MedStar Health to Host Free Art Event for Parkinson's Patients and Caregivers

Local artist Adrianna Reloba to lead workshop at MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital.

LEONARDTOWN, Md.- MedStar Health invites individuals living with Parkinson’s disease and their caregivers to an inspiring afternoon of creativity, connection, and movement at Art in Motion, taking place Friday, April 17.

The free event will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital Population & Community Health building, 41550 Doctor’s Crossing Road in Leonardtown.

Modeled after MedStar Health’s successful Art Moves! program in Baltimore, Art in Motion features adaptive art therapy activities designed specifically for people with Parkinson’s, alongside opportunities for physical movement and social engagement.

Event highlights include:

• A guided, hands-on art project led by local visual artist and Freedom Palette founder Adrianna Reloba, whose mobile workshops focus on community-building and accessible, nature-inspired creative experiences. The St. Mary’s Arts Council is sponsoring the project.
• A Rock Steady Boxing demonstration from the YMCA, a research-backed, boxing-based fitness program shown to help improve mobility, balance, and coordination in individuals with Parkinson’s.
• Assistance from visual arts students from St. Mary’s Ryken.
• A complimentary lunch for attendees.

“Creative arts therapies engage multiple areas of the brain at once, movement, emotion, and cognition, which is especially important for people living with Parkinson’s,” said Lori Werrell, assistant vice president of Care Transformation at MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital. “Research shows these activities can help improve motor function, reduce anxiety and depression, and enhance overall quality of life.”

Werrell added, “Living with Parkinson’s requires constant adaptation. Programs that combine movement, creativity, and community are powerful because they address the person and the symptoms.”

Reloba, known for leading inclusive, hands-on workshops using ethically sourced materials, said the event is designed to make creativity accessible to all participants.

“Art has always been a way for people to connect, with themselves and with each other,” said Reloba. “Workshops like this create space for expression, creativity, and community in a way that feels welcoming and meaningful.”

“We’re committed to making creative experiences accessible across St. Mary’s County,” said Susie Glauner, executive director of the St. Mary’s Arts Council. “Our partnership with MedStar Health brings that mission to life in a way that directly benefits patients and families.”