Could not decide whether to publish this under Rx for Caregivers or All Ages All Stages or here so am including it on all three!
If Midge Maisel was an actual person instead of a fiction character on an Amazon Prime show, she’d be 86 & still killin’ it. And just the sort of talent I’m hoping to include in the 05/15/18 Creativity Jam for Age Justice, the Philly event in support of the same day, same time Radical Age Movement rally in Central Park.
The Jam will have multi-layers & be multi-purpose, featuring pieces by 65+ (55+?) artists, musicians, singers, dancers – – and hopefully stand-up. The focus goes beyond artists of a certain age to include dream catchers – creatives who have longed to have their work seen by others & are just now being given the opportunity, not in spite of their age but because of it. The Jam will feature artists who’ve shown or performed before ~ so, yes – Midge could have made the cut - but 1st timers will get special consideration by the (tba) selection committee.
When I posted thoughts about this event on Facebook, the very first comment was, “Great idea. Sounds like a lot of work and money to get it going.” Reminded me of the acquaintance who, on hearing about the Rx for Caregivers page-a-day calendar, said “How will you fund it? How will you monetarize it?” in a tone of inspiration-killing skepticism instead of the gee-whiz “Tell me more” response that respects baby ideas, encourages them to take a next step, to grow. Disappointments might come… but, then again, they might just as easily take wings & fly into the stratosphere, leaving only fabulous, fully realized wonderful.
I’ve had four art shows over the past twelve years, two solo, two creativity jams with John – one in Bryn Athyn, one in Princeton, two in Huntingdon Valley. The HV photography show was such a smash, they held it over for the entire summer. The only cost I had for any of them was for the opening reception’s delectable spread.
It will be a lot of work, but a lot less than the efforts of my Radical Age Movement colleagues up in NYC putting together the Central Park rally for Age Justice. I won’t have the big names featured up yonder, but will have a power beyond what happens in Manhattan – – fulfilling the heart’s desire of creatives who’ve dreamed of having their work seen by others. Pretty cool.
Imagining some 73-year old finally getting the chance to kill it as a stand-up, getting his first taste of an audience’s laughter, their applause. When it happens – whichever creatives jam with us – will see Midge looking on, hearing her say, “Yeah, he loves it.”
Yes, it will be a lot of work – but the joy hallmarking the Creativity Jam for Age Justice will be worth every moment!
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