Age

As human beings, we struggle. Some of us struggle daily and have great difficulties in the challenges we face. While others seem to conquer insurmountable odds with great ease while we all try to put life into some kind of comprehensible idea of how we are affected. We seek comfort through interpretations in music, art, theater and pictures. We seek to express our gratitude, our sorrow, our happiness and our thoughts. Our emotions are delicately intertwined in the very fabric of our lives as we transgress through the various stages. They are part of what gives us inspiration, direction and meaning. William Shakespeare in the Human Odyssey gave us a good outline with his illumination of the progress of man from childhood to old age and death. “All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts, His acts being seven ages” Whether it is one idea that identifies stages from conception, birth, sprouting, growth, flowering, fruiting, renewal, transcendence to the Hindu belief in a simplistic four main stages of life from student, to householder, to retired person, to ascetic, it is rarely that simple.
Age series is a collection of portraits designed to show the different stages in our lives, how we ponder them, conceive within our mind, visualize the ups, ride the downs and ultimately how we grow as a human being and affect the people and events around us. It’s how we can envision a better human race through provocative thoughts, deeds and ultimately our actions. This is my project to capture those moments, this is “Project Envision”.
Life Age One, Childhood; as a child, we think differently. Reality is radically different. Our imagination is pure and unadulterated joy. A child is naturally curious and equally playful. We take in the world around us with utter amazement. We begin to learn about the family and build strong foundations that will help us through the various stages in life. As adults, we forget that a child recovers from negative emotions and events in a way that amazes us. The innocence seen through the eyes of a child reminds us that every once in awhile it is good to detach ourselves from our own reality. The boundaries set are only limited to their physical capabilities. Life Age Two, Adolescent; in the adolescent years we begin to deal with the cards that life has given us. This is where we begin to question and identify ourselves, our passions, our morals. Life is still an exciting quest and adventure as we build upon our earlier foundations. As an adolescent, we begin to formulate the ideas and lifestyle that will take us into the next stage of our life. Life Age Three, Young Adult / Lover;Shakespeare said that as you enter the young adult age, you take on the role of both lover and worker. If you have chosen and prepared well, you love your work and you are ready to begin making your childhood dreams a reality. Even in our modern times, this philosophy is the same at its very core. The young teenager enters the workforce, begins to discover the opposite sex and put what we have learned to the test. Our morals and thoughts begin to come into question. We begin to push and at times, grow beyond our boundaries.
Life Age Four, Adult;In the fourth Age, as a young adult, we start to put down roots and create a place and a family of our own. Sometimes we take on the role as a householder, spouse or parent. Our values, thoughts and questions have been tested by time although rarely answered satisfactorily. Our thoughts begin to reflect inward and we ponder what we have accomplished so far and what the future may hold for us. Life Age Five, Mature Adult;As we transgress into mature adult life, our values have been cemented in time. We may take on new roles and responsibilities that have been directly affected by our youthful actions and indiscretions. We may have turned left at the crossroads in our life when we should have turned right sending us into some kind of mid life crisis. Change at this point can come with great difficulty and costs. Life Age Six, Elder;As an elder, this is the stage in our life where we you serve as a guiding light to family, friends and those that have had the opportunity to learn from our knowledge. We impart that which we have learned and pass our legacy on to our children as we enter the twilight years of our life. This is where we no longer ponder who we are, but give provocative thoughts and wisdom on life and the world around us. With retirement comes the option of doing what we love or better yet, returning to the pursuits of childhood that we put on hold in our earlier and formidable years. At this point, the circle is at near completion. Life Age Seven, Death & Transitions;life is winding down and we enter the final stage of life. This is where we face your own mortality and what lies ahead. We stand at the threshold of what befalls us and look back at the that legacy we have created. Our life has been fulfilled and yet we still question what our purpose and calling were. Welcome this experience of being ready for what is next if you can. A new stage begins, as the actor exits this scene. When the final scene on the human drama ends, three characters will be standing, love, hope and faith.
You can only hope that this play will be instilled on the hearts and minds of those who surrounded you past and present. I close with a thought from Henry David Thoreau, “None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.”