78-year-old Rosemary Otto is a self-taught, outsider artist whose work is both a form of creative expression and has helped in her recovery from mental illness.  Born in Germany to an American mother and German father, Rosemary now lives in the house where she was raised: her great-grandmother’s house in Lake Worth, Florida, where she paints in between visits to the nearby senior center and her doctor appointments.  In today’s show, Rosemary talks about the box of crayons that sparked her interest in art as a child, her mother’s influence, how she manages from day to day and why living in a nursing home is worse than being in a mental hospital.  She also tells us about her new series of paintings, “The Invisible Women,” which challenges us to think differently about the older adults around us.

Rosemary’s work: The Box Gallery Facebook Page
For residents of Palm Beach County: Palm Tran – Transportation

Rosemary Otto

“The Eternal Flame” (4′ x 8′ canvas)

 

“Invisible Women” series

“Invisible Women” series

“Elena”

“Two Boys With A Happy Tiger”

 

“Madonna With Angels”

Young Rosemary

Music: “Empty Trees” (remix) by Ketsa | CC BY NC ND | Free Music Archive