Aging Artfully is the synthesis of Amy Gorman's experience working with aging and in the arts. Her work as a medical social worker with dementia and Alzheimer's patients led to her service as a board member at Lifelong Medical Care/Over 60 Clinic in Oakland, California, which addresses the medical and social needs of the aged.
Amy founded Kidshows in 1982, a non-profit arts organization, to introduce children to the arts, live theater, music, dance and storytelling. During her 18 years as its Executive Director, the professional performers she worked with shared many concerns about getting older and whether or not they could continue earning a living in their chosen art form.
She lives with her husband, George, in Berkeley - says she married him because of his resonant voice, also because he keeps her laughing. Their two adult sons, Ari and Phil, both professional musicians, live in the Bay Area.
Besides hanging out with women artists over 85 -- all aging gracefully, aging positively, and aging creatively-- and shmoozing with many friends, she likes to sculpt ceramic heads, scuba dive in the tropics, travel and watch penguins.
Her interest in reminiscence and life review developed as a result of her interviews with aging women artists who were all aging creatively and aging gracefully. She now considers herself a personal historian.
She is a member of the Association of Personal Historians (www.personalhistorians.org) as well as the Northern California Chapter of the organization. Her work showcased in November, 2007 as part of the conference of the International Institute for Reminiscence and Life Review (more about this in an upcoming newsletter). She is also a member of the Women's National Book Association.
She is giving presentations on "Learning from Women Artists over 85" and showing the film, Still Kicking, at workshops and events all over the country. Other
presentation titles include, "Getting Older" and "Aging Creatively."
Please contact her if you are interested.
amygorman@agingartfully.com
510-527-4977
Amy Gorman, author, and Greg Young, filmmaker,
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