DETROIT — Master storyteller and lifelong Detroiter Ivory Williams kicks-off Wayne State's 14th Art of Aging Successfully conference spotlighting 60 local artists and offering six interactive workshops on “made in Michigan” products. About 500 seniors are registered for the event from 9 am – 1:30 pm on March 21 at Greater Grace Conference Center in Detroit.

Presented by the Institute of Gerontology (IOG) at Wayne State University, the Art of Aging Successfully pays tribute to the power of creativity. “For many older adults, art is the perfect form of self-expression, a way to rediscover their voice,” said IOG Outreach Director Donna MacDonald. “We bring hundreds of vibrant and engaged seniors together who write, paint, photograph, sculpt, dance, sew and play music. They make retirement a time to shine.”

This year’s keynote speaker is celebrated storyteller and humorist Ivory Williams, who shares his wit, wisdom and secrets for converting lives into legacies. Workshops include:

• Motown Review – Motown Museum’s curator share Motown’s history accented by musical gems.
• Munching in Michigan – Chef Paul Penney cooks healthy with pure Michigan grown produce.
• Michigan in Motion – Dancing, muscle-building and stretching to boost energy and improve mood.
• Thanks for the Memories – Tips from an Institute of Gerontology brain researchers on how to remember your neighbor’s name, the grocery list and your niece’s birthday.
• The display gallery of original art projects. Hear how the artists discover new forms of self-expression as they age and enhance their lives with their creations.

Artists hail from South Lyon, Dearborn, Detroit, Southfield, Carlton, Lathrup Village, Farmington Hills, Novi, West Bloomfield, and other key suburbs. Art is high quality and includes jewelry, clay, oil paintings, quilting, calligraphy, watercolors, memoirs, poems and music. Artists range in age from 55 to 89 years old and include a master quilter who is legally blind, and a former commercial artist who re-learned how to paint with his left hand after a massive stroke paralyzed his right side. 

Call Cheryl Deep to arrange an advance interview with an artist from a specific suburb.

The Institute of Gerontology researches the aging process, educates students in gerontology, and presents programs on aging issues relevant to professionals, caregivers and older adults in the community (www.iog.wayne.edu). The Institute is part of the Division of Research at Wayne State University, one of the nation’s preeminent public research institutions in an urban setting. For more information about research at Wayne State University, visit http://www.research.wayne.edu.