Creativity & Aging: Women Artists Aging Artfully

“Woke up one morning. Age was on my mind.” -- Amy Gorman

If you set out in search of inspiration, you are likely to find it more richly than you might have imagined possible, which is exactly what Amy Gorman discovered. As well, you might very well end up enriching the perceptions and expectations of others in what you find, as Gorman has succeeded in accomplishing for all of us anticipating what the later years of life might afford in activity and meaning. With the help of a friend, Gorman began her search for elderly women artists who continue to actively include their art in their daily life regardless of age and how creativity has played a role in the quality of their life as they are aging.

The results of her search became Aging Artfully, a book profiling the lives of 12 women artists living in the San Francisco Bay Area, the youngest being 85 years-old and the oldest 107 in years.

Gorman, who refers to these 12 fascinating women portrayed in her collection of profiles in Aging Artfully as spirited and resilient, full of art, heart and wisdom, effectively challenges and disproves the stereotypically belief that growing older means becoming a passive observer of life and not a fully-engaged participant. Some of the women featured in Aging Artfully include 85 year-old storyteller Mary Beth Washington. Faith Petric, 90, is a folk singer. Ann Davlin, 93, is a ballet dancer and teacher, former song and dance performer, kindergarten teacher, and Jungian devotee. Grace Gildersleeve, who began braiding rugs at the age of 63, continues her craft at the age of 93. Lily Hearst, who passed on two years ago at the age of 107, continued to play piano daily at her senior center until her death.

Frances Dunham Catlett, 95, who shares her thoughts on creativity, the passionate inspiration as an artist, and the motivation that drives her to paint, "Art is an expression with the use of paints that somehow cannot be put into writing. It covers all that we know about the universe, all that we do not. I am in awe of the universe. It looks like it's going to be here forever. But I have no answers. Art allows us to express the complexities we cannot write about," is a painter.

The wisdom of these 12 vibrant and wise women is three-fold: while it is true there will be physical limitation that comes in very advanced age, creativity knows no boundaries; it is never too late to live expressively creative; and creativity allows for a life of successful aging and aging wellness at any age.

Source: Aging Artfully; Amy Gorman Aging Artfully website.