Artist Bruce McClain found his “creative identity” in a dead leaf.
“Look at that leaf. It’s deformed. It’s dead,” McClain recalled. “But there was a beauty about it.”
This observation inspired the “Elder Leaf Collection,” a series of graphite drawings on paper that combine plants and people to evoke the process of aging and dying that is an elegy for all living things.
“If you can find yourself in any of these.” said McClain. “So it’s asking a question about your own mortality, your struggle with aging, or what threatens you about aging. Anyway, I achieved my goal.”
Watch the attached video To learn more about McClain’s art and inspiration. This video is part of “Old Questions,” a joint project of Kansas City PBS and Flatland that addresses critical issues of families with aging members.
Brad Austin is a video producer for Kansas City PBS.
Support for “Old Questions” is provided by the William T. Kemper Foundation, Commerce Bank, Board of Trustees. Additional support is provided by Husch Blackwell.
