danielle Crowe’s photography classes at State High to contribute images that would serve as writing prompts for participants.
The result is an intergenerational collaboration that uses visual art and storytelling to connect two groups who may not otherwise have the opportunity to interact.
Ridgelines teaching artist Robyn Rydzy introduced State High students to the program in the fall and explained how photographs can aid people living with dementia.
“When I talked to Danielle Crowe’s photography class about this project, I explained how magical it is to help participants – people with dementia who may feel isolated or misunderstood – light up and open up through the use of interesting photos that spark memories, observations, and laughter,” Rydzy said.
She said students carefully considered what types of images would best support the project.
“In the photos I received from these high schoolers, I saw their careful effort to follow my advice on what kinds of images – simple, colorful, clear – work best for my older students,” Rydzy said. “Their submissions were tender and thoughtful, just like the poets who wrote about them.”
To help create a personal connection between the two groups, Rydzy shared student headshots with Centre Care residents before the writing sessions. Organizers said the photographs helped participants feel connected to the young artists whose work inspired their poems.
The project offered an opportunity for those students to engage with the experiences and creative voices of older adults living with memory loss while gaining a greater understanding of how art can foster meaningful relationships across generations.
The collaboration also provided a chance for Centre Care residents to respond to contemporary images captured by local teens and participate in creative exchange that extends beyond the walls of the care facility.
Ridgelines organizers said the project aims to strengthen community connections while demonstrating that creativity and self-expression can remain powerful tools for engagement at any age.
Schlow Centre Region Library is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Wednesday, noon to 8 p.m. Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.
