Please join us in the gallery for an artist talk from Safi Alia Shabaik, whose exhibition, Personality Crash: Portraits of My Father Who Suffered from Advanced Stages of Parkinson's Disease, Dementia and Sundowners Syndrome, is on view at Blue Sky throughout June. Safi will be joined by the following special guests and afternoon of programming.
This artist talk will take place in the gallery, mask is encouraged.
Special Guests:
Miguel Sanchez
Writer, Photographer + Person with Parkinson's
Miguel Sanchez got Parkinson's from exposure to trichloroethylene while doing search and rescue for the US Coast Guard. He wrote his first song when he was seven called Shut Up Grandma. It was immediately banned in his house, but he has written ever since - anything from manifestoes to poetry, plays, essays and prose. In the 90s in LA, he was involved in the poetry scene and organized poetry readings. He writes mostly for himself and shares with his close friends as he will today. Miguel has a son, daughter-in-law, and grandson in Chicago.
David Cutting
Musician, Luthier, Dancer + Person with Parkinson's
I seek to experience the world.
*
I focus on reality.
I studied the built environment.
I study the natural environment.
Profoundly affected by aging with Parkinson’s I examine my aspirations.
I record my breaths.
Inhaling restores my ability to walk repeatedly.
Seeking a new path to an old ability I find continuity and purpose.
I realize I have been working toward this my whole life.
Art has become what I fill my time with.
I’m making progress.
Holly Chaimov
Executive Director, Parkinson’s Resources of Oregon
Holly joined PRO in August, 1999. She has a BS in Psychology, minor in Gerontology, and a Masters degree in Business Administration. In her tenure with Parkinson’s Resources, Holly has played a key role in the positive growth and development of services for the Parkinson’s community here in the Northwest. This focus has resulted in a committed community of supporters served out of offices in Bend, Eugene and Beaverton. Holly is also a member of the Unified Parkinson’s Advocacy Council, and Co-Chairs the Independent Parkinson’s Alliance.
Parkinson’s Resources of Oregon (PRO) is a donor supported non-profit with the sole mission of advancing the quality of life for people with Parkinson’s, their families and caregivers. With three locations, hundreds of volunteers and dedicated leadership, PRO provides direct care and support to thousands of families in Oregon and SW Washington. Working to address issues faced by Parkinson’s patients and their families, we can significantly improve the quality of life for all touched by this disease.
Lorrie Breshears
EOLCOR Client Volunteer & PDX Outreach Coordinator
Lorrie Breshears has been interested in serving people as they explore meaning at the end of life since 2009. She has been honored to facilitate living celebrations of life for family members, and assisting friends with legacy projects. She moved to Portland from Oakland, California in 2020, and has been a client volunteer with EOLCOR since December, 2021. Lorrie is a social worker in her professional life. She enjoys hiking,detective & mystery novels, art & oddity collecting, and enjoying Portland's amazing food scene.
End of Life Choices Oregon (EOLCOR) is a statewide, non-profit organization that counsels and supports people as they explore end of life options under the Death with Dignity Act. These options include stopping or not starting curative treatment, hospice, Medical Aid in Dying, and Voluntarily Stopping Eating & Drinking. Our services are confidential, and our guiding principles are client autonomy and choice. We also provide education about the Death with Dignity Law to the medical community & general public.
Maryann Giunta and Deanna Hagy
Evening Star End-of-Life Doula Services, LLC
Maryann Giunta and Deanna Hagy of Evening Star End-of-Life Doula Services, LLC have been providing compassionate, non-medical support for individuals and families dealing with serious illness and end of life since 2018. Maryann and Deanna also take pride in providing public and professional education on end of life issues in the hopes of shifting cultural beliefs about death.
After being bedside for her father’s death, Maryann Giunta (she/her) felt called to support other families with compassionate end-of-life care. She completed her end-of-life doula training with The Conscious Dying Institute in Boulder CO in 2016, volunteered with hospice, and was a core member of the End of Life Care Collaborative. She is currently Evening Star’s representative on the Portland Elder Care Council. Maryann is always honored to be a participant in such an intimate moment of the human experience.
Deanna Hagy (she/they) learned of the end of life doula role while studying death & dying as a way of coping with the sudden death of a friend in 2008. They completed their end-of-life doula training with the Momdoulary Death & Mourning Doula Training Program in 2015. They have volunteered with hospice, Compassion & Choices, and currently with End of Life Choices Oregon. Deanna is passionate about empowering and educating people about death & dying, whether as clients or in community.
Emily R. Cummins
Executive Director + RN, Assured Hospice Portland
Emily is a hospice RN and the Executive Director of Assured Hospice Portland. She has provided end-of-life care for the last 17 years and continues to serve by leading the provision of hospice care in a rapidly evolving industry. Born and raised in Alaska, Emily hopes to someday expand the reach of comprehensive palliative care in underserved areas in her home state.
Assured Hospice Portland is dedicated to providing patient-directed end-of-life care that not only serves the dying patient, but the family and care team as well. Their team of clinicians, physicians, and volunteers serve the Portland-metro area in all residential settings including private residences, long-term care, and nursing homes. Assured Hospice is available to meet with patients and families at any time to assist with advanced care planning and help identify goals of care at end-of-life.
image © Safi Alia Shabaik