Online Classes   

The Old Kingdom was the matrix of the entire Egyptian culture which lasted 3000 years. They were the first people on earth to create a nation-state and they developed characteristic ideas and patterns which were modified over the years, but never fundamentally changed. This course will reconstruct the political, social and economic history of the Old Kingdom by looking at the archaeological evidence found in architecture, literature and art.

This art course takes inspiration from seasonal landscapes – a perfect way to appreciate the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. With step-by-step instructions and lots of exercises, students will learn to draw and paint from their reference. This course will take students through the basics of acrylic painting, starting with the types of materials and tools that one can use, to the techniques in handling the medium. Students will learn about value, basic composition, color mixing, blending and the mechanics of acrylics. Approaches such as "wet in wet" and working in layers will be introduced. With demonstrations and individual guidance, students will be able to start working on their own piece at their own pace. This course will equip students with basic knowledge and understanding of the medium.

The U.S. Constitution is at the center of so many conversations today—but how well do we really know it? This course offers a lively introduction to the nation's founding document, exploring what it is, how it was created, and why it continues to shape our daily lives. Often described as a "living document," we'll explore how the constitution has adapted and evolved. Designed as an accessible primer, this course will give students useful background and fresh perspective on one of the most influential documents in history—helping us all better understand its enduring role in American democracy today.

This course will explore the history of France's surrealist movement between World War I and World War II. Students will examine the evolution of the movement and focus on the internal debates about politics and art, which informed the movement's engagement with key episodes in French history, including the Rif War and the Colonial Exposition of 1931, to illuminate the intellectual underpinnings and revolutionary aims of the movement.

The focus of this course will be on crafting memoir writing. Many writers carry powerful memories but struggle to shape them into compelling narratives. This workshop teaches participants how to transform memory into structured stories through scene-building, dialogue, reflection, and emotional arc. Participants will learn the difference between scene and summary, how to anchor memory in sensory details, and how to create emotional resonance in personal stories.

This participative discussion class looks at national and international current affairs each week. Discussions include politics and other topic matters suggested by the group. Events are considered based on their effects today and into the future, historical context and leadership.

Join me and explore 3,000 years of ancient Egyptian culture, society, religion, art, and architecture. See how they interacted with their neighboring nations. We will travel to the cities of Abydos, the cult center of the god Osiris; the ancient capital of Memphis; Thebes, where we find Karnak Temple and the royal tombs in the Valley of the kings; the workmen's village Deir el-Medina; and Amarna, capital city built by Akhenaten and the birthplace of Tutankhamun.

In this course, participants will read and discuss 40 recently published short stories that demonstrate how much can be accomplished in 1,000 words or fewer. These works, often described as flash fiction, explore life in all its complexity - its ambiguities, contradictions, and unexpected turns - through language that is precise and intentional. Because of their extreme brevity, such stories require exceptional discipline from their writers, with every word carrying weight. As participants engage with these texts, they will develop an appreciation for flash fiction as a distinct literary form, learn to recognize how skilled writers achieve depth and meaning without excess, and gain insight into what distinguishes the strongest short stories from those that feel like condensed novels. All readings for the course are freely available online.

The U.S. Constitution is at the center of so many conversations today—but how well do we really know it? This course offers a lively introduction to the nation's founding document, exploring what it is, how it was created, and why it continues to shape our daily lives. Often described as a "living document," we'll explore how the constitution has adapted and evolved. Designed as an accessible primer, this course will give students useful background and fresh perspective on one of the most influential documents in history—helping us all better understand its enduring role in American democracy today.

Your camera and your knowledge of how to use it certainly matter when it comes to making memorable photographs. But your knowledge of the principles of composition and when to apply them - and when not to! - matter even more. Explore the key principles one by one with weekly assignments practicing each to share for feedback the following week. Meet the challenge to practice each principle in turn. For all skill levels using any camera, smart phone to mirrorless. All you need is a passion for photography and a wish to make photographs your friends and family will admire.

This participative discussion class looks at national and international current affairs each week. Discussions include politics and other topic matters suggested by the group. Events are considered based on their effects today and into the future, historical context and leadership.