We investigated a wide range of senior programs—from experimental dance studios to traditional senior centers—with one central goal: to design a program where older adults could not only learn about movements in art history, but also engage, inquire, and create.

Research shows that participation in the arts can improve cognitive function, boost self-esteem, and reduce behavioral symptoms associated with dementia, including stress and agitation. Beyond the health benefits, engaging in art and conversations fosters community, enables participants to reflect on memories, and—most importantly—restores a sense of voice and expression in later life.

Partnering with the Pasadena Senior Center, we launched Emotion in Motion—a four-week program rooted in the Abstract Expressionist movement. Through collaborative discussions and hands-on art-making, older adults reflected on their personal journeys, turning emotion into movement, memory into mark-making.