Creativity as We Age. Art as Connection.
In this blog post I celebrate creativity as we age, focusing on older adults (often within the LTC frame) with a link to other inspiring stories and videos, and hopefully creating a space for sharing art therapy resources and recent finds, around the benefits and importance of creative aging.
Thank you to all those who contributed to this collective post: Susan Beniston, Erminia Diamantopolous, Lisa Gignac, Stefanie Ly, Gilda Raimondi, Andrea Savoie, Marillyn Saffery, Meghan Scott, and Hannah Sherebrin. Your voices are woven throughout the post through your reflections and quotes.
Art and Art Therapy is for ALL ages!!!
There are therapeutic benefits intrinsic in creating and making art for health and well-being. Full stop. Making art provides creative, emotional, cognitive, and physical stimulation. Being creative sparks the imagination to engage and respond to the world in different ways, which in turn activates the brain in amazing ways.
“The uplifts that come from engaging in, or witnessing the arts are profoundly connective, corrective and meant to be shared at all ages. The arts inspire sensory-based attunement and give us our grace and capacity for depth...”
More and more is being written about the benefits of engaging in creative projects, and how creativity and the arts can bypass many challenges of health-related aging. For those struggling with cognitive decline, art making can become a relational communication tool in the present, a portal to self discovery and a direct means to open a door to the past through visual prompts making expression of memories more tangible.
“Creative expression can introduce an abundance of possibilities at any age and stage of life. In later years, creativity can provide a different perspective on life’s new challenges by becoming more aware of inner experiences and reflecting on ones’ own strengths and achievements. The self-discoveries that occur can furthermore bring new joy, feelings of empowerment and fulfillment allowing for easier adaptation to change that occurs with advancing years.”
The aging process does not diminish the desire for creativity and self-expression. “Just as aging is a journey, and not an end, creativity is a process or an outlook, not a product... capable of transforming our lives at any age” (Cohen, p. 13). Joy within creative engagement can intersect with the joy of witnessing transformation and the creative spark in others …
“I love the moment when someone who has, in many ways, been dismissed for their aging abilities notices what the flick of a loaded watercolour brush can do across a piece of wet paper. How their eyes light up. How the brilliant feathered colour reminds them of a particular moment in their lives. How one, simple stroke encourages them to ask, ‘how about another?’ and the play—the creative experimenting—ensues. The creative spark certainly lies within each of us. Sometimes a small gesture, given the space and support to unfold, reminds us of our innate need for (continued) discovery and growth.”
Continued meaningful, layered and transformative experiences come from curiosity, wonder and reflection…
“When seniors can tap into their curiosity about their creative sides and their initial entries into this new terrain are positive, they build confidence in their ability to lean into creative risk taking and can discover previously unearthed expressive vitality. The product created may be layered, rich in meaning and and the process itself nourishing to one’s spirit and overall sense of purpose.”
Charron has actually found elders to be receptive to experiencing new things and “contrary to the popular belief which holds that people get more rigid with age and resist change, older adults… are already in the midst of change” (p. 15) and therefore quite receptive to learning and creative experiences.
“Some of the benefits of Art Therapy that I have seen first hand are an increase in the quality of interactions between residents, including patience, compassion, support and connection; freedom of expression, risk taking in a safe environment (trying new media, developing new skills) and personal growth evidenced by letting go of self-limiting beliefs around creativity, ability, and competence”
The gifts of aging and wisdom can be expressed and shared easily through the arts…
“Ideally we become less conventional as we age because we have less fear about asking questions in order to really know. It’s a case of “tell me more” and seeing problems as bridges to cross, instead of obstacles or barriers. If we ripen safely as we age, we can build on curiosity, compassion and empathy. What better way to experience aging than to pour these gifts into being creative!”
It is imperative to dispel the myths or stereotypes that creativity only belongs in the world of the artist and continue to explore the benefits of a vast array of creative pursuits and active living. Cohen has emphasized that regardless of “gender, race, ethnic heritage, or spiritual view, creativity is universally recognized as a basic human attribute” (p. 13).
“Many of us believe that we are created in the image of the creator. Therefore, creativity is an integral part of our being. It is when we are disconnected from our creativity that we are suffering. We need to be creative in order to thrive, and when we do, we are filled with energy. Being creative necessitates getting out of a static position into activity. No matter what type of creative activity one choses, be it cooking, gardening, playing an instrument or making art, we are not only filled with energy, we are also filled with joy and satisfaction. When we do all that we actually do not have time to “get old”.”
In relation to creativity and active involvement Cohen stated: The importance of understanding creativity in relation to aging is profound, because doing so will not only enable older people to have access to their potential in later life, but it will also challenge younger age groups to think about what is possible in their later years in a different way (pp. 5-6). The source of creativity that is deep within us, and the nurturing and life-affirming benefits of joy and accomplishment emerge when we find new ways to be creative as we age.
“The definition of creativity: the use of the imagination or original ideas, especially in the production of an artistic work. I believe that it is the manifestation of what is in your spirit and necessary to feeling alive. It can be a drawing, a painting, a poem, a book, a garment, a craft, a meal, or a garden. As people age and they can no longer do some of the things they used to do, it is so important to find ways to create. It can help keep their spirit alive. If you can imagine it you can find a way to create it. After you create it, there is a feeling of accomplishment, fulfillment and joy.”
Allen states that the action of creativity itself “constitutes a healing spectrum for the individual to restore an equilibrium between self and psyche” (cited in Kerr, p. 40). Creativity can open many doors to identity and self, exploration, play and active living. Lisa Gignac provides the quote below and shares that creativity is “my door to the "wild self"; as it keeps me from becoming too 'domesticated' as I age - wildly.
“ The doors to the world of the wild Self are few but precious. If you have a deep scar, that is a door, if you have an old, old story, that is a door. If you love the sky and the water so much you almost cannot bear it, that is a door. If you yearn for a deeper life, a full life, a sane life, that is a door.”
〰 A listing of more stories and resources related to aging, creativity art therapy here.
〰 Stories. Storytellers. Makers and Creators. Contributors. • More information and stories about the contributors who provided quotes for this post.
✿ Art Therapy References for this Blog Post.
〰 Betensky, M.G. (1987). Phenomenology of therapeutic art expression and art therapy. In J.A. Rubin (Ed.), Approaches to art therapy: Theory and technique (pp. 149- 166). Brunner/Mazel.
〰 Charron, A. (2001). Art therapy with older adults in long term care facilities. The Canadian Art Therapy Association Journal, 14(2), 15-27.
〰 Cohen, G.D. (2000). The creative age: Awakening human potential in the second half of life. Harper Collins Publishers.
〰 Kerr, C.C. (1999). Viewpoint: The psychosocial significance of creativity in the elderly. Art Therapy:Journal of the American Art Therapy Association, 16(1), 37.
〰 Penny, A. (2007), Connections: Creatively Connecting to Self in Later Life. (Unpublished Booklet). Resource for Older Adults Workshop (c).
〰 Pinkola, X., & Estes, C. (1992). Women who run with the solves - Myths and stories of the wild woman archetype. Ballentine Books.
