We Didn’t Know How to Read But We Knew How to Live’ is the title of the exhibition held at the R. Michelson Gallery in New York, where 20 female seniors from Suncheon talk about their life stories through writing and painting. (image: Suncheon City Office)
SEOUL, May 3 (Korea Bizwire) — Female seniors from Suncheon, South Jeolla Province, who studied how to write and paint at old age, held an exhibition in New York on Thursday.
‘We Didn’t Know How to Read But We Knew How to Live’ is the title of the exhibition held at the R. Michelson Gallery in New York, where 20 female seniors from Suncheon talk about their life stories through writing and painting.
The exhibition showcased some 60 writings and paintings.
“We used to not know how to write a single word. Now, we write, paint, publish books, and come all the way to America to showcase our pieces,” said the seniors.
American writers and illustrators Mo Willems, Jane Dyer, and other writers and local citizens participated in the opening ceremony.
Many visitors requested that the writings and the paintings of the female seniors be translated into English.
The exhibition will continue at the Jaisohn Memorial Foundation in Philadelphia, Sherwood Community Center in Fairfax, and Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library at Falls Church over the next three months.
The exhibition will also be held in South Korea after the U.S. tours.
Female seniors, since April last year, participated in a program offered by Suncheon Picture Book Library, learning how to write and paint.
They have been holding regular exhibitions of the pieces that they’ve written or drawn as they learned how to write and draw with writers and illustrators.
H. M. Kang (hmkang@koreabizwire.com)
