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Creative Aging Launch



At least 65 Ashby Village members mastered the complexities of Zoom and joined the first event in our new Creative Aging initiative, on April 17. It was our most ambitious “virtual” Ashby Village event and an encouraging display of enthusiasm for a major new program to
help develop and share our members' creativity, timed to coincide with the Village’s 10th anniversary.


A panel of established and less-experienced artist-members (Lisa Esherick, Peter Sussman, Nancy Rubin, Pat Sakai, Barbi Jo Stim, and Russ Ellis) discussed the origins and paths of their individual creative journeys and challenged the membership to start telling their own stories, with their own creative outlets.





The presenting artists’ interests are varied -- they work (or play, as they would have it) in several genres, including painting, photography, animation, crafts and songwriting – but they share a belief in the importance of creative expression in their lives, especially as they age. The panelists strongly encouraged all members to use this time of being “housebound” to return to creative passions they pursued years ago or to try something entirely new.



After the individual presentations, there was a follow-up conversation among the presenters and a lively exchange of questions and suggestions from audience members. Several people suggested the creation of interest groups in various media, including painting, songwriting, photography, and storytelling. Others were interested in having another large group session, possibly with different Village artists presenting their work and discussing their creative journeys.

The panelists, who acted as the nucleus of an ad hoc planning committee, subsequently expressed their appreciation to all the supportive members who attended the event and engaged in the discussion.


Before the organizing committee plans the next steps in this initiative, they invite all members and volunteers – those who attended and those who weren’t able – to submit their suggestions for shaping the next stages of this evolving program, along with the roles you would like to play in this initiative. We especially want to hear from members who are interested in participating more directly, as artists, learners or organizers. Would you participate with others in an interest group on some specific art form? Do you want to convene such a group? Do you have a creative passion you’d like to share to inspire others? How would you like to present it?

Please email your thoughts, suggestions or offers to
info@ashbyvillage.org. Be as detailed as possible.


 
Those who were not able to attend the event and are eager to catch up – and those who would like to revisit any of the event – can watch the recording at the top of this page.
 
Later this year, when social-distancing restrictions are relaxed, we hope to schedule an all-Village, in-person event to share with each other and the public some of our members' artworks and to celebrate the creativity in the Ashby Village community.
 
Thanks again to all our presenters and participants.


Listen to member Russ Ellis's song "We Watch" HERE.



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