Even 15 years ago, Dr. Michelle Brewer noticed an odd thing among her patients with Parkinson's disease: They were producing art — even those who'd never before been artistic.
In recent years, research — including a study out of the Sackler Faculty of Medicine at Tel Aviv University in Israel — have backed that up, looking at whether the disease process or the medications used to treat patients result in a sudden surge of creativity.
Now Brewer, a neurologist with the University of Tennessee Medical Center's Cole Neuroscience Center, and "semi-retired" architect David Denton, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's 15 years ago, are mounting an exhibit to showcase the artistic endeavors of people with Parkinson's. The exhibit will run the entire month of April — Parkinson's Awareness Month — at the Emporium Gallery, 100 S. Gay St. Denton and other artists with Parkinson's will speak at an opening reception at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.
A painting by Thomas Windham and photography by Roy Jones wait to be hung in an exhibit at the Emporium in downtown Knoxville named "Living Creatively with Parkinson's Disease," which will showcase art created by Parkinson's disease patients. (Photo: Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel )
"As an architect, I've always been involved in creative work," Denton said, but after his diagnosis, "I started noticing something different — a compulsive creativity. (Creating) was not just something I enjoyed doing, it was something I needed to do."
Denton said he also noticed an uptick in his creative thinking and the number of ideas he's had.
"My productivity was going up; I was producing a lot of art," Denton said. "It made me feel good in a way that was different than anything before."
Wooden bowls are among the pieces of art shown in an exhibit at the Emporium in downtown Knoxville named "Living Creatively with Parkinson's Disease," which will showcase art created by Parkinson's disease patients. (Photo: Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel )
Research suggests there may a connection between dopamine — a chemical released by nerve cells to help control the brain's reward and pleasure centers — and creativity. The disease process that causes Parkinson's results in a loss of dopamine-producing cells, Brewer said, but the medications used to treat it could increase dopamine levels and "maybe help enhance" latent artistic talent.
In turn, the newfound ability to create art can help stabilize Parkinson's patients and give them meaningful work, Brewer said.
Denton, who is now engaged in photography and other pursuits, will be one of nine artists participating in the exhibit, showcasing everything from woodworking and oil-painting to poetry and music. While some, like him, were creative before Parkinson's, many never had tried art of any sort, Brewer said.
Dr. Michelle Brewer with a painting by Thomas Windham on Friday, March 30, 2018. Brewer is involved with an exhibit at the Emporium in downtown Knoxville named "Living Creatively with Parkinson's Disease," which will showcase art created by Parkinson's disease patients. (Photo: Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel )
One such patient, at 80, began doing complex pen-and-ink drawings, she said. His wife of 60 years said he'd never done any sort of drawing before.
"One person in the show changed careers," becoming a professional photographer, Brewer said.
Banners to be displayed as part of a "Creative Living with Parkinson's Disease" art exhibit each feature an artist with Parkinson's. (Photo: Submitted by Michelle Brewer)
After the show at the Emporium ends April 29, the exhibit will move to the lobby of the University of Tennessee Medical Center, Brewer said.
"The purpose of this show is to let people with Parkinson's disease know about this phenomenon," Denton said. "They may find if they try something creative, it may take hold. And if it does, it may give them a lot of relief and satisfaction."
Parkinson's Unity Walk
PK Hope Is Alive Parkinson's Support Group will have its seventh annual Unity Walk this month.
When: 10 a.m. Saturday, April 14; registration at 9
Where: Bissell Park Pavilion, Oak Ridge
Why: Walking with the National Parkinson's Unity Walk; raising awareness and research money — 100 percent of donations go to research funding for the five major Parkinson's Foundations
Info:www.pkhopeisalive.org; Alan, 865-693-5721
For Video:
https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/health/2018/04/02/could-parkinsons-disease-patients-get-newfound-artistic-talent-exhibit-research-suggests-they-might/473376002/
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