About the book:
“Woke up one morning. Age was on my mind.”
- Amy Gorman
Amy Gorman invited Frances Kandl to search with her throughout the San Francisco Bay Area for female role models -- very old women, still active artists, living with zest. While Amy chronicles their life stories, Frances is inspired to compose songs for several of these women, many well past 90, resulting in concerts celebrating lives liberated by age.
Gorman says, “Most of the women entered my life through word of mouth --- talking to friends and having them say, ‘do you know so and so, she's a writer and must be in her 90s by now.’ Once I met Lily Hearst and heard what she had to say, and felt her magnificent presence, I knew I wanted to locate others with art, heart and wisdom.”
Do these elders energize themselves through their art, craft and musicianship? Whatever their degree of talent, or their creative process, each embraces a daily routine in which their special art form is an essential part. Each woman is spirited and resilient – interpreting for herself a life worth living to the end. Gorman and Kandl established Project Arts and Longevity, an organization dedicated to unveiling the potentials of successful aging through the creative arts.
"Still Kicking", a 32 minute DVD of 6 women from the book (www.goldenbearcasting.com) honors the gift of age, and the spirit of positive and creative aging.
Click to View Trailer for the Documentary Film "Still Kicking"
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