Ah, yes it is not pleasurable getting old but at the same time the freedom of caring little now about what other people think of me or say is liberating. I have decided that people I care about, I will be there for them. And for my middle age children, I will support no matter what a pain in the neck they can be and probably I am to them. Most important, keep ones sense of humor, stay positive most of the time and be adventurous and creative.
As a European, and a woman - now living in the US - facing all this, I'd just like to nudge you all to think about the wonderful British Dames (actors such as Dench, Smith, Mirren, Maggie Hambling, Eileen Cooper....I could go on) that grace our screens in their 70s, 80s and beyond. Not a stich of work to be seen and they remain as glamorous, beautiful and respected as hell! America's obsessed with youth, but the reality is no other country is, at least not nearly to the same extent. Grace should be our goal!
Don’t be afraid to stop dying your hair I have never done it. But now at almost 80 years young I am a retreat in Guatemala and climbed 100 stairs using a walking stick. Hugs
I'm not afraid of dying my hair. I'm just bored with it! I figure this is a good age to get adventurous, but I'm not ready for red, a la Jeanne-Claude, Christo's wife and lifelong partner in art.
Great piece. Problem of course in the art world is the endless emphasis on youth …. Older women were “in” for like a nano second. Now we are invisible….again.
I never could understand why anyone liked her work. It was so self involved and seemed like a diatribe about women. Ugh. These latest are hideous. It’s nice to see lovely older females. Most women have simply not had the genetic or financial wherewithal to look great in our 70s. I’ll be 77 this August. I was thinking of making a tshirt with the words “I used to be cute”😐
I don't completely understand Cindy Sherman, obviously, but she seems to be a lightning rod for the art world--someone like Jackie Kennedy or Marilyn Monroe, though not as glamorous--whose every move and change are eagerly tracked. Critics will be wrestling for years about what these images mean. Possibly it's just a lot of sound and fury over another clever maneuver for attention. Like Princess Di, another celebrity icon, she knows how to keep the press interested.
Aging - how did our society lose track of the wisdom acquired over time? I love the words elder, and crone, both of which evoke that wisdom. All I really want at this point is to be healthy enough to do the things I love, like making art, and to appreciate still having this working brain. And maybe to pass on a bit of what I've learned. As always, thanks, Ann, for diving right into a tough subject via art!
So much to say about this topic! When people say "You don't look 82" I now reply "This is what 82 looks like!" I have lots of sympathy for Jane Fonda's issues but much prefer to keep in mind the Buddhist saying "Keep calmly knowing change." Just keep close to how you feel when you are doing your life's work...that will shine through to the world every time. Of course there is always Fran Libowitz "In 5 years, you would kill to look the way you do now."
I’m still trying to decide what I think about all of Cindy Sherman’s work, but I am definitely repulsed by this latest stuff. She’s way too angry and hateful…to herself. I don’t think that’s a good thing. It’s a big mistake to fight aging; it’s natural and inevitable. One might as well rage at the waning of the moon.
I wonder that no critics have taken note of what seems to be a huge level of self-loathing in Sherman's art. Maybe she knows her success is overrated too.
Very interesting all those takes . . . And most especially the photos. The one especially of dear Agnes, so familiar and poignant now that she's gone. Just as I remember her.
Ah, yes it is not pleasurable getting old but at the same time the freedom of caring little now about what other people think of me or say is liberating. I have decided that people I care about, I will be there for them. And for my middle age children, I will support no matter what a pain in the neck they can be and probably I am to them. Most important, keep ones sense of humor, stay positive most of the time and be adventurous and creative.
As a European, and a woman - now living in the US - facing all this, I'd just like to nudge you all to think about the wonderful British Dames (actors such as Dench, Smith, Mirren, Maggie Hambling, Eileen Cooper....I could go on) that grace our screens in their 70s, 80s and beyond. Not a stich of work to be seen and they remain as glamorous, beautiful and respected as hell! America's obsessed with youth, but the reality is no other country is, at least not nearly to the same extent. Grace should be our goal!
Couldn't agree with you more. I mean, really, Jane Fonda or Helen Mirren? Let's get real--and skip the scalpel.
Yes and no.. Women can be beautiful at every age. Each decade has a new opportunity to be who you are. Irene
I never understood the success of Cindy Sherman’s art. To me the imagery is just disturbing and unpleasant distortions.
Don’t be afraid to stop dying your hair I have never done it. But now at almost 80 years young I am a retreat in Guatemala and climbed 100 stairs using a walking stick. Hugs
I'm not afraid of dying my hair. I'm just bored with it! I figure this is a good age to get adventurous, but I'm not ready for red, a la Jeanne-Claude, Christo's wife and lifelong partner in art.
GREAT overview of approaches to ageing...haven't decided mine yet. But, yes, one does grow to miss those construction site whistles.
Great piece. Problem of course in the art world is the endless emphasis on youth …. Older women were “in” for like a nano second. Now we are invisible….again.
I never could understand why anyone liked her work. It was so self involved and seemed like a diatribe about women. Ugh. These latest are hideous. It’s nice to see lovely older females. Most women have simply not had the genetic or financial wherewithal to look great in our 70s. I’ll be 77 this August. I was thinking of making a tshirt with the words “I used to be cute”😐
I don't completely understand Cindy Sherman, obviously, but she seems to be a lightning rod for the art world--someone like Jackie Kennedy or Marilyn Monroe, though not as glamorous--whose every move and change are eagerly tracked. Critics will be wrestling for years about what these images mean. Possibly it's just a lot of sound and fury over another clever maneuver for attention. Like Princess Di, another celebrity icon, she knows how to keep the press interested.
Aging - how did our society lose track of the wisdom acquired over time? I love the words elder, and crone, both of which evoke that wisdom. All I really want at this point is to be healthy enough to do the things I love, like making art, and to appreciate still having this working brain. And maybe to pass on a bit of what I've learned. As always, thanks, Ann, for diving right into a tough subject via art!
So much to say about this topic! When people say "You don't look 82" I now reply "This is what 82 looks like!" I have lots of sympathy for Jane Fonda's issues but much prefer to keep in mind the Buddhist saying "Keep calmly knowing change." Just keep close to how you feel when you are doing your life's work...that will shine through to the world every time. Of course there is always Fran Libowitz "In 5 years, you would kill to look the way you do now."
Love the Lebowitz line!
Interesting insights and I agree (especially about the successful women artists who get away with it)
I read the Times article about the new work of Cindy Sherman and for some reason I liked it.
I can't say that for all of her work. This new batch looks strong.
Things change fast and faster
Drop the dye, definitely . Silver is very beautiful and in better taste.
Never did get it , Cindy Sherman's "success" ? Seemed to me very shallow.
I’m still trying to decide what I think about all of Cindy Sherman’s work, but I am definitely repulsed by this latest stuff. She’s way too angry and hateful…to herself. I don’t think that’s a good thing. It’s a big mistake to fight aging; it’s natural and inevitable. One might as well rage at the waning of the moon.
I wonder that no critics have taken note of what seems to be a huge level of self-loathing in Sherman's art. Maybe she knows her success is overrated too.
I agree with your reaction to Cindy Sherman's cruel depiction of older women.
Very interesting all those takes . . . And most especially the photos. The one especially of dear Agnes, so familiar and poignant now that she's gone. Just as I remember her.