Respecting Aging, at 'Conversations With Our Elders'

Organizers of the “Hello Auntie, Hello Uncle: Conversations With Our Elders” exhibit at Seattle’s Wing Luke Museum hope to broaden visitors’ perspectives on aging.

“We want to put a positive spin on aging and have a two-way dialogue between generations,” says Maliha Masood, who wrote the text for the exhibit. She says that while older people have wisdom to share, younger ones offer more energy. “We need to have both sides come together,” she says. 

The exhibit — sponsored by AARP and running until February in the museum’s New Dialogues Initiative Gallery — explores roles that older Asian American and Pacific Islanders play in local communities. 

It also invites visitors to envision a “new village” that values elders, keeps them integrated in the community and provides the support they need, Masood says. 

“We want to see a world where elders are not pigeonholed — they can stretch beyond traditions,” she says. 

The museum (719 S. King St.) is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Monday. Tickets are $10 to $17 — $15 for those 62 and older. Details: wingluke.org/exhibits.