Elders Share the Arts Annual Program Report 2014-2015

ELDERS SHARE THE ARTS PROGRAM REPORT SEPTEMBER 2014 – JULY 2015

Elders Share the Arts offers older adults high-caliber arts programming that ignites creative expression, cultivates their role as bearers of history and culture, and generates new pathways to connect them to their communities.

138 South Oxford Street Brooklyn, New York 11217 tel: (718) 398-3870 fax: (718) 398-3864 www.elderssharethearts.org

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

John Flack, CFA President Tobi Abramson, Ph.D. Nancy Avitable, LMSW Nadia Campbell-Mitchell Janice Blanchard, MSPH Susan Fleminger Guy Lawrence Betsey Nathan, Esq. Susan Perlstein, MSW Sajid Zaman

Jennie Smith-Peers Executive Director Remy Kunstler Program Director Hsin-Chih (Liz) Tsang Development and Communications Manager

PROGRAM REPORT SEPTEMBER 2014 – JULY 2015

LEGACY ARTS is ESTA’s multi-disciplinary arts residency program, consisting of free or low-cost art classes conducted at community-based sites each year (including senior centers and libraries throughout New York City) for a wide range of diverse older adults. Residencies run for 12 to 24 weeks, and end with a culminating exhibit, reading, or performance and reception.

HISTORY ALIVE! ESTA's Intergenerational arts-in-education program integrates life history with art making, to build community between elders and youth. The program brings older adults into school and after-school programs who possess life stories that are relevant to the content areas youth are exploring within the class. Weekly workshops lasting 12 to 24 weeks culminate in a final event where the life stories of the youth and elders are woven into a dance or theater piece, a mural, or an anthology of stories.

ARTS AND MEMORY These programs are designed for people in the early to late stages of dementia.

Our Teaching Artists are trained to meet people where they are in the present moment, to guide them through an artistic journey. All programs culminate with an event designed to share the work created to develop a strong sense of community among center members and the broader public.

PEARLS OF WISDOM ESTA’s touring ensemble of elder storytellers. In richly crafted presentations, the Elders share stories on historic turning points, women, family, activism, culture, work, civil rights, and folk traditions. They have performed in a variety of venues, including the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, People’s Voice Café, public schools and universities, Virtual Senior Centers, outdoors, indoors, across the country, and around the world!

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FLAMEKEEPER RECIPIENTS Joan Jeffri 2015 Helen R. Hamlin 2014 Carmen DeLavallade & Geoffrey Holder 2013 Hal Holbrook 2012 Ron Carter 2009 Eli Wallach 2008 Bel Kaufman Susan Perlstein 2007

ELDERS SHARE THE ARTS

LEGACY ARTS PARK SLOPE SENIOR CENTER Modality: Drawing and Painting Culmination Medium: Final Exhibit Number of Sessions: 8 Year: 1 Teaching Artist: Humberto Chavez Number of Participants: 8 Neighborhood/Borough: Park Slope, Brooklyn A participant reflects on her creative process at the final event.

MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS RETIREMENT AND HEALTH SERVICES (MRHS) Modality: Writing Culmination Medium: Final Reading Number of Sessions: 18 Year: 21 Teaching Artist: Susan Willerman Number of Participants: 13 Neighborhood/Borough: Morningside Heights, Manhattan

“It’s precisely what I needed just at this time in my life, and I was 78 on Saturday! So thank you so much, Susan, for your faithfulness. I realize all these years you’ve been (Above) The writers pose for a group shot at their final event.

here, and I’ve only just joined—but

(Top Right) “Get Your Wordsworth” is the group’s live blog that has nearly 2,000 views by people all around the world. Check it out at:

“Writing from Life Experience” at MRHS

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getyourwordsworth.wordpress.com

I am so glad I did!” –Participant of

SERVICES AND ADVOCACY FOR GLBT ELDERS (SAGE) Modality: Collage and Mixed Media Culmination Medium: Final Exhibit Number of Sessions: 24 Year: 2 Teaching Artist: Susan Fleminger and Emily Abramson Number of Participants: 20 Neighborhood/Borough: Downtown Brooklyn and Chelsea, Manhattan

The final exhibit of the SAGE programs at Brooklyn Community Pride Center.

“The group developed a very congenial and SOCIAL atmosphere, and SHARED things about their LIVES with one another as they worked, and there were a number of NEW FRIENDSHIPS that were formed.”

-ESTA Teaching Artist

(Top Left) A participant displays her Matisse book of collage at the SAGE Center in Manhattan.

(Bottom Left) Participants and ESTA Teaching Artist of the SAGE Brooklyn site at the Brooklyn Community Pride Center.

“This program is quite different because it’s with my peers. It’s been very inspiring to me. I really enjoy it. I’m glad because it’s been a challenge because I don’t like the structure of a typical art class. But I enjoy this one. I will continue to come.” –SAGE participant

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CYPRESS HILLS FULTON STREET SENIOR CENTER Modality: Collage and Mixed Media Culmination Medium: Final Exhibit Number of Sessions: 17 Year: 1 Teaching Artist: Humberto Chavez Number of Participants: 10 Neighborhood/Borough: Cypress Hills, Brooklyn

CULTURAL IMMIGRANT INITIATIVE A HUGE

THANK YOU to Councilman

Rafael Espinal of the 37th District of New York City and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs for the opportunity to work with the wonderful Participants share their symbol projects during a session.

community of Cypress Hills in Brooklyn!

