Arts & Music   

Journey into the vibrant world of early 20^th century art and witness the birth of abstraction. This transformative period reshaped the cultural landscape, from the bold colors of Fauvism, the fractured forms of Cubism, to the dreamlike realms of Surrealism. Each class focuses on the movements’ leading artists--Matisse, Kandinsky, Picasso, Mondrian, Boccioni, Duchamp, and Dali--and explores their aesthetic goals and the social and cultural currents that influenced them. 

The great chess champion and teacher Dr. Tarrasch observed that "chess, like music, like love, has the capacity to make us happy." This is borne out by the game's enduring popularity. In one version or another, it has been played for nearly 1500 years. It is played in every country on the globe and by hundreds of millions of people from every walk of life from famous (Napoleon and Ben Franklin) to humble. Each player finds beauty and magic in chess on her own terms. Some pursue harmony; others clash. Some value precision, others creative chaos. The course will help enthusiasts to find or enrich their own path to the emotional and intellectual joys of chess. It will do so through interactive analysis of famous games, live demonstrations, and evolution of the game across the centuries.

By Alan Light - Own work by the original uploader, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link

What happens when violinists become composers? This five-week course explores works written by violinist-composers across history—from Baroque brilliance to Romantic opera fantasies to contemporary expressions of identity. Through listening, discussion, and guided insights, we’ll examine how these composer-performers used the violin to push musical boundaries and share personal stories. No prior musical experience is required—just a love of music and curiosity about the creative mind.