TLDR: Ashland University’s Coburn Art Gallery is set to open its 2025-26 season with a groundbreaking exhibition titled ‘Transcending Barriers Beyond Time: Visual Reminiscence of Older Adults with Chronic Illnesses Facilitated by Generative AI.’ This unique exhibit, running from August 25 to September 27, features 42 artworks created through a collaboration between older adults with chronic illnesses and researchers utilizing generative artificial intelligence to visualize cherished memories, aiming to enhance psychological well-being and combat social isolation.
ASHLAND, Ohio – Ashland University’s Coburn Art Gallery is poised to launch its 2025-26 season with a pioneering exhibition, ‘Transcending Barriers Beyond Time: Visual Reminiscence of Older Adults with Chronic Illnesses Facilitated by Generative AI.’ This compelling display, part of the university’s biennial Symposium Against Indifference series, will be open to the public from Monday, August 25, through Saturday, September 27, with an opening reception scheduled for Thursday, August 28, from 4:30-6:30 p.m.
The exhibition will feature 42 distinct artworks, each a product of a collaborative effort between older adults living with chronic illnesses and a research team employing generative artificial intelligence. The project delves into the profound question of how individuals can recollect their past as they age, particularly when facing physical and mental limitations.
Co-curated by Dr. Janet Reed, Assistant Professor of Nursing at Kent State University and the project’s lead researcher, and Dr. Rebecca D. Miller, Program Director and Associate Professor of Counseling and Art Therapy at Ursuline College, the exhibit highlights the innovative intersection of technology, memory, and mental well-being. Kent State University serves as the sponsoring institution for this significant research initiative.
The core of this exhibition is the HARMONEE project, an acronym for ‘Harnessing Artificial Intelligence Resources for Mental Well-being for Older Adults and Nurturing Empathy in Education.’ Authored by Reed, Miller, and their colleagues, HARMONEE’s primary objective is to improve the psychological health of older adults by using AI to visualize their cherished memories.
Dr. Reed elaborated on the project’s mission, stating, ‘The goal of HARMONEE is to reduce social isolation and demoralization for older adults in long-term care by enhancing psychological well-being through visualizing memories using GenAI-created images.’ She further emphasized the critical public health challenges posed by social isolation and demoralization among older adults in long-term care facilities.
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The study involved participants aged 60 and over, all residing in long-term care facilities and living with chronic illnesses. Researchers conducted guided interviews, utilizing imaginative prompts to collect memories spanning safe childhood places, significant mid-life achievements, and hopeful coping strategies for later life. These narratives were then transformed into personalized images using Midjourney, a generative AI program. The resulting visuals were compiled into colorful photobooks, designed to encourage discussion and reminiscence with family members and caregivers. This innovative approach offers a beacon of hope and joy through meaningful engagement, providing a unique avenue for older adults to reconnect with their past and improve their present well-being.