“This program has inspired me to keep

painting.

on

I never really thought myself as an

artist, and with this program I have learned that art can be many things…This class has allowed me to

exercise my true creativity and I have so much fun doing it!”

– Cypress Hills participant

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HISTORY ALIVE! SELFHELP BENJAMIN ROSENTHAL INNOVATIVE SENIOR CENTER IN PARTNERSHIP WITH P.S. 24 ANDREW JACKSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Modality: Theater Culmination Medium: Performance Number of Sessions: 14 Year: 19 Teaching Artist: Marsha Gildin Number of Participants: 36 Elders: 10 Youth: 26 Neighborhood/Borough: Flushing, Queens

Students and elders take a bow at their final performance of “We Are Family!” at P.S. 24.

“Family. That's why we're here. It's what we got. Be good students. Listen to your teachers. Be a good friend. Listen to one another. WE ARE FAMILY!” -Elder participant of Selfhelp Innovative Senior Center addressing the youth

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TILDEN SENIOR CENTER IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR ART AND PHILOSOPHY Modality: Theater Culmination Medium: Performance Number of Sessions: 15 Year: 3 Teaching Artist: Julie Kline Number of Participants: 14 Elders: 7 Youth: 7 Neighborhood/Borough: Brownsville, Brooklyn Youth and elder Participants engage in a Mirroring exercise.

IN YOUR SHOES:

(Above) The participants captivated their audience at their final performance of “In Your Shoes”.

AN INTERGENERATIONAL PERFORMANCE CREATED BY STUDENTS FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR ART AND PHILOSOPHY AND ELDERS FROM TILDEN SENIOR CENTER

(Left) The program handed out to each audience member, featuring bios and headshots of each actor/participant in the program.

Facilitated and Directed by Julie Kline

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LANGSTON HUGHES SENIOR CENTER IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR ART AND PHILOSOPHY Modality: Visual Arts Culmination Medium: Presentation Number of Sessions: 14 Year: 2 Teaching Artist: Esperanza Cortes Number of Participants: 45 Elders: 5 Youth: 40 Neighborhood/Borough: Brownsville, Brooklyn One of the small break-out groups at their final presentation of the artwork they made together.

“Being that you don’t have an elder at home, this program was to let you know that we do have a lot that we can offer you. And you’ve offered us a whole lot and we really appreciate it.”

-An elder participant’s words to A youth participant presents the fabric collage she helped create based on an elder’s story.

the youth in the program.

THANK YOU TO BROOKLYN ARTS COUNCIL FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING PARTNERSHIP AND SUPPORT OF THE PROGRAMS AT M.S.A.P.!

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PEP FOR SENIORS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB Modality: Writing Culmination Medium: Performance and Anthology Number of Sessions: 8 Year: 5 Teaching Artist: Nina Gabriele-Cuva Number of Participants: 18 Elders: 8 Youth: 10 Neighborhood/Borough: Parkchester, Bronx

An elder participant reads his piece for the group at the final event.

I AM; BUT I AM NOT I am a man, but I am not boastful.

I am generous, but I am not wealthy.

I am humble, but I am not weak.

I am patient, but I am not lazy.

I am adventurous, but I am not misled.

I am evolving, but I am not complete.

I am reliving, but I am not resentful.

I am committed, but I am not a fool.

I am created, but I am not immortal.

I am forgiving, but I am not forgetful.

-A poem by an elder participant of PEP for Seniors

“I learned that the best way to express myself is through writing.�

-Youth participant of Boys and Girls Club

The writing group at their final reading at the Boys and Girls Club.

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JASA FAMILY FRIENDLY SENIOR CENTER IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GRAND STREET SETTLEMENT Modality: Visual Arts Culmination Medium: Final Sharing Number of Sessions: 8 Year: 1 Teaching Artist: Esperanza Cortes Number of Participants: 16 Elders: 6 Youth: 10 Neighborhood/Borough: Bushwick, Brooklyn

A youth and elder self-portrait displayed in the final exhibit.

“I WANT TO THANK ALL

Elder and youth participants paint their selfportraits.

THE ELDERS. They are so fun and powerful, and I want to say to all the younger people: Thanks for accompanying me on this wonderful arts journey.”

-Youth participant from Grand Street Settlement after-school program

“Portraits of Community” has been permanently displayed in the Bushwick/Hylan Community Center for all to enjoy.

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JASA CONEY ISLAND ACTIVE AGING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH I.S. 303 HERBERT S. EISENBERG Modality: Theater Culmination Medium: Performance Number of Sessions: 10 Year: 2 Teaching Artist: Rachel Evans Number of Participants: 15 Elders: 8 Youth: 7 Neighborhood/Borough: Coney Island, Brooklyn

“This was my first year having an experience with a group like this. The first session I didn’t want to go. I thought, “This will be boring”. But I found from the first session that I was so excited. I couldn’t wait for the next week to have another session. So for me, it brought out the child in me…When I come here, it’s my fun day-having fun with the kids and bringing back memories of the old days.”

