GALLERY 5 | 2024 EXHIBITION
Aging Well For All
Celebrating Our Colors and Diversity
The NCOA Gallery is pleased to present the new photography series Aging Well for All—Celebrating Our Colors and Diversity. The National Council on Aging (NCOA) is committed to ensuring that all older adults—regardless of race or ethnicity—have access to the resources they need to age with health and financial security. As part of this effort, NCOA is organizing a photo contest to showcase the wide diversity found among older adults ages 60 and over living in the United States. The contest invites photographers to share images of older adults of varying backgrounds celebrating their unique family culture, engaging in their communities, and living their own experience of aging well in America.
“We have become not a melting pot but a beautiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, and different dreams.” —President Jimmy Carter
The exhibition presents many distinguished photographers who celebrate and embrace diversity older adults to age well at home and in their community. The exhibition includes the top 20 awarded photos and hundreds of empower images of older adults in different background.
“Diversity is not about how we differ. Diversity is about embracing one another’s uniqueness.” —Author Ola Joseph.
2024 PEOPLE'S CHOICE—PUBLIC VOTE AWARD
You are welcome to rate your favorite photos for the Public Choice Award. The Voting System will open on May 8th until May 30th. The photo that receives the highest number of votes will be the winner of the Public Choice Award.
PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST HIGHLIGHT
Download PDF Catalog
Photos featured in this gallery are for exclusive use by the National Council on Aging. Visitors requesting to download any featured image must contact the artist directly to gain usage permission.
NCOA AGE+ACTION
"American Born" captures the essence of rebirth and new beginnings, symbolized by the American lotus. This image is part of my latest work "A Dance of Farewell and Rekindling," where I explore the intricate emotions surrounding loss, transformation, and resilience after the passing of my beloved husband. In this particular image, the lotus flower emerges from the depths of the water, representing the journey from darkness to light, from grief to renewal. Just as the lotus rises above the muddy waters to blossom into a beautiful flower, so too we find the strength to rise from the depths of despair and embrace the beauty of life once again. Through "American Born," I seek to convey the message of hope and resilience, reminding viewers that even in the darkest moments, there is the potential for growth and transformation. This image serves as a poignant reminder that new beginnings are always possible, even amidst the pain of loss. I hope that "American Born" inspires others to find solace and strength in their own journeys of healing and renewal.
@ AngieKeller.com
The Day of the Dead is a Latino holiday that is meant for everyone to enjoy. Despite its name, it is day that celebrates life with dance, music, color and an explosive sense of fun. These two women have known each other for over twenty years. And every year they create costumes and makeup that make the day come alive. And the night. Joining friends and family to celebrate the joy of living.
Born in 1943 in Gansu, China, Hongtu Zhang is an internationally-exhibited artist now based in New York. Zhang entered the Central Academy of Arts and Crafts in Beijing in 1964 and graduated in 1969, but due to unrest during the Cultural Revolution, remained at the school until 1973. In 1980 he went to the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, Gansu Province, to study wall paintings, which left a lasting influence on his art practice. He moved to New York in 1982 and received the painting prize from the Pollock-Krasner Foundation in 1991. This portrait image is from ongoing series, Chinese in New York. When I moved from my native China to New York City in 2016 to pursue my master’s degree, I felt much more aware of my cultural identity. I also learned more about America’s historical stereotypes of Chinese immigrants, who were subject to both individual mistreatment and governmental oppression. The continuing, often stereotypical perception of Chinese Americans as low-level workers persists to this day and is what my project Chinese in New York attempts to dispel. The project does this through environmental portraiture of Chinese and Chinese-American professionals—scholars, teachers, and artists—living and working in New York City.
A Singular Hallelujah Virginia’s hair glistens when she stands up, and the light from the nearby church window shines through her silver curls. It’s her personal halo. Older Americans often attended services regularly and find deep comfort in their long-held beliefs.
Vinny and the Chaplain Sharing a moment with the Cambridge MA Police Chaplain Larry Kim is Wing “Vinny” Wong. Vinny is an Army Veteran who was recently honored with two prestigious medals - for his active-duty service in Germany and for serving during armed conflict. In his mid-90s now, Vinny is warmly welcomed and has a place of honor whenever he attends local veteran’s events.
The photograph of the "Racing Grandma" was taken on one of our walks with our grandson, Sam. Spending time with him and investing in his future brings us joy.
I seek to earn pictures, not to take them.
Arina and I have been best friends for 50 years - since we were preschool teachers in Oakland, CA - performing puppet shows and then sharing many milestones as our careers evolved. I met Sandy soon after they began to date and took photos at their wedding reception. Storytelling was our currency and we attended and even assisted each other in many different ventures and projects over the decades.
In October 2023, Arina and Sandy were gifted a townhouse for a month on Portugal’s southwest coast. My partner Sally and I joined them for a few days of deep dialogue, delicious seafood, relaxation, and laughter.
The lines etched into their faces bespeak life’s highs and lows. Of course as septuagenarians, their bodies contend with challenges. But their smiles sing out that life is as sweet and melodious as ever. What I like most about this photo is the intermingling of hair and the angle of Sandy’s face pressed against Arina’s forehead. The connection between them is visceral with new discoveries and deeper levels still unfolding during these precious years.
Jerry and his horse Rocker “the Rocking Horse” participate in the 33rd Annual High Noon Ride in Chicago, Illinois. This is a reunion of Chicago’s “Black Cowboys” organized by the Broken Arrow Riding Club. Around 40 cowboys and cowgirls brought their horses to Washington Park on the city’s South Side for a 21-block group ride to the Lakefront and back before returning for an afternoon of food, music, and fun.
