Turkish Marbling comes to Philadelphia

Richard Aldorasi, a Creative Arts & Aging Board Member, was highlighted in April on the PBS special, "Ebru World Arts" a WHYY Experience,

As a resident artist with the Pennsylvania State Council on the Arts, Richard offers this special program, the World Art Project, through the Arts in Education Partnership (PCA).

The World Art Project residency program allows students to explore the following 8 hands-on art techniques from around the world: Turkish and Japanese Suminagashi marbling applied to paper and silk, making linen paper with flowers, ferns, gold, silver and metallic iridescences, paste painting and momigami paper design, making Egyptian papyrus paper, bookbinding, and letter press printing.

Each student learns the rich history of these decorative folk arts including the historic role Philadelphia and Pennsylvania played in papermaking and printing.

Watch Richard with young students as they learn ebru, the art of Turkish marbling, an art form that if not taught anymore, is in danger of disappearing.  

Learn more about Richard's work by visiting The Philadelphia Handmade Paper Company.

AARP is Looking for Older Artists to Interview

Freelance writer Jamie Katz is looking for outstanding American artists to interview for a feature article in AARP—The Magazine, Not just any outstanding American artist though. Katz is looking for older artists who have discovered their creativity after reaching age 50 (or later) and who have gone on to become recognized and accomplished practitioners.  In other words, people who have entered the arts as an encore career and whose work has now earned some recognition through gallery shows, published work, awards, accolades, performances in serious venues—as opposed to being very talented amateurs and hobbyists.

Katz is interested in the arts, broadly defined—music, writing, painting, sculpture, dance, theater, performance art, digital art, folk crafts, and so on. And she is especially interested in people with a compelling personal story.

She is not looking for lifelong artists who only earned recognition late in their career.  Katz is looking for folks who only became serious artists later in life.  Folks who typically had another occupation altogether before that point: a waitress-turned choreographer, a soldier-turned-clarinetist, an accountant-turned–Off-Broadway actor...

If you know someone who has become an accomplished artist (performer, dancer, musicisian, etc.) after age 50  (or you are that someone!), please send a brief description with contact information to Jamie Katz  at jamiekatz44@gmail.com by Sunday, March 7.