Student-led art workshops promote seniors’ health

At an art exhibition held Thursday, March 14, Laurie Kukulewich (left) and Shirley Vint (right), members of the Brock Functional Inclusive Training (Bfit) Centre's SeniorFit program, displayed the artwork they and other Bfit members created during art workshops facilitated by fourth-year Brock Sociology student Megan Castelino (centre), who is minoring in Gerontology. Castelino ran four sessions and an exhibition during Winter Term as part of a fourth-year independent study course (KINE 4P99). The sessions focused on watercolours, finger painting, abstract art and collage-making. Nearly 45 Bfit members took part in at least one Colour Reflections session, with about 25 members in attendance each week. Complementing Bfit's focus on physical health through exercise, the art workshops helped with members' cognitive and mental health, fostered creativity and emotional well-being, and promoted social health by providing an opportunity for members to converse with each other about their personal lives and inspiration for the art they were creating.