Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Rockstars are Ageless

"Out of the way son, and give me that guitar…”

Thursday, October 22
5:30-8:00 pm
Philadelphia Senior Center

Join Generation Appreciation Philadelphia for a screening of the award-winning documentary Young@Heart, a film about an elder vocal group from Northampton, Massachusetts that has earned an international reputation for their unique interpretations of songs by Sonic Youth, The Ramones, and The Clash.

Check out the documentary trailer (persevere through the brief commercial and enjoy a wonderfully unique experience).

The screening will be followed by a discussion led by Meaghan Brown, President of the Creative Arts and Aging Network, on the importance of engaging older adults in intergenerational arts programming though out the city. Audience members will be encouraged to capitalize on the energy and enthusiasm of older Philadelphians, an essential part of forging an Age-friendly Philadelphia.

RSVP by Thursday, October 8th to
Kate Clark at
kclark@pcaphl.org or 215-765-9000 x5072
The Chorus. This isn’t some teenage garage band attacking the classic punk rock songbook — the Young@Heart Chorus is comprised of 22 senior citizens whose average age is 80, and under director Bob Cilman they’ve gained a degree of fame for their enthusiastic a cappella renditions of well-known Rock & Roll tunes.

Filmmaker Stephen Walker spent several weeks with the members of the Young@Heart Chorus as they rehearsed for their annual concert in Northampton, and the documentary offers a look at their rigorous rehearsal process, the background of several members, and their efforts to stay active and think positive, even as their friends succumb to old age. Produced for British television, Young @ Heart was screened in competition at the 2007 Los Angeles Film Festival.

Young@Heart will be performing in NYC at St. Ann’s Warehouse from April 20-May 2, 2010.

Meaghan Brown is the President of the Creative Arts and Aging Network, and is the Director of Adult Day Care Services for Mid County Senior Services in Broomall. A graduate of Saint Joseph’s University with a Masters Degree in Gerontology, Meaghan is committed to providing opportunities for adults of all ages to participate in arts and cultural programs in their community. Prior to her work in the Philadelphia region, Meaghan created an accessibility program for the National Gallery of Art and spent several years working with low-income older adults in Tucson, Arizona. Meaghan is a Generation Appreciation Philadelphia Steering Committee member.

Philadelphia Senior Center is located at 509 S Broad St, between Lombard and South Streets. Founded in 1949, Philadelphia Senior Center has been serving the region’s older adults for over half a century. The Center is the largest in Pennsylvania and the third oldest in the country. Over 8,000 senior citizens are served annually: those who come into the Center and those who are homebound.

Monday, August 24, 2009

We're on Facebook!

Follow us on Facebook!
Join the Creative Arts and Aging Network Group to follow CAAN events, network with other CAAN members, and discuss all things "arts and aging!"

"Creativity Communicates"

Clay artist Barbara Hanselman states, "Creativity communicates." In this video, Barbara demonstrate making basic beads in ceramic clay. It's hard to believe the beads one can create with a coil of clay and some textural enhancements! Barbara made this video while teaching older adults at Lutheran Settlement in Philadelphia to make beads.






After viewing the video, stop by her blog, BH Claysmith where Barbara shares more about herself, her work and "Creativity in Society Today."

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Celebrate Creativity!

Please join CAAN at
the
Main Line Art Center
on
September 15th, 2009
9:00-11:00 a.m.

Making movements in the community
to unite older adults and the arts.

A great opportunity to

  • share information about upcoming shows, classes, or events
  • to network with people in arts and/or aging organizations
  • to meet teaching artists in our community!
See the results of CAAN's first ArtVenture Program, sponsored by the National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts and the MetLife Foundation.

Meet Todd Darr, CAAN’s business consultant through the Arts & Business Council of Greater Philadelphia. Todd is helping CAAN develop a successful business plan to propel the Creative Arts and Aging Network successfully into the future.

This event is being hosted at the Main Line Art Center, where you are invited to view the 72nd Annual Faculty Exhibition, celebrating MLAC’s award-winning, professional Teaching Artists and honoring four faculty members who have provided over 20 years of creative inspiration, Robert Finch, Carol Kardon, Francine Shore and Nury Vicens.

