Public Project
"Respecting My Elders"
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"Respecting My Elders"
Location: Sherman, Connecticut, US
Nationality: American
Focus:
Photographer, Still Life, Fine Art, Documentary, Photography, Artist
Covering:
USA & Canada
Skills:
Research, Book Layout/Design, Photo Editing, Black & White Printing
School:
Pratt Institute,
SUNY Stony Brook
Hunter College High School
Respecting My Elders: Age and the Creative Spirit is a collection of color portraits of creative persons over the age of eighty, photographed in their home and studios. They are the artists and intellectuals of my parents’ generation, whose wisdom and insight are important to our nation. Known as “The Greatest Generationâ€, and coming of age between the two World Wars, the effect of their contributions upon future generations is evident in their cultural legacies. These include books, poems, paintings, photographs, plays and performances, as well as important breakthroughs in education, philanthropy and the sciences. As these persons enter the last phase of long and productive lives, I believe they deserve to be celebrated. My photographs are meant to capture their spirit and beauty, and to inspire admiration by future generations.Â
These photographs were made between 2009 and 2012. Of the people pictured here, more than half have passed away since we met.This is the downside of such a project, but the upside of remembrance.
All photographs © Ellen Wallenstein, "Respecting My Elders".
Hover your mouse over the images to see the captions (titles, dates and quotes) below each portrait.
1 of 31
© 2024 Ellen Wallenstein
Edward Albee, Playwright
1928 - 2016
"What could be worse than getting to the end of your life and realizing you hadn't lived it?....."Be useful, be useful. Do something that matters with your life."
1928 - 2016
"What could be worse than getting to the end of your life and realizing you hadn't lived it?....."Be useful, be useful. Do something that matters with your life."
2 of 31
© 2024 Ellen Wallenstein
Will Barnet, Painter
1911- 2012
"Painting is almost like a religious experience, which should go on and on. Age just gives you the freedom to do some things you've never done before. Great work can come at any stage of your life."
1911- 2012
"Painting is almost like a religious experience, which should go on and on. Age just gives you the freedom to do some things you've never done before. Great work can come at any stage of your life."
3 of 31
© 2024 Ellen Wallenstein
Joan Copeland, Actor
1922 -
“Accomplishment is different today. They don't know what it takes to be a star. You have to earn being a star. Wanting to be an actor takes hard work, dedication and suffering. You have to be willing to march down that road.â€
1922 -
“Accomplishment is different today. They don't know what it takes to be a star. You have to earn being a star. Wanting to be an actor takes hard work, dedication and suffering. You have to be willing to march down that road.â€
4 of 31
© 2024 Ellen Wallenstein
Professor Irwin Corey, Comedian & Activist
1914 - 2017
1914 - 2017
"With the beginning of a great & compassionate love, comes the growth of one's heart, and with that, a profound inner change. The way to opening the mind is often first through the heart. And once is the mind & heart are open, so many things become possible."
5 of 31
© 2024 Ellen Wallenstein
Arthur C. Danto, Philosopher & Art Critic
1924 - 2013
1924 - 2013
“Reality is the photographers’s greatest collaborator.â€Â
“Creativity should lead to work that others are interested in.â€
6 of 31
© 2024 Ellen Wallenstein
Lois Dodd, Painter
1927 -
"Be stubborn and follow your own voice."
1927 -
"Be stubborn and follow your own voice."
7 of 31
© 2024 Ellen Wallenstein
Milton Glaser, Designer
1929 -
1929 -
“…. I think what I feel fortunate about is that I am still astonished, that things still amaze me, and I think that’s the great benefit of being in the Arts, where the possibility for learning never disappearsâ€.
8 of 31
© 2024 Ellen Wallenstein
Francine duPlessix Gray, Writer
1930 -
1930 -
"We write out of revenge against reality, to dream and enter the lives of others"
9 of 31
© 2024 Ellen Wallenstein
Ruth Gruber, Photographer, Journalist, WWII Hero
1911 - 2016
Advice:Â "Never retire.....Let no obstacles stop you."
1911 - 2016
Advice:Â "Never retire.....Let no obstacles stop you."
10 of 31
© 2024 Ellen Wallenstein
A.R. Gurney, Playwright
1930 -
"The older I get the more fascinated I become with my craft and with the crafts of the directors, designers ad actors with whom I collaborate."
1930 -
"The older I get the more fascinated I become with my craft and with the crafts of the directors, designers ad actors with whom I collaborate."
11 of 31
© 2024 Ellen Wallenstein
Richard Howard, Poet, Teacher & Translator
1929 -
"...after 65, next year
is now. Hours? there are
none, only a few
reckless postponements
before it is time...."
(from "At 65")
1929 -
"...after 65, next year
is now. Hours? there are
none, only a few
reckless postponements
before it is time...."
(from "At 65")
12 of 31
© 2024 Ellen Wallenstein
James Earl Jones, Actor
1931 -
Â
1931 -
Â
“ Never put the “next†down on paper. That is like predicting the future and that is how I miss out on “Now†And “Now†is too difficult to explain.â€
“Heed the words of the poet Carl Sandburg: “Take no advice- including this!†Which I guess means - even that’s not perfect advice, but it’s a good place to start.â€
13 of 31
© 2024 Ellen Wallenstein
Wolf Kahn, Painter
1927 -
1927 -
What are you working on now? “Painting landscapes more feely than before.
