Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald preferred to write in journals at their neighborhood cafes; today neighborhood coffee shops are packed with writers staring at their laptops. Are you more comfortable writing in a quiet atmosphere or in one that’s full of activity? Click here to read an interesting article in The Atlantic about why we often prefer a little distraction when we’re working.
Karolyn Merson has lived at Burbank Senior Artists Colony for four years. She moved to Los Angeles in 1945 from Philadelphia, PA, and, with her husband, raised two children.
Karolyn was inspired to take up art by her husband, who was a painter. She started making pastel portraits using live models as her subjects, but then discovered collage. “I fell in love with the creativity of it,” she says. In fact, learning that a collage class was offered at BSAC was “what clinched it” for Karolyn and prompted her to move in.
Karolyn also writes poetry, a hobby she began to enjoy in 1948 but didn’t really pursue until moving to BSAC. “It’s interesting to have fun with words,” she observes. Her experience living at BSAC inspired the following poem:
“Last Stop – Downtown Burbank”
Across the bridge, up the hill,
turn right – once a jumping off place
for Johnny Carson. Watch for sign on
corner – Burbank Senior Artists Colony.
With trembling heart Big City Lady
opens door to a new way of life – a
colony of disparate people, all colors,
ages, backgrounds and religions – our own
United Nations.
New talkers, new walkers – anyone I know?
A community unto itself. We learn to
get along and enjoy each others talents.
We engage
We tell our stories
We leave
We grieve
We go in and out of a revolving door.
8/1/09
Karolyn also writes haiku, usually using the traditional format of five syllables, then seven, then five. Here are two favorites:
I tremble, I shake
Not one phone call all day long,
I need my fix now.
I slink into sleep,
Await the dream images,
Then snore through the show.
Her one-line “Zen-sational Observations” are shorter than haiku, but equally charming. Here are three:
Huge man, tiny dog, love each other.
I am in a whirl of my own.
Barking birds, take your trouble elsewhere.
Karolyn Merson is a perfect example of the kind of creative resident who enjoys life at Burbank Senior Artists Colony! Take a look at some of her artwork below:
If you’d like to be a Featured Artist on our website, please e-mail blog at engagedaging dot org for guidelines on how to submit your work!
The Long Beach Senior Arts Colony, a 200-unit, transit-oriented residential community designed for active seniors began construction on April 21 with a groundbreaking ceremony attended by several EngAGE staff members; representatives from the builders, Long Beach Housing Development Company, Meta Housing Corporation and Century Housing Corporation; the management company, Western Seniors Housing; and local government, including Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster. More information and pictures are available on Mayor Bob Foster’s blog and in an article in the Long Beach Post.
Click here
to read Tim’s latest column on the Huffington Post website, “Creative Aging: Finding Penelope.” It’s a story about an ambitious theater project and an actress who made her stage debut at the age of 81!
What an inspiration! Marge Champion at age 91 is still lovely and lively!
Watch a four-minute video interview here.
Tune in to Experience Talks, our “Radio Magazine for the Experienced Listener,” Saturdays at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time on KPFK 90.7 FM Los Angeles, 98.7 FM Santa Barbara, streaming live online and now syndicated on up to 100 Pacifica Network stations!
Featured this week: George Duke
Join host Bobbee Zeno for a candid conversation with multi-talented musical stylist, Grammy winner and hits-maker George Duke. Their conversation will span four decades of Mr. Duke’s exciting collaborations with artists such as Al Jarreau, Jean-Luc Ponty, Frank Zappa, Cannonball Adderley, Quincy Jones, Miles Davis, Billy Cobham and Stanley Clark. A rare conversation that you won’t want to miss!
For more information: http://georgeduke.com
For the recent national celebration of Arts Advocacy Day earlier this month, actor Alec Baldwin spoke about the value of the arts to society in this 7:35 minute video. Worth a listen! More about Arts Advocacy Day here.