9:00 Continental Breakfast
9:30 CAAN Update & Introduction to Main Line Art Center
10:00 Meet & Greet, Network, View 72nd Annual Faculty Exhibition

Don’t miss this exciting opportunity!

Main Line Art Center: 746 Panmure Road Haverford, PA 19041 [Phone] 610.525.0272

Please RSVP to Meaghan: 610-325-1496 or brownmea@mlhs.org by September 8, 2009

Monday, June 1, 2009

Don't Forget This Important Board Meeting!


reminders
Originally uploaded by dharmacat
This is just a reminder that our next CAAN Board Meeting is Tuesday, June 9th at 2:00. The meeting will be held at the Main Line Health Building in Broomall, the front conference room by the lobby will be our meeting space.

Todd Darr, our Business Consultant volunteer from the Arts and Business Council, will be joining us. It's an important meeting for CAAN and I will look forward to seeing you next Tuesday.Hope you all have a great start to your week. Happy June!

Meaghan

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

PA Arts Funding!



Dear National Guild Member:


The Pennsylvania Senate recently passed a state budget that
eliminates all funding ($14 million) for the arts. It also eliminates the state arts council, the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA).
As a member of the National Guild of Community Schools of the
Arts, you know how important the arts are to your students and their families. Many of you receive support from the PCA to help make your programs more robust and more accessible. Many have received support from the PCA to attend our conferences and meetings.The PCA has hosted our national conference twice in
recent years, once in Philadelphia and once in Pittsburgh.

You may not know that the PCA has been more supportive of community arts education than any other state arts agency in the US. As a grantmaker, convener and advocate for the public value of the arts, they demonstrate extraordinary leadership and innovation. In fact, the PCA's innovative grant process was recognized by the Kennedy School of Government as one of 50 finalists in its "Innovations in American Government" competition.

The Guild has worked closely with the PCA's staff to help you build strong and sustainable programs. They have been steadfast in their commitment to supporting community arts education.

Now they need our help-and they need it now.
Go to the Citizens for the Arts website and do two simple things:
  • Sign up to receive action alerts.
  • Contact your state senator and state representative to urge their support for state funding for the arts in the budget for next year. It is quick and easy to do. Consider sending personal letters as well, from your staff, your board and your students and parents.
Then, spread the word to your board, staff, parents and students.
  • Put a message on your website with a link to Citizens for the Arts in PA: www.citizensfortheartsinpa.org
  • Have your staff and board add a message to their email signature with a link to Citizens for the Arts.
  • Make sign-up sheets available at classes and events to register people for Citizens for the Arts.
Be Creative
  • Arrange to have your students play for legislators and their staff. Go to their district office and play for them and leave the message of the importance of the arts. Leave behind a painting or print as a reminder.
Don't let this happen in Pennsylvania. By advocating for public support for the arts, you not only help yourself but all community arts education providers across the United States.

Sincerely,Jonathan Herman
Executive Director
National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts
520 Eighth Avenue, Suite 302
New York, NY 10018
(212) 268-3337 ext. 15

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Eva Zeisel: Still Creating Beauty at 102!

TED.com is a great site...ideas worth spreading. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design. But its scope has become ever broader. TED brings together the world's most fascinating thinkers and doers, who are challenged to give the talk of their lives--in 18 minutes--all recorded on video.

Here a great video from the ceramics designer Eva Zeisel looking back on a 75-year career. What keeps her work as fresh today (her latest line debuted in 2008) as in 1926? Her sense of play and beauty, and her drive for adventure. Listen to Eva Zeisel: The Playful Search for Beauty for stories from a rich, colorful life. It's worth spreading!

Her forms are often abstractions of the natural world and human relationships. Work from throughout her prodigious career is included in important museum collections across the world. Born in 1906, Zeisel declares herself a "maker of useful things." Zeisel currently resides in New York where she continues to design furniture as well as glass and ceramic objects.