-Elder participant from JASA Coney Island Active Aging

Participants engage in a pantomime activity.

“At the end of the workshop, when we would stand in a circle and pass the pulse holding hands, the participants would always go straight to holding hands, even if I didn’t tell them to.

There was a real sense of joy shared and a community built.”

-ESTA Teaching Artist

Participants perform their scenes for friends and teachers at the final event at I.S. 303.

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ARTS AND MEMORY NEW YORK MEMORY CENTER Modality: Theater Improvisation Culmination Medium: Performance Number of Sessions: 30 Year: 4 Teaching Artist: Kate Bell and Shira Rose-Berk Number of Participants: 15 Neighborhood/Borough: Park Slope, Brooklyn

Participants of the New York Memory Center work with props, tableaux and pantomime to create improvised scenes.

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COOP CITY NORC Modality: TimeSlips Culmination Medium: Final Reading Number of Sessions: 8 Year: 2 Teaching Artist: Marsha Gildin Number of Participants: 8 Neighborhood/Borough: COOP City, Bronx

“Today, Joe is still saying, ‘I love you, Edna.

I feel the same way as when we first met.’

Edna replies, ‘Joe I’m still so in love with you. You have given me happiness, love, just about everything important there is. I have everything I need in my life with you.’”

TimeSlips participants use imagination to create their collective stories based on photographs.

-Excerpt from the TimeSlips story based on the photograph above.

SAMUEL FIELD Y Modality: Storytelling Culmination Medium: Final Reading Number of Sessions: 8 Year: 3 Teaching Artist: Marsha Gildin Number of Participants: 10 Neighborhood/Borough: Little Neck, Queens

We call on INNER COURAGE To take a leap, To fall in love, To age with dignity -Excerpt from a group poem by members of the Sam Field Y Story Circle

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The members and our Teaching Artist of the Early Stage Memory Program in the Sam Y Story Circle shared personal stories that were compiled into an anthology.

PEARLS OF WISDOM Sites: 8 Lehman College, Alwan Center for the Arts, People’s Voice Café, Selfhelp Virtual Senior Center, ProjectFIND at Hamilton House, Alan Stevenson School, Greene Hill School, Middle School for Art and Philosophy

Members of Pearls of Wisdom: 18 Number of Audience Members: 271 • Virtual Audience Members: 16

(Above) The Pearls of Wisdom perform at “Leadership Through My Eyes” at the Herbert H. Lehman Center for Leadership.

(Right) The Pearls of Wisdom perform in ESTA’s office for homebound elders in Selfhelp’s Virtual Senior Center.

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IMPACT Total Programs Served •

TOTAL PROGRAMS SERVED: 27% 40%

33% History Alive!

•

History Alive!:

6

•

Legacy Arts:

5

•

Arts & Memory:

3

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Legacy Arts

Arts and Memory

Total Unduplicated Participants TOTAL UNDUPLICATED PARTICIPANTS 17%

24%

History Alive!

SERVED: 59%

203

•

History Alive!:

123

•

Legacy Arts:

51

•

Arts and Memory:

35

Legacy Arts

Arts and Memory

Community Audience Members

COMMUNITY AUDIENCE MEMBERS: 921 •

29%

Pearls of Wisdom: o

50% 7% 14% History Alive!

Legacy Arts

Arts and Memory

Pearls of Wisdom

Virtual Audience:

271 16

•

History Alive!:

460

•

Legacy Arts:

125

•

Arts and Memory:

65

FINAL TOTAL SERVED*:

1,138

(*Participants, Pearls of Wisdom, and Community Audience Members)

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IMPACT CONT. Participant Gender (Elders) PARTICIPANT GENDER (ELDERS): 29%

•

Women:

81

•

Men:

33

114

71%

Men

Women

Programs by Art Form PROGRAMS BY ART FORM:

15

14% 14%

43%

•

Visual Arts:

6

•

Theater:

4

•

Writing:

2

•

Storytelling:

2

29% Visual Arts

Theater

Writing

Storytelling

Programs by Borough 13%

PROGRAMS BY BOROUGH: 15

14% 13%

•

Bronx:

2

•

Manhattan:

2

•

Brooklyn:

9

•

Queens:

2

60%

Bronx

Manhattan

Brooklyn

Queens

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THANK YOU!

We could not have done all this wonderful work without the support of:

New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the New York City Council; Offices of the Manhattan & Brooklyn Borough Presidents; Councilman Rafael Espinal; The National Endowment for the Arts; New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature; Stephen Colbert Americone Dream Foundation; Michael Tuch Foundation; Laura B. Volger Foundation; Solomon E. Summerfield Foundation; UJA Federation; the Brooklyn Arts Council; Joan Mitchell Foundation; Mary Duke Biddle Foundation; The Concord Baptist Church of Christ Fund; The Bay and Paul Foundation

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