ALZHEIMER’S AWARNESS EVENING

Around 70 visitors gathered in the Lightbox Gallery, last Tuesday, for the ‘Remember the Person’ Gala Reception and silent art auction. Mingling with their drinks and canapés, visitors were given the opportunity to network with one another, connect with the captivating artwork on display, and share in the cause for the Alzheimer’s Society. As part of Dementia Awareness Week, the Chief Executive of the Alzheimer’s Society, Jeremy Hughes, emphasised the need to ‘remember the person’ behind dementia, reminding his audience that dementia sufferers are not merely patients, but people with histories, families and emotions. There was no better way to explore Hughes’ evocation of the human spirit than in the eclectic variety of artwork available in the silent auction. From watercolours to oils, from pastels to sculpture - all the pieces on display celebrated the beauty of the human form and the vibrancy of life in a way both potent and relevant to the Alzheimer’s Society’s cause.

The Mayor of Woking, Cllr Ken Howard, welcomed the visitors to the Lightbox, celebrating the gallery’s integral part of Woking’s historical and cultural life. The Lightbox, which boasts two large galleries and a permanent exhibition charting the history of Woking, was the perfect space in which to host the gala. All of the artwork for auction was provided by Art-Rooms, a group that helps up-and-coming artists as well as supports more established artists become recognised in the UK. All profits from sales in the silent auction were generously donated to the Alzheimer’s Society and Lightbox charity.