Based on Amy Gorman¹s interviews, Aging Artfully portrays the lives of 12 vibrant women in the visual and performing arts, all in their ninth decade and beyond, living with zest. They are living in the San Francisco Bay Area coming from diverse ethnic backgrounds: Frances Catlett, painter; Elsie Ogata, ikebana artist; Isabel Ferguson, actor and visual artist; Lily Hearst, pianist; Grace Gildersleeve, rug braider; Ann Davlin (aka Grace Lowell) dancer; Mary Beth Washington (aka Orunamama), storyteller: Rosa Maria Morales Escobar, folklorico dancer; Madeleine Mason, sculptor; Dorothy Takahashi Toy, dancer; Faith Petric, folksinger; Stella Toogood, storyteller. Includes an abundant collection of photos celebrating the womens’ stories.
The book honors the rich creativity of aging and challenges popular negative attitudes and perceptions towards being old. The book suggests reasons why arts activities are ideal ways to increase health in the last stages of life.
The positive role models portrayed are still completely engaged with and in love with their art forms. They have no time for complaining.
“Aging Artfully is a book to be treasured and… shared.” Jim Cox, Midwest Book Review
Winner Bronze IPPY award.
