Arts   

LSO Concertmaster Anton Miller opens this performance with Sibelius’ heart-wrenching Violin Concerto in D Minor. Following intermission, the orchestra explores themes of love, loss and the mysteries of the eternal with the dramatic “Prelude and Liebestod” from Wagner’s tragic opera “Tristan und Isolde” and Strauss’ transcendent tone poem “Tod und Verklärung “ (Death and Transfiguration).

Karen and Robert Duncan and Kathryn and Marc LeBaron have returned to India and are again drawn by the warmth of its people, the beauty of the land and the abundant opportunities to meet noteworthy artists and acquire their works. Within India’s burgeoning population of 1.417 billion people are complex societal stratifications: cultural and religious hierarchies, more than 700 marginalized tribal groups and gender inequities. These conditions further complicate environmental crises, forcing migration. The residue of colonialism and political discord persist, but as one of the world’s oldest civilizations, India also enjoys a vibrant array of folk arts and rituals. Visitors will find in Art of India Redux, the second exhibition of Indian art to be displayed at Assemblage, the color, exuberance and substance that makes India such a magical, yet complex country.

“Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive, POTUS” by Selina Fillinger is an adult comedy which centers on seven women and their efforts to manage a White House public relations nightmare while keeping the president out of trouble. Join director Lori Adams and her production design team who will discuss their concepts and show examples of their drawings, illustrations, models and more. The session will include a sneak-peek at the set, lighting, costumes and sound.

Have you ever wondered how thousands of quilts are stored and cared for at the International Quilt Museum (IQM)? Here’s your chance to get behind the scenes and see the climate-controlled area where the world’s largest publicly held collection is stored. Learn how the quilts are cared for by collections staff and volunteers.  Following the behind-the-scenes tour, you may stroll through the galleries and view current exhibitions at your own pace. Exhibitions currently include “Feed Sacks:  An American Fairy Tale,” “A New Deal for Quilts," "World War I Quilts," and “Multifaceted:  Katie Pasquini Masopust.” The IQM is a fully accessible building.

Bring out your inner artist with hands-on projects suitable for any skill level. Explore your creativity with stamp making, shrinky dinks, cyanotypes, and squash notebooks. Use the principles of design and your own creativity to make each project unique. Learn new techniques and engage with the artistic process in a creative environment while learning.

Since all your holiday shopping will be concluded by December 14 (smile), bring a guest and plan to join fellow OLLI members for a delightful holiday lunch at Screamers Dining and Cabaret, combined with awesome entertainment provided by the restaurant staff, all local talent!

This course is being offered as part of the Walking in the Footsteps of Our Ancestors project through the Center for Great Plains Studies in partnership with the Otoe- Missouria Tribe and funded through the Mellon Foundation. It showcases the work of Indigenous artists living on and engaging with the Great Plains, with special attention to the Otoe-Missouria. We will focus on themes and issues in contemporary Indigenous art of the Great Plains including presentations by artists and curators. A third session at the Great Plains Art Museum features a tour of the “Contemporary Indigeneity” exhibit.

This course is being offered as part of the Walking in the Footsteps of Our Ancestors project through the Center for Great Plains Studies in partnership with the Otoe- Missouria Tribe and funded through the Mellon Foundation. It showcases the work of Indigenous artists living on and engaging with the Great Plains, with special attention to the Otoe-Missouria. We will focus on themes and issues in contemporary Indigenous art of the Great Plains including presentations by artists and curators. A third session at the Great Plains Art Museum features a tour of the “Contemporary Indigeneity” exhibit.

Enjoy this tour of the “Contemporary Indigeneity” exhibit in conjunction with the two-session course being offered under a similar name. We will view this exhibit which is part of Walking in the Footsteps of our Ancestors, a project through the Center for Great Plains Studies in partnership with the Otoe-Missouria Tribe and funded through the Mellon Foundation. It showcases the work of Indigenous artists living on and engaging with the Great Plains, with special attention to the Otoe-Missouria. Two classroom sessions will focus on themes and issues in contemporary Indigenous art of the Great Plains including presentations by artists and curators.

Enjoy this tour of the “Contemporary Indigeneity” exhibit in conjunction with the two-session course being offered under a similar name. We will view this exhibit which is part of Walking in the Footsteps of our Ancestors, a project through the Center for Great Plains Studies in partnership with the Otoe-Missouria Tribe and funded through the Mellon Foundation. It showcases the work of Indigenous artists living on and engaging with the Great Plains, with special attention to the Otoe-Missouria. Two classroom sessions will focus on themes and issues in contemporary Indigenous art of the Great Plains including presentations by artists and curators.

Enjoy this tour of the “Contemporary Indigeneity” exhibit in conjunction with the two-session course being offered under a similar name. We will view this exhibit which is part of Walking in the Footsteps of our Ancestors, a project through the Center for Great Plains Studies in partnership with the Otoe-Missouria Tribe and funded through the Mellon Foundation. It showcases the work of Indigenous artists living on and engaging with the Great Plains, with special attention to the Otoe-Missouria. Two classroom sessions will focus on themes and issues in contemporary Indigenous art of the Great Plains including presentations by artists and curators.

