I enjoy being delighted by art — being disturbed and affected is an added super bonus.

The Cindy Sherman retrospective at MOMA included several pieces from her larger-than-life society portrait series that address the experience and representation of aging in the context of contemporary obsessions with youth and status.

Not surprisingly, these pieces delighted, disturbed and affected me – even more than the grotesque sexual imagery. I enjoy being delighted by art — being disturbed and affected is an added super bonus.

The society portraits expose – highlight in high definition, in fact – wrinkles, unnaturally high painted-on eyebrows, lipstick well beyond its natural borders and many other signs of aging as well as the devices and tactics women use to hide it.

Take a look

Oh fun, there’s nothing more I like than thinking about aging.

Yeah, I think about how to grow older gracefully pretty much every waking moment. How age is a number and it’s all about how I feel – just freaking fantastic, thank you very much…

Count your life by smiles, not tears.
Count your age by friends, not years

Actually, I feel much better about the march of time than I used to. Inevitability is something I am learning to deal with. Avoiding age-appropriate clothing also works wonders as does smoking, drinking and late nights.

Oh and remember that little puffy spot under my eye. My doctor’s new diagnosis?

Cause: Natural result of the aging process.
Only real solution: Blepharoplasty.

Not yet. Probably not ever – unless it gets bigger.

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