Artistic Representations of Aging 2026

Artistic Representations of Aging is an annual event hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Helen Bader Office of Applied Gerontology that highlights resilience in the older adult community through photography, film and music.

This year’s event spotlights the work of award-winning Wisconsin photographers Cindy Hansen and Guntis Lauzums. Local harpist Ann Lobotzke and UWM student Diego Medrano will provide music for guests.

Co-sponsored by the Student Gerontology Association.

Film Screening

Attendees will enjoy the Wisconsin premier of In Life, a powerful documentary that challenges the way we see aging, following three extraordinary artists who continue to create, innovate and thrive in their later years.

Panel Discussion

The talkback immediately following the film screening will examine the movie’s themes and pertinent topics in the field of aging.

Film Panelists

Elizabeth “Betsy” Cox

Author

Elizabeth Cox is the author of several collections of poetry, short stories, and three other novels: The Ragged Way People Fall Out of Love, Night Talk (winner of the Lillian Smith Award and a finalist for the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award), The Slow Moon, and A Question of Mercy (from the University of South Carolina Press).

She has been recognized with the Robert Penn Warren Award and the North Carolina Fiction Award and inducted into the Fellowship of Southern Writers. Cox has taught creative writing at Duke University, University of Michigan, University of Massachusetts-Lowell, Tufts University, Boston University, MIT, Bennington Writing Seminars, and most recently at Wofford College, where she shared the John Cobb Chair with her husband C. Michael Curtis, fiction editor for the Atlantic.

Mike Rogers

Co-Director and Cinematographer, In Life

Michael K. Rogers is an accomplished director and cinematographer with a keen eye for crafting visually compelling narratives that elevate global brands. As a founder and director of Persistent Productions, Mike has led high-profile commercial campaigns for Westin, Korean Airlines, SONY Music, and Diageo, seamlessly blending cinematic storytelling with strategic brand messaging.

Mike has collaborated with major production companies, including National Geographic Television, Discovery Networks, The Smithsonian Network, and Beach House Pictures. His deep-rooted understanding of Asian markets — shaped by his upbringing in the region — has made him an invaluable creative force in producing content that resonates across cultures.

Meghan Shea

Co-Director and Producer, In Life

Meghan Shea is an award-winning director & producer who specializes in non-fiction filmmaking. Meghan creates compelling, research-based, visually driven stories. Her work moves fluidly between documentary and commercial content. 

She has worked with artists such as YoYo Ma and her work has been screened by organizations such as The Word Health Organization, Tribeca Film Festival, and The United Nations General Assembly. Her client portfolio includes BBC Storyworks, SONY Music, The Rockefeller Foundation and Conde Nast among others. She is a co-founder of Persistent Productions, which has offices in Boston and in Singapore.

UWM Faculty

Yura Lee

Associate Professor, Helen Bader School of Social Welfare

Dr. Yura Lee’s research primarily focuses on individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) and their caregivers. Dr. Lee’s dedication to ADRD research stems from her personal experience as a primary caregiver for her grandfather, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. This experience has significantly influenced her gerontological social work research, which centers on two key areas: (a) identifying risk and protective factors for ADRD and age-related cognitive decline, and (b) understanding the needs and challenges faced by dementia caregivers to develop caregiver support programs using assistive technology. Read more.

Andrew Steward

Assistant Professor, Helen Bader School of Social Welfare

Dr. Steward’s research explores gaps in understanding and responding to ageism through two primary aims: 1) to test programs and interventions to reduce internalized ageism and enhance psychosocial health for older adults, and 2) to explore the intersectionality of ageism with other social justice issues.

Currently, Dr. Steward is partnering with several community organizations to evaluate a 10-session anti-ageism peer support program for adults 50+ years of age called Aging Together. This group program, facilitated by trained older adults, aims to reduce internalized & relational ageism and enhance psychosocial well-being among older adults. Read more.