Enjoy this tour of the “Contemporary Indigeneity” exhibit in conjunction with the two-session course being offered under a similar name. We will view this exhibit which is part of Walking in the Footsteps of our Ancestors, a project through the Center for Great Plains Studies in partnership with the Otoe-Missouria Tribe and funded through the Mellon Foundation. It showcases the work of Indigenous artists living on and engaging with the Great Plains, with special attention to the Otoe-Missouria. Two classroom sessions will focus on themes and issues in contemporary Indigenous art of the Great Plains including presentations by artists and curators.

Explore a wonderful lesson taught by a Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) docent several years ago to a group of Lincoln Public Schools art teachers. Using very simple materials, each of us will create a pair of artworks representing the opposing concepts of chaos and order. We will survey all our artworks for an ordering critique. Finally, we will each change both of our artworks. All skill levels are welcome.

Dance Fitness is perfect for older adults who want to add some movement to their lives but would like to adapt the easy-to-follow choreography to their own fitness levels. You will be encouraged to do what works for you and will be shown options for raising and lowering the intensity. In the process, you’ll move to great show tunes, standards and world music while improving your balance, brain function and cardiovascular endurance. If you wear comfy clothing and come prepared to move, then you’re ready for Dance Fitness. And yes, you can dance in a chair.

Want to gain a greater proficiency in digital photography while using an advanced amateur camera (adjustable), mirrorless interchangeable lens camera (MILC) or digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera? This course is designed to provide you with these fundamentals as you practice with your own personal camera. Basic principles of photography will be reviewed and then more sophisticated digital camera operations, such as controls, function and purpose, lighting, composition, hardware options and software will be discussed.

Fans of “Downton Abbey” and “Bridgerton” will absolutely love learning the hidden language of flowers used in these historical docudramas. In the Victorian Era, flowers were the symbol of love… affectionate between two lovers or discretely proclaimed when words should not be spoken. Passion or jealousy, forward or secretive, flowers played a significant role in society and were a favorite pastime of many. Explore a few designs and try our hand in creating some compositions that capture the essence of the hidden language of flowers. Participants will be provided with tools and all supplies necessary to create four unique designs to take home. Structured and loose designs will be attempted using various vases, bowls, traditional and sustainable approaches.

Hot Shops Art Center was created out of the desire to share molten resources and build creative community, brought to life with a little luck, a lot of ‘what ifs,’ and hard work that defines the people of Omaha. Over 100 artists work in this collaborative space. On this guided tour, visit the four anchor studios where pottery is fired at 2,300 degrees, glass is blown and bronze is cast at 2,100 degrees, and iron is forged at 1,900 degrees. In the 50 other studios of this living museum, see a variety of mediums including oil, pastel, photography, jewelry, fiber, weaving, quilting and more. Your visit concludes with an enchanting glassblowing demonstration, where molten glass takes on a life of its own under the expert hands of glass artisans. Witness the intense heat of the furnace and experience the artistry and skill required as the glassblower shapes, blows, and manipulates the molten glass into stunning works of art.

Adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher for the stage, innocence is shattered in a remote estate haunted by secrets. As a governess uncovers the eerie mysteries surrounding her young charges, prepare for a gripping journey. Under the direction of Emily Funkey, this play is sur to delve into the depths of psychological terror. Join us… if you dare! The show concludes with a post-performance question and answer period with OLLI attendees.

Learn about the work and lifetime accomplishments of renowned Nebraska artist, Gene Roncka, who captured on canvas the seasons, places and memories that connect our past, present and future, then chat with OLLI members about your experience while tasting local wine. We will begin at the Ashland Public Library and learn about Gene Roncka’s paintings and the stories behind his inspiration. Several organizations commissioned Roncka to artistically convey their mission or purpose through a painting or piece of art. Next, we will walk a block to Willow Point Gallery and view much of Roncka’s work showcased within. Many of Roncka’s paintings are seen in interpretive centers, galleries, museums, businesses, and community buildings across the state of Nebraska. We will end the afternoon at Glacial Till Cider House and Tasting Room. Explore his work, some wine and enjoy a stroll down Ashland’s main street of shops.

Film is one of our most prominent and influential art forms. Explore Hollywood films and study the use and function of music in films. We will concentrate on the expressive, formal, and semiotic function that film music serves, either as sound experienced by the protagonists, or as another layer of commentary to be heard only by the viewer, or some mixture of the two. We will look at two specific composers: Max Steiner and Erich Korngold. Although some basic knowledge of music is helpful, it’s not necessary to learn about these topics. We will focus on background and definitions using clips from films as examples. Discuss whole movies and how music functions within them.

Film is one of our most prominent and influential art forms. Explore Hollywood films and study the use and function of music in films. We will concentrate on the expressive, formal, and semiotic function that film music serves, either as sound experienced by the protagonists, or as another layer of commentary to be heard only by the viewer, or some mixture of the two. We will look at two specific composers: Max Steiner and Erich Korngold. Although some basic knowledge of music is helpful, it’s not necessary to learn about these topics. We will focus on background and definitions using clips from films as examples. Discuss whole movies and how music functions within them.

