Arts   

In this course, members will view and discuss depictions of the “Heartland” on film in three parts: Northern Lights (1978, John Hanson), Heartland (1979, Rip Torn, Conchata Ferrell), and The Emigrants (1971, Max von Sydow, Liv Ullman). Each 3-hour session (10am-1pm) will include film screening and discussion. Meet at the Walker Library, Bde Maka Ska Room 105, 2880 Hennepin Ave, Mpls.

No class on June 19.

The Norse Sagas are medieval stories based on old Norse mythology. These Sagas were written centuries after the Viking era by Icelandic authors. They run the gamut from realistic travel chronicles to sword-and-sorcery. Most are thick with murder and intrigue; some are hilariously witty. Enjoy this amazing excursion into “Dark Age” swashbuckling that continues to profoundly influence modern culture.

Creativity can be built at any age; this workshop can help you get the habits, skills, and knowledge to begin that quest. Sharing your concepts and seeing the ideas of others in the class will bring creativity to life. This course focuses on the development of one’s own creativity through a series of fun and engaging activities, including reading, discussion, and a sense of exploration. The course is not just about information; it is about building a habit of doing something different and the skill of coming up with new and unique ideas! 

Recommended reading: Where Good Ideas Come From, by Steven Johnson, Riverhead Trade, 2009. Available as eBook, hardback, or paperback.

Research over the past 10 years confirms the arts are GREAT for our health and wellbeing! In this course, we will highlight and explore some of that research, and try out some simple, enjoyable healing practices using music, dance/movement, visual art, and poetry/spoken word. No formal experience in the arts needed!

Recommended Reading: Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us, Magsamen, S., & Ross, I. Random House, 2023.

Calling all book lovers! Are you craving something new but feel like you’re seeing the same titles everywhere you look? We’ve got just the adventure for you: join us for a tour of the Twin Cities’ most unique bookstores: Black Garnet, Minnesota’s first black-owned bookstore; Birchbark Books, an Indigenous book haven; Tropes & Trifles, the area’s first romance bookstore; and Milkweed Books, home of the local Milkweed press. We’ll talk with owners & curators about their collections, the heart & purpose of their store, and maybe just find you your next favorite book!