Sixteen existential elders are showing their work along the walls of Vancouver Island University throughout the month of September.
This is a group of nine women and seven men and all are seniors in terms of their experience, stature and age. They live in the coastal areas surrounding the Strait of Georgia, preferring rural or small-town life away from the pull of big city preoccupations.
The work in this show ranges widely from drawing, painting and printmaking to mixed media and sculpture. Some is metaphoric, some is more representational, but it all reflects the originality, depth, honesty and vitality of this remarkable group of senior artists.
“Wisdom, they say, comes with age,” wrote Marci Katz, curator, to introduce the show. “The traditional role of elders in society is the sharing of wisdom with younger generations. So, as cultural elders we would like to share our personal take on life, the human condition, aging, the passage of time and our personal search for meaning in life.”
This existential elders exhibition is like a message from these artists and it is clear: “Invest in relationships, devote yourself to creative work (it needn’t be art) and immerse yourself in it for the rest of your life.”
This show will run until September 30 in the university lobby.