Jerry has been riding a horse since he was four years old, and being a part of Chicago’s Black Cowboys is to help keep a forgotten history and tradition going back generations alive. The hope is to get the next generation of children interested in cowboy culture, and engaging with the horses with the hope that someday they will be the ones that take over and keep the tradition alive. Jerry represents a living piece of history that was not commonly written into the larger narrative.
I have been photographing my large, blended family for almost 20 years. One of the recurring themes, especially in my more recent cycle of work, has been exploring gender through both staged and candid imagery: gender roles and expectations, the kids exploring and stepping into their gender expression at different ages, where queerness has shown up and how it has been received, and finally, the types of bonds formed between the women and men in the family. This photograph is part of a diptych; it was created spontaneously at a summer gathering, and the other image in the pair depicts the men in the family. I feel honored to have been able to document this sprawling, yet close-knit group of people over multiple decades, and look forward to continuing to do so in the decades to come.
I was at an art gallery that was doing an event to raise money to protect the rights of drag performers. These two performers were among the warmest, friendliest, and honest people I have ever met. They talked about all the years they’ve been doing this and how now their rights to just perform and do what they love to do is being threatened. They stepped out of the gallery, into the street and sang their hearts out with joy, hoped and wonderfully positive attitude about the future.
A Flag and a Memory 2023 marked the beginning of a new tradition – separating Decoration Day from the Memorial Day Weekend. Placing flags on the graves of the fallen has historically been an important part of the Decoration Day Ceremonies. Sponsored by the Cambridge Veterans’ Services Department, the community turns out to show appreciation, respect and to honor the soldiers and their families. Groups from the local Boy Scouts to non-profits to politicians to seniors help with the flag placing. When the project is completed, hundreds of flags beautifully decorate the cemetery for the Memorial Day weekend visitors.
This is Mrs. Missouri Little. An amazingly spry woman who is sharp as a tack. Her daughter, whom she lives with wanted to celebrate her 90th birthday. She also didn't have any recently taken photographs of her. It was in July and we live along the east coast of VA, in the city of Hampton. Hampton is located on a peninsula so there is plenty of water everywhere. We decided to go to one of the local parks with its wooded areas and lakes. Ms Missouri insisted on walking out onto the pier which would slightly bob up and down when the wind blew. I was so nervous for her (no railing to grab onto) but it didn't seem to phase her. In July, it is pretty hot and humid so a breeze is always welcomed. And we got just that. The breeze across the lake lifted her beautifully flowing gray hair behind her. She enjoyed that moment so much and I snapped a photo of her. It was a great afternoon and I was able to get many fun photos of Mrs. Missouri Little.
Photographing the elderly on the streets of New York City serves as a nuanced exploration into the aesthetics of aging, juxtaposing the city's relentless dynamism with the quiet dignity of its oldest inhabitants. This endeavor seeks not merely to document, but to elevate the visibility of a demographic often overlooked, rendering their presence in a context that emphasizes the complexity and texture of their experiences. Through a careful composition of light, shadow, and urban backdrop, each photograph aims to capture a fragment of the city's living history, highlighting the elegance and gravitas that come with age. This project is a testament to the enduring human spirit, showcasing the beauty found in the layers of stories and wisdom accrued over the years, inviting a deeper contemplation on the nature of beauty and resilience in the urban tapestry.
Dave McMurray is a local (Detroit) jazz legend. As a musician, composer and producer he has played on albums for many classic rock and blues acts, from The Rolling Stones to Bob Dylan. What I love about jazz music is it's improvisation form of expression. Which is a perfect fit for my style of tightly cropped, close-up photography as jazz musicians are typically very expressive.
An image of two Hasidic Jews of the Satmar sect in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY. This was shot on June 5, 2022. It was the second day of Shavuot, a Jewish observance. The word Shavuot means "weeks" and marks the end of the Counting of the Omer. The Torah mandates that the seven-week Counting of the Omer, which begins on the second day of Passover, be immediately followed by Shavuot.
Isabel, my abuela, adopted Phina as a young girl into our family. She now has a husband and two kids. Many know her as a teacher, immigrant, or mother of three, but I know her as Abuela. “Sana, Sana” is a series about my grandmother, Isabel. “Sana, Sana”, meaning heal, heal in Spanish, was a nursery rhyme my grandmother used to say to me whenever I was hurt as a little kid. Even though she practically raised me as a child, creating this project with her made me realize a lot more about her than I knew going into it. Lately, she talks a lot about the struggles of getting older and having to let go of some of the activities that were once easy for her. Arthritis, hip surgery, and just getting older are starting to take a toll on her. As I help her through simple life tasks by helping her stand up from a chair or get groceries, I feel as though the roles are reversed and now I am saying “sana, sana” to her. Her humor and positive outlook on life is something that shines through these images, and it’s also a trait I strive to have throughout the tougher years of my life. As I mix portrait and documentary photography with her handwriting, I hope for others to enjoy the simple pockets of her life just as much as I do. At the end of this series, I hope that others can see the beauty in her life that she sometimes doesn’t see.
Cardplayers in Portsmouth Square in the Chinatown district of San Francisco.
"Seniors in Motion" is a fitness program in Detroit, Michigan geared toward improving the overall functional fitness and well-being of primarily older adults. I caught this moment of the group dancing during "Senior Friendship Day" at the Aretha Franklin Amphitheater. We love our seniors here in Detroit. There's many programs in the city that offer resources to our beloved elders. You are never too old to get active and have fun!