Experience the collaborative work that creates a successful chamber music presentation. No musical experience necessary. Observe a rehearsal of the Nebraska Chamber Players and then be asked to help the musicians work together more successfully. This is an opportunity to find out just how musicians play together as a group, even when it appears no one is leading.

Discover the art of pairing wines with desserts in this delightful experience. Sample five or six James Arthur wines paired with delicious desserts from Lincoln’s Sweet Things by Marcy. Enjoy a decadent dessert experience that captures the essence of Southern culinary traditions, along with pairings that bring out the best in both wine and dessert.

The ukulele is an easy instrument to learn. Have fun singing, strumming, and learning with fellow OLLI members. Learning a new instrument keeps the brain sharp, and fingering the ukulele helps arthritic hands. You don’t have to know how to read music to take this class. Any standard "C tuning" ukulele may be used. It is helpful if members bring their own ukulele and music stand; and, members may check out a beginner ukulele from any public library in advance.

What is Outsider Art? Also known as Art Brut, Self-Taught Art, and Visionary Art, this loosely defined body of art has fascinated art scholars and art lovers for decades. We will discuss what Outsider Art really means and meet some of the contemporary artists who have risen to prominence in recent decades such as Simon Rodia, creator of the Watts Towers, and Loy Bowlin, the original “Rhinestone Cowboy.” The infamous Emory Blagdon, from Callaway, Nebraska, who created fascinating “healing machines”, will be highlighted as well. Also included will be a discussion of art sites that still exist in the Midwest, such as the “Garden of Eden” in Lucas, Kansas. A review of the many museums devoted to outsider art, both American and international, such as the Kohler Arts Center in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and La Fabuloserie in France will also be provided.

What is Outsider Art? Also known as Art Brut, Self-Taught Art, and Visionary Art, this loosely defined body of art has fascinated art scholars and art lovers for decades. We will discuss what Outsider Art really means and meet some of the contemporary artists who have risen to prominence in recent decades such as Simon Rodia, creator of the Watts Towers, and Loy Bowlin, the original “Rhinestone Cowboy.” The infamous Emory Blagdon, from Callaway, Nebraska, who created fascinating “healing machines”, will be highlighted as well. Also included will be a discussion of art sites that still exist in the Midwest, such as the “Garden of Eden” in Lucas, Kansas. A review of the many museums devoted to outsider art, both American and international, such as the Kohler Arts Center in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and La Fabuloserie in France will also be provided.

“Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive, POTUS” by Selina Fillinger is an adult comedy which centers on seven women and their efforts to manage a White House public relations nightmare while keeping the president out of trouble. Register for the performance in the company of fellow OLLI members in a reserved section of the theatre or attend the production at a different time that works with your schedule by purchasing a ticket on your own. The same OLLI discount on ticket prices applies either way you attend.

Are you interested in focusing on photography using your mobile devices—smart phones and tablets (not limited to Apple products)—and doing some limited post-processing of these photographs? The small class size provides for personalized assistance. In preparation for the course, please download Snapseed for photo processing to your device.

Educated in the vibrant arts community of the Harlem Renaissance, Jacob Lawrence employed a modern visual style influenced by African and European art that combined bright colors and angular figures with a tight narrative structure to illustrate the histories and heroes of Black culture. Enjoy an overview of the life and work of Lawrence in the museum’s auditorium followed by a walk- through of the exhibition “Sheldon in Focus: Jacob Lawrence.”

Samuel Bak’s paintings of the Holocaust and war wrestle with faith, religious traditions, and with the assurance of a divine blessing for Jewish people. Bak is not blind to the ceaseless wars that plaque this plant. The Holocaust, a genocide of humankind’s creation, is for him, only one example of the disregard for the Ten Commandments. His work illustrates society’s failure to adhere to divine exhortations for peace. The presentation and exhibit uses Bak’s work to pose larger questions of hope in the face of the endemic violence that exists in every country and every culture.

“Tosca” is a three-act opera by Italian composer Giacomo Puccini that tells a tragic story of love, passion and political intrigue set in Rome in June 1800 during the Napoleonic Wars. The opera is based on Victorien Sardou’s 1887 play La Tosca and premiered in Rome in 1990. It features a richly romantic score, soaring arias, and intense drama. We will listen to and discuss the history of this opera; its structure, information about the composer’s sources, and different musical elements which are characteristic of this opera. Other information will be shared to define additional contributions to the opera genre.

Do you have a Mac computer, or an iPad, or an iPhone, or an Apple Watch…or, even a Home Pod? From editing photos to word processing to spreadsheets to turning on and off the lights in your home, these incredibly high-tech devices can be both easy to use and fun. We will touch on some of the more useful features of Apple’s amazing products, as well as demonstrate some practical features and apps to help with “what ails ya,” or, to make your life a bit easier. This course will cover Apple devices and products only.