Creatively Aging

Went to a dynamite conference this week on the power of art to address social and community problems. Great presenters brought our attention to many different ways art can make people change. But two thoughts kept ringing in my head: I don’t believe aging, especially creative aging, is a problem. If so, why I am sitting there spell-bound, exhilarated, and exhausted? Am I there because our society, our community sees aging as a problem? Possibly. Am I there because I believe in the power of art? Definitely. But then the second question chimes in: if art is so powerful, what is creativity? Is creativity as powerful? Or is creativity as a label a cop-out by those (including myself) who are uncomfortable with the social pressure, the judging seemingly inherent, in art.