WEAAD Virtual Art Gallery
This World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD), the Committee is promoting the Roadmap’s priority of Education in The Road to Elder Justice - WEAAD Virtual Art Gallery. This virtual art gallery invited people to create and submit art that provides an artistic representation of the aging process with one or all of the following themes: equality and justice, respect, empowerment, connections, engagement, community, healing, hope and happiness. This gallery not only celebrates the Roadmap’s progress, but it also promotes public awareness of how building supportive communities as we age and combating ageism (cultural biases against aging) can be a tool in preventing and addressing elder abuse. We are no longer accepting submissions to this gallery

Sunday Morning
by Charles William
Artist: Charles William
This 40" x 30" painting shows a generational connection and teachable moment between a great grandfather and his great grandson.
http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/charles-williams.html

Grandma is 102 years old and lives independently in a senior housing complex in New York, New York. She is well connected to her community, and attends many social outings. Through her dedicated supportive network, consisting of children and grandchildren situated out of state, a devoted social worker, lifelong friends, and home attendants, Grandma has continued to thrive for decades. On the left are photos of Grandma with her daughter on her 102nd birthday and on the right with her home attendant of nearly five years. These community supports have vastly reduced the chance of social isolation, which elder justice researchers and advocates understand is one of the leading risk factors of elder abuse.

Our voices as Citizens of the Earth must be heard from age 18 on. Political and civic engagement is a privilege and a right, and it is of special importance to listen to those with the advantage of a lengthy, deep human experience.

Sister happiness, and connection. They had not seen each other in years, and the sister (right) came to her older sister's surprise 100th Birthday party.

Macular Degeneration robbed Great Papa of his sight so his Great Granddaughter stepped up and took over the role of now reading to him the book he used to read to her.

Area Adult Protective Services staff painted the Graffiti bridge to bring awareness to World Elder Abuse Awareness, engaging people to contact the Florida Abuse Hotline if abuse has been observed.

The poem expresses the importance of being aware of the signs and types of elder abuse. This reflects the importance of advocating for the elderly and to take action in order to protect, empower, respect, and opening a pathway to healing and hope.

Neglecting wise words from elders can be a regretful action. Consequently, the younger generation is missing out the opportunity of receiving cultural heritage. The sitting man with an empowering pose is demonstrating the aspect that we often time ignore: elders’ authority of wisdom and teaching. The colorful future that the man contemplating toward is their hope and desire to have blissful lives for their descendants. Youngsters should incline their ears to listen to elders respectfully. If they are attentive to the wise words from older generations, it becomes a beautiful picture of generational inheritance. The elder’s gray hair is a crown of glor

The Blue Jay in the drawing represents Hope and Happiness which is in contrast to the cold and snowy landscape. Blue Jays symbolize happiness and there is a belief that if you see a Blue Jay you will feel safe and protected.

My poem relates to empowerment. To build on an essential belief that age adds value and it should be treasured not bemoaned.

This pastel painting is a portrait of an elder woman who commands respect. I met her at the birthday party of a friend. At the time she was still active in the mental health profession, counseling others to find hope and happiness in their own lives.

It reflects respect for elders and the importance of listening to their wisdom and knowledge. It is hopeful and empowering.

It reflects respect for elders and the importance of listening to their wisdom and knowledge. It is hopeful and empowering.

It reflects respect for elders and the importance of listening to their wisdom and knowledge. It is hopeful and empowering.

The themes of justice, connections, healing, hope, equality, and happiness are depicted in the graphic design as Native American symbols.

I think that at 76 we are finding happiness in aging when we have opportunities to be connected and engaged in activities such as ART. It helps us to develop a sense of community and we can project our feelings. In this work, it is good to see the peace of green in nature, the warm and love in red, the hope in yellow tones and sometimes, the dark color of isolation in hard times. And all of these are part of a cycle that take us back to the happiness in aging.
This project is sponsored by the Elder Justice Roadmap Steering Committee. The Steering Committee organizations involved in the The Road to Elder Justice - WEAAD Virtual Art Gallery project include:
- Michigan Elder Justice Initiative,
- American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging,
- NYC Elder Abuse Center,
- The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care,
- United States Department of Justice, Elder Justice Initiative,
- Administration for Community Living,
- National Center on Elder Abuse,
- Ohio Coalitions and Department of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University
About the Elder Justice Roadmap
In 2014, 750 stakeholders and subject matter experts from around the country created The Elder Justice Roadmap, a national strategic resource that identifies the elder justice field’s most urgent needs in addressing the social issue of elder abuse. Shortly after the Roadmap’s publication, an Elder Justice Roadmap Steering Committee was created to develop and manage strategic partnerships, promote awareness and action, and encourage new programs that respond to the Roadmap’s priorities.