What is the 2026 Pets of FTD Awareness Calendar, and how did it come to be?
The 2026 Pets of FTD Awareness Calendar was a project born from a beautiful connection with Sandra and Diana Gonzalez-Morett, the sisters from Go-Mo Creatives. We bonded over the complex journey of frontotemporal degeneration (FTD) and the steady, quiet anchors of pets. With a connection to the need for more beautiful and creative ways to raise awareness for this form of dementia, we decided: What better way to do so than showcasing the silent furry caregivers who play a huge role in regulating so many?
This 12-month calendar features finalists from the 2026 Pets of FTD Campaign, which solicited photos and stories submitted by families affected by FTD, and includes monthly themes, important awareness dates, and resources from the Association of Frontotemporal Degeneration.
In looking through these furry friends, I felt the profound weight of the love they give their humans. Using oil pastels, I worked to capture the innate “spark” felt deep within each soul. Working from the inside out, I always started with the eyes to make sure their unique personality and inner light shone through.
My paintings are messages of hope. I want people to see that FTD is heavy, yet there is still light and connection to be found. By honoring these furry caregivers, I hope to show that we aren’t walking this path alone.
Who initially inspired you to grapple with dementia?
I’ve been an artist my whole life, but my inspiration began as a survival tactic. At age 11, when my dad, Tom Nash Jr, began experiencing FTD symptoms, my only way to process that heaviness was by escaping to my room to doodle.
After I found that I carry the gene (C9ORF72 gene variant linked to FTD) at 20, I shut down. I avoided art (and the gene) for years because it felt too heavy to face. Picking up the brush again was a vital part of my healing journey. As someone who feels things deeply, I had to find a way to release that energy. (I talked about this with the Osage Oracle.)
What inspires me now is the realization that my dad’s story and mine are intertwined. I am building pieces that honor all of us: My dad, myself, and future generations. Art gave me the connection I needed to share my truth, turning my experiences into a way to show up for myself and others.
How has working on dementia-related art changed you?
In the short-term, this was my first project of this magnitude and the few months of the creative process was intense, but empowering. I balanced it with deep grounding: meditation and long hikes with my own dog, Nala, who has been by my side for 12 years.
In the long-term, I’ve come to see my art as a gift. My work has shifted because the inspiration has gotten so much deeper. I’ve realized that my life and my experiences are where the magic lies.
While it’s hard knowing there is a potential ticking time bomb in my head, that reality is also a source of inspiration. It forces me to acknowledge the fear while embracing the fact that the present moment is all we truly have. My art keeps me grounded in that now—like a hike with Nala or a deep session with my pastels.
Dementia will always be a foundational, underlying inspiration in my work, but I refuse to limit myself to a single subject. It’s the ground I stand on, but I am always evolving. I’m excited to watch my work unfold over time, blooming into whatever it needs to be as I continue.
How has the 2026 Pets of FTD Awareness Calendar been received?
Being celebrated for my talents is a gift, especially since I spent so long believing a big future wasn’t meant for me. I’m proud I stuck with the hard work of sharing my truth, as it’s allowed people to find those vital glimmers and connections that pets provide. It means the world to be truly seen. After everything I have navigated to get to this point, it feels powerful to finally acknowledge my past experiences while knowing I am still standing at a beautiful new beginning.
I felt it was important to gift the original oil pastel portraits back to the families as a token of our shared connection. Sharing this work with families on a similar path has been an honor. It was special to hear how deeply they connected with the portraits; many shared that I truly captured their pets’ distinct personalities.
This work is dedicated to: My Dad. He was the first person to see my big dreams, and I can still feel the pride in his smile from when I was a kid. He is the reason I first picked up a brush to navigate the heavy moments, and he is the reason I continue to push through today. I know deep in my soul how proud my dad is to see me creating and sharing our truth. This is a love letter to him, to our journey, and to the hope we continue to build.
In a broader sense, this project is for the furry caregivers, like my Nala, and every family walking this complex path. I want this to be a tribute to the resilience it takes to keep looking for glimmers of light.
Find more from the 2026 Pets of FTD Awareness Calendar on the Go-Mo Creatives website and Alyssa Nash on Instagram.
