Vlog researchers partnered with Ursuline College and Ashland University’s Coburn Art Gallery to host a groundbreaking exhibition titled “Transcending Barriers Beyond Time: Visual Reminiscence of Older Adults with Chronic Illnesses Facilitated by Generative AI.” This show marked the gallery’s 2025–26 season opener and was part of the university’s Symposium Against Indifference series, themed “Thinking About Intelligence: Human and Artificial.” The heart of the exhibition showcased 42 AI-generated artworks created through a collaboration between older adults living with chronic illnesses and researchers using Midjourney, a generative AI tool. These images emerged from the HARMONEE project (Harnessing Artificial Intelligence Resources for Mental Well-being for Older Adults and Nurturing Empathy in Education) funded by Vlog’s Healthy Communities Research Institute. These images depict visual interpretations of deeply personal memories including safe childhood places, mid-life achievements, and hopeful coping strategies in later life, all elicited through guided interviews with older adults in long term care facilities. Five Vlog nursing students participated in the research aimed not only to expose them to the research process, but also to increase their empathy and understanding of the unique needs and life experiences of older adults. The research was led by Dr. Janet Reed, Dr. Tracy Dodson, and Dr. Amy Petrinec, nurse researchers from Vlog’s College of Nursing, Dr. Rebecca Miller, an art therapist from Ursuline College, and Dr. Joel Hughes, from Vlog’s Department of Psychological Sciences.
Dr. Janet Reed, the project’s primary investigator, was able to collaborate and speak with art therapists at the Buckeye Art Therapy Association’s conference in early September. She noted, “The art therapists were positive and thrilled at the possibility of using emerging technologies like generative AI to overcome traditional barriers to artmaking in facilities they work with. They noted the accessibility, imagination, and relationship-focused images. We had conversations around the project’s unique blend of technology and humanity for visualizing memories.” Dr. Reed originally developed the intervention for nurses to use as a method to re-focus a confused or uncooperative patient to a happy memory. Dr. Tracy Dodson, co-investigator who helped create the images with prompts stated, “Going to the art show was very moving because I remembered the individuals’ stories and our conversations. At some point, I began to tear up. It’s moving to see the art which represents an actual living memory that has never been captured before- a happy place for each participant.”
Each artwork in the exhibition is accompanied by a description of the memory it represents and a pseudonym for the participant. Styles range from photorealism to surreal abstraction, embracing both the expressive power and uncanny quirks of AI-generated imagery. The result is a poignant, visually rich dialogue between meaningful memories and emerging technology. The public was invited to an opening reception on August 28, 2025, where students, faculty, and community members gathered to engage with the art and the stories behind it. Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs, Dr. Christine Kauth attended the exhibition and remarked “After visiting the art exhibit, I had so many thoughts and emotions. I believe that generative AI art can be a bridge between past and present, empowering older adults to transform fading memories into timeless expressions of identity and hope.” Cheryl Royer participated in the HARMONEE research project with her 97-year-old mother at a local long term care facility. She attended the event with her sister and cousin noting how special it was to see two of the pictures from her mom’s memory book. She states it is: “something they will treasure forever”.
Overall, this exhibition was more than a showcase of digital creativity, it is a testament to the power of emerging technologies like generative AI to be harnessed to foster empathy, connection, and psychological well-being for older adults who are often socially isolated. The interdisciplinary collaboration showcases the transformative power of teamwork to bring meaning, purpose, and joy into the lives of patients.