Artist Janice Horn with two of her paintings

Janice Horn inspires others living with Parkinson’s to realize the benefits of taking up art. She is just one of the featured artists taking part in the inaugural Parkinson Canada Online Art Exhibit, featuring art by people living with Parkinson’s and their care partners. The exhibit runs from August 4th to August 31st.

In this Summer of Living Well, Parkinson Canada want to help inspire our community to consider taking up art, in any form, to realize the benefits it can bring. We all know that exercise is a critical part of the Parkinson’s journey, but creative pursuits like art also have health benefits, such as lowering stress and allowing an escape from the day-to-day demands of life.

Janice understands the healthful benefits of art as she has been creating for as long as she can remember, having taught her first art class at four years old!

Janice was diagnosed at 37. After her diagnosis, she used art to combat the depression that accompanied that diagnosis. It proved to be a wonderfully effective pastime for her, and she soon turned her attention to inspiring and developing creativity in others across her local Parkinson’s community.

“Starting the SHAKE it up! Creative Arts Group in Winnipeg gave my diagnosis some meaning and allowed me to focus on something positive. When I’m creating a piece of art, I forget that I have Parkinson’s. It feels like I am free. That is my favourite part, and it’s what art gives to me.”

In April, Janice and her arts group worked on SuperWalk Rocks, a fun project involving painted rocks that SuperWalkers can hide (or place in plain view for others to see) as they are walking.

Janice’s style is colourful and often inspired by nature. Her exhibition piece ‘Damselfly’ is a close-up recreation of a damselfly perched on a blade of grass that she came upon while on a hike in Ontario. She is also keen to try new techniques, such as ‘pour painting’, which she used in her ‘Sea Turtle’ piece.

These artists find it gratifying to not only be able to create as a means of self-expression, but to use their art to such a positive purpose.

The new exhibition showcasing the creativity of people living with Parkinson’s and their care partners will be online. Gain unlimited access to the exhibit until August. 31st.  It’s an excellent opportunity to celebrate the creativity and resilience of our community in this Summer of Living Well.