Memory Café Stories
Would you like to read about some Memory Cafés experiences? Look what our café guests, artists and hosts have to say!
Please contact us if you'd like to add your Memory Café story.
Would you like to read about some Memory Cafés experiences? Look what our café guests, artists and hosts have to say!
Please contact us if you'd like to add your Memory Café story.
Kentville Stories ...
“Very enjoyable - we will be back”
"Good ice breakers, it's really nice to meet people and talk to them. John's music is lovely, we look forward to it!"
"My husband really looks forward to this hour. It really means a lot to me as well."
Wolfville Stories ...
“I felt like I was on a date again with my wife. Thank you”
“A very nice day. We like to be here!”
“I like the music”
It's been a pleasure and a privilege to be able to host a Memory Café (at Charts Café).
Our guests enjoyed the opportunity to have social interaction in a comfortable setting, delicious refreshments, and wonderful musical entertainment.
A very positive experience for Memory Café participants, café patrons and café staff!
Featured Artwork and Music: Birds feeding and deer crossing a stream by Maud Lewis.
Round table invitation to each guest:
“Take a look at these two paintings by Maud Lewis. Which painting would you rather be in and who would you be?
After the round table art warm up, introduce the 10 minute Gentle Chair Yoga video. We recommend that facilitators download images and videos ahead of the session and displaying full screen to maximize the quality of the presentation.
Featured Artwork & Music: The folk art of Doretta Groenendyk and the music of Cape Breton’s Jann Sheppard Family Trio
Round table invitation to each guest:
“Take a look at these two paintings by the Nova Scotian folk artist Doretta Groenedyk. If you could be in one of these paintings, which one would you rather be in?” Why?
After the round table art warm up, introduce “Tunes From Cape Breton” featuring musical entertainment by the Jann Sheppard Family Trio.
This theme of family and connection lends to storytelling in the group and discussion about the experience of social isolation especially during COVID-19, and the experience of being part of the Memory Café.
We recommend downloading the PDF and video ahead of the session and displaying full-screen for the best viewing experience for participants.Featured Artwork: Winter and Summer Scenes by Maud Lewis and music by John Tetrault.
Round table invitation to each gues
“Take a look at these paintings by Maud Lewis. One painting shows a peaceful quiet winter scene and the other shows a summer scene on a beach. If you could be in one of these paintings, which one would you rather be in?”
We recommend downloading the PDF of these images ahead of the session and displaying full-screen for the best viewing experience for participants.
After the round table art warm up, introduce the musical performance by John Tetrault which will last approx. 20 mins. We recommend that facilitators download the video before the session to maximize the quality of the presentation in case of internet connection & bandwidth issues.
Featured Artwork: Clay sculptures by artist Elizabeth Sircom
Round table invitation to each guest:
“Take a look at these two paintings by the Nova Scotian sculpture artist Elizabeth Sircom. If you could imagine being any age or stage, which age would you be? Which sculpture to you like the best?”
After the round table, view the interactive clay art video led by Elizabeth Sircom. Allow up to 1 hour to do the workshop, pausing the video as needed.
Following this, please leave some time for informal conversation about the café experience and feedback . The quality assurance questionnaire can be given or sent home for more formal feedback on the Memory Café experience to improve upon it and get suggestions for a next series. Please let us know your results and feedback too! We are always interested in learning more about how to make Memory Cafes valuable experiences for participants.
We recommend downloading the PDF and video ahead of the session and displaying full-screen for the best viewing experience for participants.
Featured Artwork and Music: Boat with birds and a dog chasing a car by Maud Lewis with music provided by Donovan Cassidy-Nolan accompanied by Steven Wilton.
Round table invitation to each guest:
“Take a look at these two paintings by Maud Lewis. Do you like to go on adventures by land, sea, or air and would you rather be one of the birds or the dog?
We recommend downloading the PDF of these images ahead of the session and displaying full-screen for the best viewing experience for participants.
Following the round table activity, start the musical performance by Donovan and Steven.
Featured Artwork and Music: Pair of deer and butterflies by Maud Lewis and music by John Tetrault.
Round table invitation to each guest:
“Take a look at these two paintings by Maud Lewis. Which painting would you rather be in? If you were one of the animals, who would you like to be and where would you like to go?”
We recommend downloading the PDF of these images and the music video ahead of the session and displaying full-screen for the best viewing experience for participants.
After the round table activity, start the musical performance by John Tetrault.
Following the fourth and final session, please leave some time for informal conversation about the café experience and feedback . The quality assurance questionnaire can be given or sent home for more formal feedback on the Memory Café experience to improve upon it and get suggestions for a next series. Please let us know your results and feedback too! We are always interested in learning more about how to make Memory Cafes valuable experiences for participants.
Featured Artwork and Music: The landscape painting of Arnaud Beghin and the music of Cape Breton fiddlers Chrissy Crowley and Colin Grant.
Round table invitation to each guest:
“Take a look at these two paintings by the painter Arnaud Beghin. If you could be in one of these paintings, which one would you rather be in? Which painting do you like best?”
After the round table art warm up, introduce the musical performance by Chrissy and Colin which will last approx. 20 mins:
We recommend downloading the PDF and music video ahead of the session and displaying full-screen for the best viewing experience for participants.
Featured artwork: Ocean paintings by interactive artist Holly Carr
Round table invitation to each guest:
“Take a look at these two paintings by the painter Holly Carr. If you could be in one of these paintings, which one would you rather be in?
After the round table art warm up, introduce the 20-minute interactive art session “What’s in Your Boat?” featuring Holly Carr. Afterward is a great opportunity to share stories among the group.
We recommend downloading the PDF and video ahead of the session and displaying full-screen for the best viewing experience for participants.
Originally from the Annapolis Valley, Elizabeth Sircom received her art training in Paris, France, and lived in Le Havre, Normandy for 20 years, working as a professional artist and art teacher, with a focus on portrait sculpture. She returned with her family to live in Nova Scotia in 2013 and since then has been an active member of Visual Arts Nova Scotia, CARFAC and the Nova Scotia Potters’ Guild, giving many workshops to adults and children. Her other centre of interest is music. She teaches cello and is the Program Director of the Acadia Regional Youth Orchestra in Wolfville.
Arnaud Béghin is a French painter presently living in Hantsport, Nova Scotia. He is represented by the Harvest Gallery in Wolfville and by Secord Gallery in Halifax. He is married to Canadian artist Elizabeth Sircom.
Doretta paints narrative, acrylic and collage images on board that are whimsical and playful. The work she creates is woven into her lifestyle, which is filled with stories and possibility. Just as the work is created within her family living space, so the images depict life in its familiar but poetic narrative.