“Joy is an act of defiance and hope.” – ETProjects.Foundation 

A message of hope, unity, resilience, beauty and responsibly voiced by retirees at the height of the Covid experience.  ET Projects created this immersive artwork in collaboration with Mt. San Antonio Gardens in Pomona, CA, reminds us of what is possible, together. (Video Trailer)

Staged in and by residents, the participants created a ‘kaleidoscopic-rose window’ with aerial photography. The participants moved in tandem under colorful umbrellas throughout several venues on their campus. Best described by Lisa Fung in her article for the New York Times.

“In play we can SEE each other again” -a masked participant.

The layers of the project tell stories of resilience and ultimately, the belief that one can “LOOK UP” and see through today into a more optimistic tomorrow. The umbrellas (“props”) are printed with Turk’s brightly colored drawings (visit ArtStar for image purchases) of plants which have unique histories of survival; gingko, lodgepole pine, poppies, etc. The geometry of the different venues allowed residents to physically distance and informed the movement within each composition.

Under the umbrellas are older adults who, while their professional work may be complete, have much wisdom to share. The act of participating in this experience allowed for this community to be a voice of hope to each other and the world. Capturing both intimate moments and spectacular aerial footage of the group en masse gave the participants a platform to create a beautiful message larger than themselves. The ripples of their optimism are just beginning, please visit the foundation’s website for more information.

Press Links:

Lisa Fung, Elders and an Artist Bring a Social Sculpture to Life, New York Times

Rabbi Patricia Karlin Neumann, Senior Associate Dean for Religious & Spiritual Life Stanford University, “Look Up!”

Charles T. Kerchner, Meditations on Meditation, An Invitation to Dance, “Look Up” A Story of Seniors and Resilience