photo essay - work in progress

digital collage

(in progress)

This work is meant to celebrate my grandmother aka Amah aka Ellie Hurley. I find myself constantly bombarded by youth-centric ideas and images, leaving our elderly in a forgotten place pushed to the back of our minds. I'm not blaming anyone, because honestly I forget about my Amah way too much. It's especially easy to set relationships on the back burner if a person isn't around. But lately I've been trying to get back in touch with my Amah and art has really been helping. She's been the focus of a number of my works this year...giving me a chance to call her and talk to her a lot more frequently.

Ellie is not living in a nursing home. She sings, she tells jokes, she acts. She's an active member of The Rusty Musicians, a band of fellow senior citizens who perform a few times a month. This broadway/playbill-style poster is just meant to capture her innate spirit and enthusiasm for life. I really hope I can be as amazing as she is in fifty years.

We all need to be a little more in touch with our grandparents. They have lived long and full lives, with plenty to share. You just have to ask.