Arts in Aging
The HCOA salutes the "Arts in Aging"
as a complement to a good life long lived. We are interested
in the works of older artists.
Older people are not only teachable, but they teach us. As
health professionals we're constantly switching back and forth
from our roles as learners to being teachers of our patients,
their families, and our own students who constitute the next
generation of health care providers.
We are also constantly searching for the "art"
of teaching and we are inspired by great works of art and
great artists. Such is the life and works of Francisco de
Goya (1746-1828), arguably one of Spain's greatest artists,
often called the last of the Old Masters and the first of
the Moderns.It has been said that to teach is to learn twice. Thus, Aun
Aprendo, a self-portrait by Goya painted at age 80, which translates
from old Spanish
as "I am still learning," is a perfect metaphor
for all of us being better teachers through the pursuit of
lifelong learning.
The splendid artists for the 2008
calendar -- still alive, still painting, still providing us
with enjoyment -- represent four countries and range in age
from their eighth to tenth decades of life! We have much to
learn from these teachers Here's what to look forward to
seeing all next year.
2008
ARTS IN AGING CALENDAR
Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine
The Huffington Center
on Aging salutes the “Arts in Aging” as a complement to a
good life long lived. In this 13th edition, we again feature
the works of older artists from throughout the world still
painting, still providing us with enjoyment. This year’s
group ranges in age from 73 to 100. Some were born abroad or had
immigrant parents. Goethe correctly said that “Science and
Art belong to the whole world, and the barriers of nationality
vanish before them.” The scenes and people the artists
painted depict life in Europe, North America, and
Asia; the eclectic look of the calendar is indicative of the wonderful differences in people
worldwide. Born in the first part of the last century, these
artists remind us daily that older people are important
contributors to the quality of our lives. Their creativity is timeless
and the beauty their eyes saw, we see in these wonderful works.
CREDITS:
1. January -- “Morning Cafe,” Richard Stout (1934-); collection of the
artist, Houston, Texas.
2. February -- “My Story,” Yue Situ (1931-); collection of the
artist, Center for Elders and
Youth in the Arts, http://www.ioaging.org,
San Francisco,
California.
3. March -- “Paeonia suffruticosa,”
Esther Heins
(1908-); private collection, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.
4. April -- “Willow City Loop
III,” Henri Gadbois (1930-); collection of the artist, Houston, Texas.
5. May -- “The Many Faces
of Her,” Ann Trask (1935-); collection of the artist, Houston, Texas.
6. June -- “My Fair
Lady,” David Adickes (1927-); private collection,
Houston, Texas.
7. July -- “Four Bottles,"
Blanche Weiss (1930-); collection of the artist, West Palm Beach, Florida.
8. August -- “Suwannee Forest,” Anne Harris (1918-);
collection of the artist, Hockessin, Delaware.
9. September -- “Baghdad Street Scene,” Lou Feldman
(1923-); collection
of the artist, Houston, Texas.
10. October -- “Arrangement with Oranges,” Edward Shapiro (1924-);
collection of the artist, Houston, Texas.
11. November -- “Winter Came Early,” Paul Sansom (1932-); collection
of the artist,
Palm Springs, California.
12. December -- “Promenading in Wales,” Jim Seigler
(1930-); private collection, Richmond, Texas.
In Memoriam
It's been eight years since Mrs. Marjorie Cameron died in the
winter of 2000. In her obituary, it was mentioned that she
had been included in the HCOA's 2000 Arts in Aging Calendar.
That was moving to me, as I was the one who visited Mrs. Cameron's
lovely home overlooking a beautiful lake in The Woodlands
to view her wonderful world of art. She had so many pieces
I could have chosen, but "Kittens and the Sunflowers"
was her favorite so that's the one you enjoyed during the
month of August, 2000. Mrs. Cameron not only made an artistic
contribution to us, but she was the one who suggested the
well-known Houston artist, the late John Biggers. His work
was included for November, 2000. Mrs.Cameron lived a long
life full of beauty; she painted a lot of what she saw. We
are lucky to have seen one of those creations. Although she
isn't here anymore, her works are, and they will last and
last, bringing the beauty her eyes saw to ours. That's art.
(RER)
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