Elder Arts Celebrations

Art With Elders has a younger sister program.

Elder Arts Celebrations (EAC) was begun in 1999 to exhibit the visual arts of alumni, faculty and students over the age of 65 from Bay Area art schools.

EAC artists differ from those seniors who are involved in Art With Elders, even while they have much in common. EAC artists continue to live independently, are actively engaged in their communities and enjoy taking advantage of the many opportunities offered in the Bay Area for continuing education. Whereas AWE artists are almost all beginners, picking up a brush for the first time in AWE classes, EAC artists range from beginners to amateurs to professionals – some of them are represented by galleries and earn a living through sale of their art. Both EAC and AWE artists find that the practice of art to be an especially effective way to observe themselves and their worlds, to express what they are seeing and feeling, and to make vital connections to what is most meaningful in their lives.

EAC is a collaboration of ELDERGIVERS with the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco and well-known schools such as San Francisco Art Institute, California College of the Arts and City College of San Francisco. In a culture which prizes youth, older artists can have a difficult time finding space to show their work and developing the audience to appreciate it. EAC helps them in this regard.

Partnering with various art schools and utilizing their alumni, faculty and student lists, EAC puts out a call for submissions, juries the work received and then negotiates space on or near campus to display the selected paintings, sculptures, photography and mixed media. Each exhibit is publicized and introduced with a reception for the artists.

EAC is presently planning for the year 2007. Plans include at least one public exhibition as well as the launch of an EAC site on ELDERGIVERS’ eBay Marketplace site.

In 2005, EAC asked participating artists to tell us what they believe to be the role of the elder artist in today’s culture. Following are some of their responses.

In the letter inviting artists to submit work for jurying for the Elder Arts Celebrations shows this year,
we asked applicants to write a paragraph or two on this question. Here are some of the responses:

"Is there a peaceful activity more liberating than art? Making art is such a personal expression, it frees you from any ordinary concerns and expectations. It gives you a platform to say 'Here I am. This is me. This is what I have to say.' So, the first role the elder artist plays in society is making age visible. Art is something that elders can do and here they are, doing it, defying limiting social assumptions about age."
Sherri Cavan

"Even a child prodigy in the arts needs training in order to develop his or her potential. The elder artist frequently has developed artistic skills and sensibilities over many years and may not only provide society with mature art work but has an enlightened sensitivity and appreciation for the younger artist's product and can serve as mentor or teacher. Art can be seen as a commentary on life from the artist, and the more informed, experienced and wise the artist, the more valuable the commentary."
Ellen Into

"If we look at life from early childhood to old age as ontological, we begin to see the value of one's growth in body, mind and spirit as we go from evolution to involution in later life. In the mature involution stage of growth, the artist carries the metaphorical message that is cross-cultural and timeless. These metaphors may express order, peace, oneness or love.

"The very activity of manipulating energies that are vertical, horizontal, diagonal or circular is a micro/macro dance found in yoga, the Chi energies, sounds and brush strokes. By merely participating in this dance of life, the elder artist becomes a 'centered' citizen, sending healing messages to society and reminding us all to look at order and beauty. To be centered is to give
and receive love. This is the elder artist's role in society."
Violet Chew-MacLean

"The role of elder artists in society is that of promoting and demonstrating The importance of celebrating the arts as the highest form of human expression. This is of course, a vital part and function of a truly civilized society. It is a well known fact that many famous artists have produced their greatest body of work well into their eighties and nineties. This should serve as an inspiration to aspiring young artists that if you are patient, dedicated, and persistent, you can eventually succeed."
Michael Grbich

"The elder artist of today has seen more rapid changes in society as they have matured than any previous generation. They have had been presented with fleeting fads, barrages of disguised commercialism and political coercion. But with maturity comes insight and this is what the older artist has to offer. The images and thoughts they present can give guidance to a world that is in a
rush to go anywhere. This is a goal of singular importance!"
Robert Van Norman