How does one stay creative all one’s life? “A little bit of being frightened helps.â€
 Do you have a specific philosophy? "1. I just work here. 2. Just follow the brush. 3. Try not to constantly judge one’s work.â€
14 of 31
© 2024 Ellen Wallenstein
Bel Kaufman, Writer
1911 - 2014
1911 - 2014
"Words of wisdom? Words of common sense. Provided you are healthy (a huge proviso) you can have a long and interesting old age. The problems and insecurities of youth are in the past, children are grown and on their own, this is the time to do not what you always had to do but what you want to do. You can be creative, productive, helpful, even inspiring or simply content to be privileged to live in a world which is changing every day."
15 of 31
© 2024 Ellen Wallenstein
Rebecca Lepkoff, Photographer
1916 - 2014
1916 - 2014
"Keep your passion alive., alert and imaginative. Work at it. Also involve your body. Keep your body moving….. Avoid trends. Think for yourself. ….Think of a project that you would like to concentrate on, and spend time developing it. Time passes. Will it be of interest 49 years from now?"
16 of 31
© 2024 Ellen Wallenstein
Romulus Linney, Playwright & Novelist
1930 - 2011
1930 - 2011
"... We know what we meant to come about, and we measure it against the way it did come out finally, over the years, and yes, we want the truth about that difference, ignorant though we might be.†(from “Heathen Valleyâ€)
17 of 31
© 2024 Ellen Wallenstein
Murray Louis, Choreographer
1926 - 2016
1926 - 2016
"The practice of art is so intensely subjective, so personal, so seemingly private, it is inevitable that eventually eveyrone gets caught in their own sticky web of definitions. Still one must persist.â€
18 of 31
© 2024 Ellen Wallenstein
Judith Malina, Actor & Activist
1926 - 2015
1926 - 2015
“Tremble. Your life is a rehearsal for the moment you are in now.â€
19 of 31
© 2024 Ellen Wallenstein
Albert Maysles, Filmmaker
1926 - 2015
1926 - 2015
"As a documentarian I happily place my fate and faith in reality. It is my caretaker, the provider of subjects, themes, experiences – all endowed with the power of truth and the romance of discovery. And the closer I adhere to reality the more honest and authentic my tales. After all, the knowledge of the real world is exactly what we need to better understand and therefore possibly to love one another. It’s my way of making the world a better place."
20 of 31
© 2024 Ellen Wallenstein
Philip Pearlstein, Painter
1924 -Â
1924 -Â
"Look slowly and hard at something subtle and small."
21 of 31
© 2024 Ellen Wallenstein
Ned Rorem, Composer
1923 -Â
1923 -Â
“…Art does not change us- does not make us better persons. Art intensifies, makes us more of what we already are, shows us what we did not know we knew. Art is not real life but a concentration of life.â€
Advice: "Keep working everyday."Â
22 of 31
© 2024 Ellen Wallenstein
Editta Sherman, Photographer
1912 - 2013
"I tried to improve my work each day, read books and photography magazines to become more proficient in my work. I have always been curious and interested in what's going on in the world. I enjoy conversing with other people who are creative also".
1912 - 2013
"I tried to improve my work each day, read books and photography magazines to become more proficient in my work. I have always been curious and interested in what's going on in the world. I enjoy conversing with other people who are creative also".
23 of 31
© 2024 Ellen Wallenstein
Sylvia Sleigh, Painter
1916 - 2010
1916 - 2010
“…if you set women against each other then you’re going to be able to dominate them much more than if they’re together. You see our strength now is to love one another and appreciate one another and defend one another.â€
24 of 31
© 2024 Ellen Wallenstein
Rosalind Solomon, Photographer
1930 -
1930 -
"…As long as I have eyes, ears, hands feet and sanity, I will improvise and keep moving. I advise young artists to do the same. This is a matter of essence, not age.â€
25 of 31
© 2024 Ellen Wallenstein
Dr.  Billy Taylor, Musician, Composer, Educator
1921 - 2010
1921 - 2010
“Jazz is a democratic process.â€
26 of 31
© 2024 Ellen Wallenstein
George Tscherny, Designer
1924 -
1924 -
"The challenge is to filter out the trivia, banality and kitsch that engulfs us, while remaining connected and stimulated…Find what others overlooked."
“Have the courage to take risks.â€
27 of 31
© 2024 Ellen Wallenstein
David Vestal, Photographer & Educator
1924 - 2013
1924 - 2013
"I photograph, I work, I teach, edit, live, waste time and so on, exactly as I please, and suggest you do the same. "
28 of 31
© 2024 Ellen Wallenstein
Jeanyee Wong, Calligrapher
1920 - 2017
1920 - 2017
"If you love what you do you get better at it."
“It’s good to hope but don’t waste your time worrying about something that you can’t do anything about.â€
“I don’t know what the next phase of my life will be like. I’m not worried. I accept what comes nextâ€.
29 of 31
© 2024 Ellen Wallenstein
Eva Zeisel, Industrial Designer
1906 - 2011
1906 - 2011
“I don’t create angular things. I’m a more circular person- it’s more my character…even the air between my hands is round.â€
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