Creative Arts   

This acrylic class is for the absolute beginner as well as more experienced painters. We will follow step-by-step instructions to create our paintings while also learning why and what we are doing. Paintings will be completed over several class sessions. All materials are provided.

This class will examine the art and architecture of later South Asia (India and Pakistan) from the time of the introduction of Islam in 711 CE to the present. We will consider the social, religious, and political context for the various monuments. Special focus will be given to the Mughal Dynasty and the culture that influenced the creation of Taj Mahal.

We'll visit museums, art galleries, and studios in the area and talk with curators and artists to learn more about the places and the work. Afterwards, we'll go to coffee houses or restaurants for no-host treats and conversation with group members.

This class is for people who know how to play the basic A to G chords on guitar, although class members may bring other stringed instruments to play, e.g. mandolin, bass, ukulele, banjo, harmonica, or squeeze box. Or sing along without an instrument! Songs and lyrics will be emailed each week, featuring artists like Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, The Everly Brothers, The Drifters, and other favorites from the 1950s and 1960s.

Five OLLI members who love collage will share techniques and projects each week. Come and make art!

Do you draw, write novels, knit, paint, collage, hook rugs, embroider, or make any other art or craft? Do you need an impulse to get you going? Instead of doing it alone, come to the OLLI Creation Zone. We will have tables (with plastic sheets covering them to allow for messiness) and chairs set up. You bring yourself, your ideas, and your materials. No instruction, no demands, just a group of people creating in comradery.

This class is about the creative thinking process, how to develop it, and how it applies across a broad spectrum of topics such as invention/innovation, the arts, industry, creative problem solving, repurposing materials, bio-inspired design, and improvisation. Class members will draw on their unique talents, knowledge bases, hobbies, and interests to complete the challenges introduced. The class will be playful and interactive and ranges in subject matter from the silly and fantastical to tackling serious world problems.

We will design collages on the covers of blank composition books, then write inside the notebooks about the collage pieces and other art provided for viewing. Composition books will be provided by the instructors.

Collage is a creative medium accessible to people of all artistic skill levels. We'll explore the world of collage by using different papers and techniques. There is no wrong way to create a collage. It is simply a matter of layering color, texture, and patterns. And it's fun!

Being able to sketch or draw is a foundation for creating art in a variety of mediums and helps in explaining ideas and thoughts. This class will address beginning graphite pencil drawing approaches and techniques. Participants will actively draw in every class session while learning to construct simple to more complex drawings along the way. Join us to explore drawing together.

Knitting with others is a wonderful learning environment. This class is designed to give knitters who have mastered the basic stitches of knit and purl a chance to work on a project of their choosing while we chat and share ideas online with other knitters. All levels of ability are welcome! Gale contributes to the class by offering tips and suggestions for patterns, yarn, and tools based on her years of knitting experience.

Discuss, plan, and prepare a simple altar in memory and in honor of friends and family you have lost. Some people observe holidays like Day of the Dead and All Souls Day that specifically honor loved ones who have died; for others, the upcoming winter holiday season and dark winter days can be a time to think of those who have died. The altars we build will give us a concrete, personal way to celebrate our departed loved ones with art, photos, and writings.

Each week we'll view a feature-length documentary or two shorter films. The films will generally feature a performer or composer, the impact of their environment on their music, and the impact of their music on other musicians and on society. Or the focus might be on a style of music from swing to country, jazz to rock. This is a class for the open-minded and intellectually curious because, paraphrasing Mick Jagger, you might not always hear what you like, but sometimes you just might like what you hear.

Each week we'll watch a favorite movie available on Netflix or Prime. The instructor will choose and present the first film. In the five weeks that follow, class members will have an opportunity to choose and present a favorite film. The presenter must have seen their suggested film. The class will vote on which film to watch for the following week. If no one volunteers, the instructor will choose the film to discuss and may or may not introduce the film. Class members are welcome to attend the discussion whether they have seen the film. This is a chance to share and revisit old favorites or new. There may be a charge to watch some of the films.

Reading poetry helps you to know things more fully; it commands your attention; and it can sustain good conversation. In this class, participants select poetry from favorite sources to read aloud with fellow enthusiasts.

Each week the class will read poems by an individual poet, a collection of poems on a specific subject, or a collection of poems in a specific style. A wide range of poets and poetry will be presented, from classic to contemporary, and we will discuss them from the perspective that the poet creates the work but the reader activates it.

Sing and/or play popular gospel songs. Bring your voice, guitar, violin, cello, harmonica, squeeze box, or other instrument and join a group of people singing and playing for fun. This is not meant to be religious. It's just a place to enjoy great music. Join us!

Sharpen your drawing and watercolor skills as we paint and sketch together on a variety of subjects. The purpose of this class is to provide a supportive community for those who work to keep their journal practice alive. We will share ideas and sometimes our favorite art materials, the ones that make this practice all the more fun. With all the colors of fall available to us as examples, plan on some brilliant pages in your sketchbook.

Tap dance involves rhythmic, percussive, and precise movement of the feet while promoting flow and individual style of the entire body. Classes will include warm-up, structured movement phrases that will build in complexity, and creative explorations. All levels are welcome. Good standing balance is recommended.

We use our senses and memories to help us navigate daily life. Applying them when visiting galleries and museums can be as enlightening as reading labels. This class explores the connection between viewing art and our personal experiences. For example, your awe at the Grand Canyon can be similar to your awe when seeing Michelangelo's David. In advance of each class, participants will receive emails with playful exercises and recommended readings and videos. Each of the five classes will focus on a separate discipline.

Start your Tuesday with music and songs. Join us in a fun, informal sing-along. Bring your voices and/or musical instruments. The operative word is "fun." If you like music, you will like this class. All levels welcome!

This class is an introduction to watercolor painting. We will cover techniques, color blending, color mixing, and brush work. All materials provided.

Grab your sketchbook and assorted art materials! The goal of this class is to complete a piece of art each week during class time. For each session we will look at a photo, video clip, or artwork, briefly discuss it, and then create our own piece. Prior to each session, specific art materials that will be used by the instructor for that week will be shared. Participants are welcome to follow along with the instructor or take off in a direction of their own.

This writer's workshop serves a community of writers interested in sharing their writing and responding to other writers' work. We will focus on fiction, memoir, creative non-fiction, poetry, travel writing, stories for children, and other types of writing. Following a workshop format, this class will be an opportunity for students to receive feedback for their written work and provide meaningful support to fellow writers.

Learn to write a short 10- to 20-minute play. We will cover the basics of playwriting, including format, structure, character, conflict, and dialogue. This is a workshop-style class in which we discuss concepts and techniques, share what we have written, and write short exercises to develop skills. Prompts will be offered to stimulate your ideas. There will be an opportunity for some of the plays to be performed in the annual OLLI Play Festival.

Class members are expected to see at least one of three movies that have been selected in class each week, viewing them independently in local movie theaters or streaming on either Netflix or Prime Video. We rate each movie and then share our ratings (1-10) and viewpoints with the class. With a variety of opinions, lively discussion is guaranteed.