"Years in the Making" Film Debuts

Westport Town Hall was nearly filled to capacity Sunday night with people excitedly awaiting the public showing of “Years in the Making: A journey into late life creativity.”

The ambitious film project about the ongoing creativity of 50 artists over 70 years old in Westport and Weston attracted a predominantly  gray-haired audience, but families and children also created a buzz in the crowded auditorium.

Before the film began, Director Martin West spoke briefly to the crowd, thanking all those who helped. 

“You know how they claim that it takes a village,” he said, smiling.  “To make a film, it takes a crackerjack production team.”

And then on the screen appeared one artist after another, each face conveying the joy of a life fully lived.  Of the glowing group of 70, 80, and 90-somethings, many said they feel they are now producing the best work of their lives.  

Carefully lit and lovingly shot, the movie is replete with arresting interviews.

“Listen to your heart,” says 80-year-old Nancy Reilly. 

“The inspiration comes after you start working,” says Charles Reid. 

You need to keep creating, these artists insist, one after another. 

The subjects are interviewed with their artwork shown just behind them, allowing viewers the chance to get a peek at their creations. 

Artist Barbara Gray admits that sometimes she wonders why she does it.  She has even, at times, tried to squelch her creative urge. 

“I can’t give it up,” she says. 

The film could just be the tip of the artistic iceberg because more detailed stories are to be found in the 50 DVD sets dedicated to each individual artist. 

“If the passion isn’t there, all the intellectuality, all the craft that you’ve acquired over all the decades that you’ve been producing doesn’t amount to a hill of beans,” says Leonard Everett Fisher.  “My paintings are better today than they were 30 years ago.”

“Artists really are at their best when they’re old,” Constance Kiermaier agrees.  She was told recently that some of the major art galleries are most interested in artists at the edges of the age spectrum:  20’s and under, or 80 and up. 

She’s thinking of dusting off her resume. 

“I think I am the oldest living emerging artist,” she says, laughing.

Artist Lee Greenberg, 90, says, “I’m so surprised that I’m here at this age.”  She gives a big grin.  “I hope I never stop.” 

Nancy Reilly shares that view. 

“All of us are so lucky,” she says in the film.  "We get to this age and look at our work and realize we’ve done something important.  We say ‘Tomorrow I’m going to start the best painting I ever made'.”  She believes that all of the artists feel that way.

“Years in the Making” serves to preserve the work of the featured artists.  Five of the artists whose work was included in the documentary have died since filming began about four years ago.

In an interview after the documentary debut, Kathie Bennewitz, Co-Chair of the Westport Schools Permanent Art Collection, commented on the film.

“It’s amazing to realize that there is so much creativity going on right here in this town," she said. "To think that behind any door you pass there might be an artist working is just incredible.”

The film is a tribute to the artists interviewed and to the joy of lifelong creativity.  The team behind this movie has high hopes it will find a national distributor.  It’s already been shown at five film festivals, and is scheduled to be part of 15 more in 2010. 

According to Director Martin West, Sunday night was the last free public showing of the film.  Copies are available.  For more information, go to www.yearsinthemaking.org.