LEWISTON — Community health providers, health professions faculty, students and community members are invited to participate in the “Living Art-Living Well Studio” four-part seminar series. This series, sponsored by the University of New England Maine Geriatric Education Center in partnership with St. Mary’s d’Youville Pavilion, Cultural Resources, Inc. and the Maine Arts Commission, will include artist demonstrations and facilitated discussion.

Living Art-Living Well Studio is designed to increase awareness of how creativity and art in aging affect the health of the body, mind and spirit of older adults. Through a series of four seminars, Living Art-Living Well Studio offers participants the opportunity to explore the connection between traditional art, cultural legacy and life review; it also explores the role these play in health, aging, positive decision-making and how this influences the practice of health care.

The first of the four-part series takes place on Thursday, Feb. 9, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at St. Mary’s d’Youville Pavilion. This seminar features one of the most gifted basket makers of the Passamaquoddy Nation, Molly Neptune Parker, and her grandson George Neptune.

Molly Neptune Parker has devoted her life to practicing the brown ash and sweetgrass tradition by passing it on to the next generation, including several children and grandchildren. As a child, Parker learned basket making from her mother and she continues the fancy basket tradition at her home on the shores of Lewey Lake in Indian Township. Her work is much sought after by collectors and has been featured in several exhibitions, including “North by Northeast.” A Maine Arts Commission Traditional Arts Fellowship winner, Molly Neptune Parker is also the president of the Maine Indian Basketmakers Alliance and a master teacher in the Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program.

Participants are invited to attend the opening reception for the Maine Arts Commissions’ traveling exhibition “Two Times Ten: 20 Years of the Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program” in the main corridor on the first floor of St. Mary’s d’Youville Pavilion at 4:30 p.m., Feb. 9. Featuring portraits of participating master artists and their apprentices, the exhibit will explore the role of the elder artist in preserving cultural traditions.

Continuing Medical Education credits are available for each of the four sessions. Living Art-Living Well 2012 sessions will take place on Feb. 9, March 8, April 12 and May 10.

Seating is limited, so early registration is recommended. For questions concerning the program, contact Julie Bero at 777-4250. For registration, contact Marilyn Amoroso at 221-4460 or at mamoroso@une.edu.