The Washington Chorus Trains with Us
In sharing our thought leadership and best practices more and more, we are partnering with The Washington Chorus (TWC) to teach a cadre of chorus members the skills needed so that the organization can deepen its Connections Program. Through the training, they will be able to conduct participatory arts programs, using Arts for the Aging's best practices, that contribute to better health and quality of life outcomes for older adults living with aging-related health impairments. As TWC artistic director Christopher so memorably put it, their goal is, "Not singing at; but with, in, and around." Recently we spent a full day together with a leadership group from the chorus, modeling our practices in consort with one of our dearest client partners that hosted us, Downtown Clusters Geriatric Day Care Center in Washington, D.C.-we are grateful. Stay tuned for news about TWC's pilot workshops in 2020 ... our Year in Music.
Opening Exhibition at The Phillips Collection
It was an honor to participate for a second year in a museum exhibition celebrating creative aging at the Phillips Collection, honoring older adult artists participating in community-based arts workshops with Arts for the Aging and other partners like Iona Senior Center. Museum Educator Donna Jonte designed exhibition tours that brought works of art to life. These museum visits were followed by hands-on art-making workshops with Arts for the Aging teaching artists back at the senior center. You can find more images from the exhibition reception here. Below, teaching artist Annetta Dexter Sawyers admires a collaborative mural made by seniors at Alexandria Adult Day Services Center. The mural was inspired by "Marking Our Time: Aboriginal Woman Artists and Contemporary Art" at the Phillips. The exhibition runs through December 15, 2019 and we invite you to visit the show. Photo credit: Stephanie Williams Images.
Creative Aging conversation with Quicksilver Senior Improv Dance Company at Dance Exchange
Join us at Dance Exchange (DX) on Friday, October 25, 2019 from 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. for a conversation about creativity and aging, featuring Quicksilver, Arts for the Aging's senior improv dance company. DX has convened leaders and practitioners in the field of creative aging and related fields for a lively discussion, sharing of best practices, and celebration of creativity in adults along the aging spectrum. All are welcome and encouraged to attend this free event, with a suggested donation of $20 to DX, located at 7117 Maple Avenue, Takoma Park, MD 20912.
Fall 2019 Events Celebrating the Art and Freedom of Expression in Tango
Arts for the Aging's Milonga at the Embassy on October 10, 2019 was a rousing success. The Embassy of Argentina in Washington D.C. partnered with us to co-create programs and celebrate the culmination of a community workshop series in tango for older adults. Since a milonga is a lively style of tango, and it can also mean a party, the embassy event featured live tango activations, ravishing performances, presentation of the 2019 Lolo Sarnoff Founder's Awards, and a video premiere featuring the workshop series. Click here for photos from event.
At our Milonga by the Lake on September 14, 2019, board chairman Don Wright and Lezley McIlveen hosted friends of Arts for the Aging in their beautiful lakeside home in Virginia for a look-in to the beauty, art, and health of tango, including exquisite performances and tango activations. With multi-cultural roots in African and European immigrant slave populations, and far-reaching music and dance characteristics, the art form is rich with "entry points" --- ways to create connection, joy, and healing in Arts for the Aging programs. Below, Liza and Alex Semyonov with Tango Mercurio demonstrate the dance for friends of the organization. Click here for more photos from the evening. Stephanie Williams Images.
