Hosted by Missouri State University’s gerontology program, the 27th annual Senior Art Exhibition will run from March 6-April 3 at the Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts.

Guests can view the selected pieces from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. March 6-April 3 on the fourth and fifth floors of Hammons Hall. The event is free and open to all.

Mark your calendar for the Senior Art Exhibition

The juried fine arts exhibition allows visual artists aged 60 or older to submit two original entries completed in the last three years, framed and prepared for hanging. Artists also have opportunities to sell their artwork.

The exhibition is co-sponsored by Jean and Jerry Sanders, Studio 55 Arts Guild, Robert (Butch) Purvis from Corebridge Financial Services and Copy This.

Founded in 1996 by Dr. Bradley Fisher, faculty emeritus and former gerontology program coordinator at MSU, this Senior Art Exhibition creates opportunities for older adults to be seen and heard.

“It’s a stereotype that old age causes irrelevance, inactivity, uninventiveness and the inability to try new things. This exhibition is our contribution to celebrating creativity in later life and giving seniors a medium to showcase their art,” Fisher said.

Planning the exhibition demands a high level of commitment and creativity from everyone involved, according to Dr. Lisa Hall, professor and gerontology program coordinator,

“Dr. Fisher has been planning this exhibition since September, artists could have been working on a piece for months or even years before they submit it and students who volunteer dedicate themselves throughout the duration of the program,” Hall said.

Submission guidelines and protocols

Submissions can be two- or three-dimensional and crafted of any medium or any combination of media.

Submissions should be hand-delivered to the Fuldner Lounge at Hammons Hall between 1-3 p.m. March 4. A $5 non-refundable fee is required for each piece entered.

Submissions will be evaluated by three jurors and some pieces will be selected for exhibition.

Cash award prizes are as follows:

• The Best of Show – $100
• Sanders Memorial Award – $100
• Juror’s Choice Award – $50
• Three-Dimensional Award – $50
• Fabric Art Award – $50
• Photography Award – $50

A reception to honor the artists will be held at 6:30 p.m. March 7 on the fifth floor of Hammons Hall.

Valuable intergenerational learning opportunities

Fisher encourages artists whose works are not chosen for exhibition to ask for feedback. They are then referred to Studio 55 Arts Guild.

“I remind them it’s a competitive show, so they shouldn’t get discouraged. Then, I refer them to the guild because the guild, which was established after the first exhibition, was built around the idea of encouraging people to keep improving, no matter their level,” Fisher said.

He added it also provides valuable learning opportunities for students.

“Sometimes during the planning process, volunteers get reminded to never think they’re too old to do something creative,” Fisher explained. “It’s my desire that soon we’ll be able to bring high school students in buses to see what creativity in later life looks like and to promote intergenerational socialization.”

Fisher added that the exhibition is a creative expression of MSU’s public affairs mission, because “it gives young adults the opportunity to socialize with older adults, promoting community engagement.”

Student volunteers welcome artists to the reception, direct them to the upper floors and invite them to enjoy the food. During the reception, students have the chance to interact with the artists and ask questions.

“We want to encourage intergenerational interaction, and student participation gives room for this. Fourteen students have volunteered to be a part of the exhibition this year,” Hall said.

Commitment to an age-friendly university

Hall teaches Mental Health and Aging (GER/PSY 370) and Social Forces and Aging (GER/SOC 375). She said she uses this event as an experiential learning opportunity for students to understand the Age-Friendly University initiative.

“One of the goals of the Age-Friendly University initiative is to encourage the participation of older adults in all core activities of the university as well as teach our students how this can be done,” Hall explained. “To do this, I give my students some prompts ahead of time and assign articles to read so that after the exhibition, they can write a reflection paper.”

According to Hall, many student volunteer reflection papers show that they were inspired by the conversations they had with the older adults during the event and valued the experience.

MSU joined the Age-Friendly University (AFU) Global Network in 2021. According to the organization’s website, AFU is a network of higher education institutions around the globe committed to making their programs and policies more accessible and inclusive for aging populations.

By hosting the Senior Art Exhibition and involving students, the gerontology program addresses these specific Age-Friendly University principles:

• Encourage the participation of older adults in all the core activities of the university, including educational and research programs.
• Promote personal and career development in the second half of life and to support those who wish to pursue “second careers.”
• Promote intergenerational learning to facilitate the reciprocal sharing of expertise between learners of all ages.
• Increase the understanding of students of the longevity dividend and the increasing complexity and richness that aging brings to our society.
• Enhance access for older adults to the university’s range of health and wellness programs and its arts and cultural activities.

Explore degree options in gerontology

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News written by Damilola R. Oyedeji, edited by Reynolds College Communications Team. Photos provided by Lisa Hall.