Exhibition in Coral Springs Uses Art, Conversations to Talk About Memory Loss

Kristin M. Beck’s new solo exhibition at the Coral Springs Museum of Art explores one of humanity’s most important questions: Who are we without our memories?

The South Florida-based fiber artist and curator had to wrestle with this complex question while caring for her father. He is one of 55 million people worldwide living with dementia, according to the World Health Organization.

“Before I Forget” explores memory and identity while raising awareness about Alzheimer’s and dementia. It will be on display from August 1 to October 5, 2024. What’s more, the exhibit is Beck’s first deeply thematic body of work.

A versatile artist with a background in graphic design, Beck’s work is built on collaboration and her love of the process. But like many creatives, her journey wasn’t linear. She has served as a production manager, marketing communications manager, and creative director.

“Meanwhile, I was consistent in making art inconsistently for years,” she chuckles. “I painted and loved using every medium. The process is so fulfilling to me.”

Beck also studied photography at Broward College, taking every opportunity to get into the dark room. In addition to being an artist and curator, she’s currently the graphic designer and visual brand manager at the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County.

“The collaboration along these paths is a lot of fun,” Beck says, adding that her experiences enabled her to work with a variety of artists. “When you work on a marketing team it’s very collaborative. I’m the person that says, ‘Why not do that? Let’s try it!’”

Along the way, Beck also discovered her love of bookbinding and quilting. Through these pursuits, she decided to become a maker and attend art festivals to sell her wares. 

“I was going to make things and exercise these dreams to see what worked,” she reflects. “I started to upcycle some of my paintings, like using an old canvas for a book cover. I love making things that are functional.”

But despite having a knack for multiple mediums, Beck says she initially struggled to find a common theme in her works. It became clear when she shared her portfolio during a grant-writing workshop and received confused looks from peers.

“Historically it was, ‘I like to make this, isn’t it great?’—and there’s so much joy in that,” she shares. “However, one of my teachers said, ‘You have to decide what the works are about.’ So I had to ask, ‘What is my body of work?’”

One afternoon, Beck realized that the experience of caring for her dad, who was diagnosed with dementia in 2019, could inspire a congruent body of work and help her cope with the situation.

“It was like a lightbulb in my head,” she says. “I was there in the process, asking ‘How can this be shown in a way people can understand and be moved by it?’ Everything is personal in a way—but ‘Before I Forget’ is the first time it was really systematic for me.”

This isn’t Beck’s first time working with Dr. Juliana Forero, the current arts & culture programs manager at the Coral Springs Museum of Art. In 2022, Beck guest curated an exhibition focused on contemporary quilts at Bailey Contemporary Arts, while Forero was managing exhibitions for the City of Pompano Beach.

Beck says she can’t think of a better place for the exhibition, which is supported by the Broward County Cultural Division’s Artist Support Grant. She is one of four grantees to showcase a solo exhibition at the museum this summer, which Forero says the museum is grateful for in light of recent state funding cuts.

“Kristin shared that she had received funding from the county and started talking about her dad,” says Forero. “When she mentioned the community components, I knew I wanted the show here.” 

Featuring works in textiles, fiber, video, paper, ink, and paint, the exhibition will include interactive elements like a Memory Station and a bus stop replica, which represents going home—an idea that resonates with some people with advanced stages of the disease. Visitors can also write down what home means to them and add to the piece.

Forero adds the exhibition fosters countless opportunities for conversation—with the artwork, with one another, or with oneself.

“Some people are intimidated by art because they don’t understand it,” she says. “But this is a conversation about humanity. To keep the space alive, we need conversations happening during the exhibition. In the end, art comes from human experiences.”

Beck agrees.

“Lots of people connect with this idea,” she says. “The exhibit was initially about my dad, but I decided to broaden it and convey what the experience is like using the themes of memory and identity. Sharing your experience with someone deepens your understanding of being human.”

