UNTOLD STORIES OF AGING REVEALED AND TRAVELED

with Spotlight Artist Peggy Hilpman

Untold Stories of Aging Revealed and Traveled (USART) was an Art-based Research Presentation at Lawrence Public Library. This exhibit features four different groups of art by an intergenerational group of artists, some who participated in art workshops together at Arbor Courts, Cedarhurst or Pioneer Ridge Retirement communities. Individual artworks are shown from the original Untold Stories of Aging online exhibit, which may transform perceptions of aging by placing older adults in the spotlight. Art by KU art education students and one student of architecture who worked with older adults, will shows artworks generated by working intergenerationally. More Elizabeth Layton art has been added and to round out the exhibit, we are excited to be hosting an inaugural exhibit for Peggy Hiltman, a Lawrence artist, who discovered painting in her 70’s.

USART is an exhibition with three sections: 1.) selected artworks from the Untold Stories of Aging online exhibit, which were part of the USART initiative taken to three retirement communities in Lawrence: Arbor Courts, Cedarhurst and Pioneer Ridge Retirement; 2.) participatory collaborative artworks created by the 30-plus participants; 3.) artwork by the four undergraduate art and architecture students who helped facilitate the research.

Additionally, Northlight Gallery is excited to spotlight the paintings of Peggy Hilpman to highlight that
creativity is not age limited. Peggy was a songwriter and musician in the Flint Hills before she became mother to 5 children (4 boys!). Now she has found a new muse in experimental painting in acrylics. Inspired by her youth in the Flint Hills, Hilpman finds the images that in her youth inspired her songwriting, today fill her canvases. Exhibiting these works and getting your applause and feedback is an exciting new page for her.
We think this visibility is essential in breaking down ageist assumptions and celebrating the contributions
of older adults in our communities.

The North Light Gallery at UUCL, which is located in the historic Founder’s Hall, hosts art exhibitions by local and regional artists and groups will rotate on a monthly or bi-monthly basis. The gallery is open every Sunday morning from 9:30 until 12:30 and by appointment. For information on exhibiting please check out our Exhibition Guidelines and apply using this link.