“The Art of Aging: Celebrating the Authentic Aging Self”
“The Art of Aging” is more than a book of art; it is a celebration of all that is beautiful about the aging process. Alice Matzkin (painter) and Richard Matzkin (sculptor) have produced an impressive, inspirational and touching body of work, “The Art of Aging: Celebrating the Authentic Aging Self” (Sentient Publications, June 2009). The book is illustrated with 80 color plates and contains the Matzkin’s personal reflections on acceptance of the physical changes of age, sensuality and relationships, aging parents, spirituality and death. A highly respected artist, with two paintings in the permanent collection of the National Portrait Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution, Alice Matzkin recently commented, “We count our present age (late 60’s) to be among the best of our lives. Our art work and the writing of our book has helped to give us a wider perspective, a deeper understanding of the meaning of our lives, and an appreciation of the preciousness of now.” The Matzkin’s work can be viewed at http://www.matzkinstudio.com or the book trailer on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/
About Richard and Alice Matzkin
Visual artists, Alice and Richard Matzkin grew afraid as they entered middle age and began experiencing wrinkles, grey hair and expanding waistlines. Instead of a psychiatrist couch, they used paint and clay to work through their fear and negative attitudes about aging. For fifteen years Alice painted and interviewed inspiring older women (including famous subjects like Beatrice Wood) while Richard sculpted older men and couples. Many of their most profound works are nudes demonstrating the grace, endurance and fascination of a person’s life.
An artist for the majority of her life, Alice Matzkin has had a significant career with portraits hung in the White House, in national magazines and as previously mentioned two paintings in the permanent collection of the National Portrait Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution. A video about her work was shown at the United Nations and her “Women of Age” series was featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show.
Richard Matzkin is a multi-talented sculptor, musician and therapist. He was key artist in a monumental equestrian piece displayed in a train station in Ventura County, California, and he has had numerous one-man shows. His sculptures are in collections throughout the United States and one of his sculptures appears in an art/inspirational book, “The Great Age,” (UNESCO publication)
YouTube Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/
Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/
