Conversation and Creativity at Martin House and Graycliff’s Memory Café
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House and Graycliff welcome individuals with early to mid-stage memory loss and a caregiver to free Memory Café gatherings where we will celebrate art and architecture in a comfortable environment.
A Memory Café offers a supportive and social environment where caregivers and individuals with memory challenges (such as Alzheimer’s, dementia or age-related memory loss) can enjoy respite through informal conversations and active participation in shared activities. It’s a welcoming space designed for spending quality time together and fostering connections.
Individuals with memory loss and a caregiver are invited to Martin House and Graycliff gatherings that will explore architecture and art themes.
Upcoming sessions:
May 6 | Martin House
Tuesday, May 6 | 10am-12pm | Statler Café @ Martin House
Join us for a session that explores the Japanese influence on Frank Lloyd Wright through the lens of Japanese prints. Guests and their caregivers will have a facilitated discussion about Japanese art and Wright design, followed by an art making class with wood block prints. Coffee and snacks will be provided.
June 3 | Martin House
Tuesday, June 3 | 10am-12pm | Statler Café @ Martin House
Join us for a session that will explore the many art glass windows of the Martin House. Guests and their caregivers will get an up close and personal look at the beautiful nature-inspired windows and discuss their design and influence. The program will also provide the opportunity to design your own art “glass” to take home. Coffee and snacks will be provided.
July 1 | Martin House
Tuesday, July 1 | 10am-12pm | Statler Café @ Martin House
Join us for a session that will explore the Martin House landscape. Guests and their caregivers will get an up close and personal look at the beautifully designed Frank Lloyd Wright grounds. Participants will learn about different flora and fauna that grow at the Martin House and will have the chance to paint the gardens. Snacks and coffee will be provided.
August 5 | Graycliff
Tuesday, August 5 | 10am-12pm | Graycliff
Join us for a session that celebrates summer on the lake! Guests and their caregivers will explore historic photographs of the Martin family at the beach while engaging in a sensory-focused discussion about all of the many elements of summer. Following our conversation, participants will create their own water-inspired artwork using colorful tissue paper to capture the essence of summer waves and sandy beaches. Coffee and snacks will be provided.
September 2 | Graycliff
Tuesday, September 2 | 10am-12pm | Graycliff
Join us for a session that celebrates the vibrant gardens of the Graycliff. Guests and their caregivers will be guided through a colorful exploration of the property’s seasonal blooms, including sharing various flowers currently flourishing. The session will highlight the contributions of landscape designer Ellen Shipman and Isabelle Martin’s vision for the gardens, along with a hands-on introduction to flower frogs and their purpose in floral arrangements. Following our garden journey, participants will engage in a creative workshop using fresh floral materials. Coffee and snacks will be provided.
October 7 | Graycliff
Tuesday, October 7 | 10am-12pm | Graycliff
Guests and their caregivers will participate in an interactive presentation about the various rocks used in Graycliff’s architecture and landscape. The discussion will highlight how Wright harvested materials directly from the 65-foot cliff and beach below, incorporating local limestone and sand into Graycliff’s construction to create a seamless connection between the building and its natural environment. Participants will have the opportunity to handle and examine an assortment of rocks and fossils, experiencing their unique qualities through touch. Everyone will create their own fossil rubbing artwork using paper and drawing materials to capture the intricate patterns and textures of these natural treasures. Coffee and snacks will be provided.
The Martin House and Graycliff Memory Café is made possible by Exhale and its funders: Ralph C. Wilson Jr., Foundation, the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation, the Michigan Health Endowment Fund, and Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation.
