Philomena Epaul, a tiny but mighty 81-year-old from Massachusetts, was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2011. Encouraged by her doctor to "keep her fingers working," Epaul resumed knitting, a skill she taught herself in high school. Although she's had to adapt to different needle sizes, most recently 10-inch golden ones, her fingers are still nimble, she says.

Two years ago, she and her husband, Chuck, began attending an art workshop called The Art Cart, which has given her a place to display her wares. Her most recent project is an ecru Irish fisherman's knit afghan—a blanket so pretty that her four children and seven grandchildren all want it. "I'll have to put names in a hat," she says.

Miles of Smiles

Pride in her work brings a smile to Epaul's face, and to the faces of other workshop participants and their families. That is the goal of The Art Cart, a creativity and movement workshop series that encourages people to "smile through art."

The Art Cart was created in 2014 by Saba Shahid, who shared her proposal with the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA), which has since come on board as a partner. The Art Cart has held workshops in eight states—Connecticut, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Rhode Island—and will debut one in Wisconsin in 2019.

"The Smile Through Art workshops are targeted to people living with a neurologic disorder that lists an inability to smile as one of its symptoms," says Shahid. The curriculum is designed to improve fine and gross motor skills, enhance mood, combat tremors and rigidity, and improve handwriting, says Shahid.

About 85 percent of artists are from the Parkinson's community, but the free workshops, which are funded by local APDA chapter grants, the Neurology Center of New England, and other partners and are held in hospitals, libraries, or community centers, have also helped participants with stroke, multiple sclerosis, autism, and AlzAheimer's disease.

Not being able to smile can lead to misunderstandings, says Shahid. "People may think the person with Parkinson's is mad at them, but it's the rigidity or facial paralysis they're seeing."

An informal survey of participants with Parkinson's disease conducted by Smile Through Art found that 44 percent went from sad to happy and 43 percent from content to happy after completing their art projects. Shahid has also seen improvements in confidence and motor control.

Freehand Creativity

A range of supplies and materials offer participants a variety of expressive outlets, including painting with a brush or a finger, sculpting with clay, and creating visual art with household items such as cotton swabs, wood clothespins, and straws. Every participant is invited to attend with a caregiver or a friend or family member. One man came with his son.

"We have seen relationships blossom between husbands and wives," says Shahid, whose own mother-in-law died from complications of the disease at age 55. "You see the look of admiration—that even though the spouse has Parkinson's, he or she is enjoying this moment and has forgotten about the disease."

Red-carpet Art

A large Smile Through Art exhibition of paintings and sculptures—and Epaul's afghan—is scheduled for October 6 of this year in Canton, MA. The event is hosted by The Art Cart to raise money for APDA and awareness of Parkinson's through art. The artists are expected to attend in their finest threads.

And yes, by the way, there is an actual art cart. It has two wheels, and Shahid uses it to carry supplies from her car to the workshop location. It was a gift from her mother. "I always tell her it's one of the best things she's ever given to me."

Visit smilethroughart.com for a schedule of upcoming workshops or to request one in your area.

Web Extra

Need handwriting help? Read Help for Small, Cramped Handwriting.