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Today, Norm Goldman, Publisher & Editor of Bookpleasures.com is pleased to have as our guest, Amy Gorman, author of Aging Artfully: 12 Profiles Visual & Performing Women Artists Aged 85-105.

Good day Amy and thanks for participating in

our interview.

Norm:

How and why did you become interested in interviewing women visual and performing artists who were well into their eighties and beyond?

Amy:

It was an organic process, really. As an amateur sculptor I found I was stuck – I was at a plateau and needed some guidance. At the same time I had a dream, and as I say in the book, “I woke up one morning and age was on my mind” (I was 62 at the time).  So, I decided I wanted to speak with other women artists – but very old ones.  I wanted to explore with much older women the creative process, and what it felt like to have lived so long. 

Norm:

What motivated you to transcribe the 12 interviews of these fascinating elderly women and publish a book?

Amy:

When I first met Lily Hearst it was her 105^th birthday. Truly, I was smitten, fell in love.  As Isabel Ferguson, one of the 12 women in the book said when she showed me her paintings of golden chanterelles, “when I saw them I couldn’t not paint them!” The stories of the women so fascinated me that I felt the same way. I couldn’t not write them.

Norm:

What did you enjoy most about interviewing these women? As a follow up, was there anything that you did not enjoy?

Amy: 

For me, the interviews became friendly visits, opportunities to shmooze with vibrant thinking creative people. Secondarily, it was an opportunity for me to be challenged in finding the questions that would elicit interesting responses from them.  The hard part was choosing which women to include in the book from the many interviews I did; also, to find the writing voice to use once I decided to build a book.

Norm:

You mention in the introduction to your book that there has been few studies focuses on the impact of creative activities on the over-85 age population. Why do you believe this is the case?

Amy:

Up until recently researchers -- medical, artistic and sociological -- have not been aware of the enormous changes that happen after 80, or 85.  They have lumped all the knowledge into the “senior” or “elderly” category. They simply haven’t been interested in what happens at that advanced age --- perhaps because the remaining years are so few. 

It is also more responsibility to work with this older age population; they are typically slower, or need transportation help; often have memory/cognitive deficits. 

Norm:

When you interviewed these 12 women, did you find some kind of a common thread among all of them? If so, what was it?

Amy:  

They were optimistic as a group, resilient and cheerful.  Each one lived very much in the moment.  They didn’t focus on stories of the past; the stories of the past weren’t what mattered most to them, although all of them certainly wanted to share their stories – that’s what I was writing about!! 

Also, they were independent when younger, thought for themselves, had all completed at least High School, and many had University training. I didn’t know that would be the case when I started. Perhaps that trait helped carry them through.

Norm:

Why do you think that you book is important at this time? What are your hopes for this book?
 

Amy: 

Besides being inspirational --- it is inspiring to read about creative women still working at their art form in their 90s! --- it brings attention to the vast potentials, the possibilities we have in our later years.  Not all of us will make it to 85, true, but many of us will.  And we can still learn creatively until we die.  Our brain cells are still growing.  I believe it’s never too early or too late to start something new, and enjoy it.

I hope that some people will realize that they may have several more decades to live than they had expected, and can make use of those years to do some things they will enjoy.  All of us benefit when the eldest in our societies are actively engaged doing something they love. 

Also, it is important for governments – and those who fund programs – to know that creative activities are good for physical and mental health.  It is good preventive medicine, and will actually save government funds if older people have programs that provide for, and encourage their creative outlets. 

Norm:

Why do you believe that the last stage of a person’s life can be the most meaningful?

Amy: 

Because it’s a summing up time.  They have let go of conflicts, of the extraneous in their lives. They are focussed on just what’s in front of them, and those are (usually) the most meaningful to them. They become their essence, their true selves. 

I believe many of our older adult years we work at removing the masks we have worn in the outer world, and move inward to reveal our innermost natures.  When we do, we are most at peace, and that’s what I saw in the women I interviewed.

Norm:

Will there be any unique ways you'll be marketing your book that is different from how others authors market their books?

Amy:  

When I present/speak to groups I often show the film, “Still Kicking,” which follows 6 of the 12 women in my book, all over 90. One can see Ann Davlin, dancer, talk about the creative process, or Lily Hearst at 106 playing the piano.

The target range for my book is about ages 50-75, so I like speaking to professional women’s groups and to those contemplating retirement.  When people realize they can do something creative when they retire and may have another lifetime to do it in, they feel excited.

Norm:

Can you tell us how you found representation for your book? Did you pitch it to an agent, or query publishers who would most likely publish this type of book? Any rejections? Did you self-publish?

Amy: 

This book is self-published.  I had such a feeling pf pressure to get it out – because the women were so old and I didn’t want any of them to die before it was printed – that I did not want to wait the round of submissions and rejections.

Norm:

How do you celebrate your book’s completion?

Amy:

We had a large gathering/party at a local senior center with 5 of the women from the book present. We showed the film and younger, professional musicians played several of the songs on the CD.  The local press came, too, and several articles emerged from that event.

Norm:

How can our readers find out more about Amy Gorman?

Amy: 

Please write to me, call me, go to my website  http://www.agingartfully.com for information.  I am in the process of setting up a blog and would love to hear stories from readers.

Norm:

Is there anything else you wish to add that we have not covered and what is next for Amy Gorman?

Amy: 

I have been asked to work on some personal biographies of people, not necessarily artists. 

Thanks once again and good luck with all of your future endeavors.

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