As part of Beck’s commitment to raising awareness about dementia and Alzheimer’s, “Before I Forget” also includes a variety of programming. 

One is the community memory quilt project, coinciding with the Alzheimer’s Association’s The Longest Day. At two free events in May and June, participants wrote down memories on pieces of fabric or brought their own meaningful fabrics, like a favorite shirt. The finished Memory Quilt will be displayed in the exhibition.

There are also two condensed versions of the exhibition with the Broward County Library. The first was in June, in honor of Alzheimer's & Brain Awareness Month, at the Northwest Regional Library. The second will be on display in October at the North Regional/Broward College Library, along with programming and a “memory cafe” for people with dementia and their caregivers to enjoy a safe space and connect.

Another event was an Alzheimer’s Community Symposium in June, which welcomed over 100 guests. During the symposium in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association, a panel of medical professionals, providers, and community members discussed new research findings, innovative approaches to care, and the complexities of caring for loved ones.

One panelist was Joe H. Baldelomar, a neuropsychologist and the Care and Support program director for the Alzheimer’s Association Southeast Florida Chapter. One of three research champions in Florida, he sees how memory loss impacts the state. At least 580,000 Floridians are living with Alzheimer’s.

He believes “Before I Forget” doesn’t just raise awareness about memory loss—but can also help prevent it. Research suggests that participating in the arts can help prevent dementia by improving brain health and reducing factors that increase the risk of dementia.

“When Kristin reached out about her project, I thought, wow—this is something people need to be aware of,” he says. “Not only does [the quilt] provide the concept of capturing a memory on fabric—but your brain also builds that memory. As we build memories, we build connections within ourselves, and it keeps our brains healthy.”

Baldelomar shares that by engaging in the arts, the brain makes vital connections.

"Art is a uniquely human activity,” he reflects. “People don’t understand how powerful the arts are when it comes to building links in the brain. Engaging in the arts can stimulate areas of the brain, including our cognitive attention and problem-solving skills. The arts also improve neuroplasticity, fine motor skills, and coordination.”

Even more incredible, Baldelomar notes, is how the arts are linked to multiple neuroregions in the brain.

“Musical memories are stored in multiple areas of the brain, including the cerebellum, anterior cingulate, and ventral pre-supplementary motor area,” he says. “These areas are relatively less affected by Alzheimer's disease and dementia. There’s a lot of research going into neuroscience and the arts because we know how powerful they are.”

The Coral Springs Museum of Art will continue this vital conversation during a community talk called “Art and the Brain” on September 12. Beck, along with Lindsey Wuest, a Science through Art Specialist at Florida Atlantic University, will discuss how art relates to cognitive power and decline.

Beck says she hopes “Before I Forget” encourages guests to become more patient, compassionate, and understanding when spending time around people experiencing memory loss.

“It’s hard for caregivers and the person dealing with this challenge,” she says. “Art is how I process things. For people that don’t have the luxury of making things or writing things down—I hope they realize they are not alone.”

Admission to the exhibition is free. For more information about the exhibition and programs at the museum, visit coralspringsmuseum.org. For information about the Broward County Library exhibition and programs, visit broward.org/library.

If you or a loved one are navigating the challenges of memory loss, visit alz.org to learn more about free resources, programs, and support—or call the 24/7 helpline at (800) 272-3900.

About The Author:

A creative thinker with a passion for storytelling, Hannah Deadman-Arnst is a writer and communications professional. While she calls Palm Beach County home, she travels and works remotely from her camper with her husband, Ryan, and huskies, Buddy and Sapphire. She has explored 45 states, visited 36 national parks and, since 2021, has driven 20,000+ miles with her RV. She is also a trained dancer with AGWA Dance Company in Lake Worth Beach. When she’s not creating, she loves to photograph her travels, hike, find really good coffee and cuisine, take in dance and theatre performances, and read. Follow her adventures at @hannaharnst!