Fine Arts/Literature   

In this class, we will read "The Guns at Last Light: The War in Western Europe, 1944-45," volume three of Rick Atkinson’s compelling history of WWII. Beginning with the Normandy Invasion, Atkinson chronicles the advance of the Allied armies across Europe, which he describes as “the most prodigious undertaking in the history of warfare.” Along the way are memorable portraits of Eisenhower, George Marshall, General Patton, Omar Bradley, and, of course, FDR and Churchill. More than just a recounting of battles, this book is a vivid portrait of war’s effect on soldiers and civilians. Class time will be spent discussing what the class finds most interesting about each reading. Please borrow or purchase Rick Atkinson's "The Guns at Last Light: The War in Western Europe, 1944-45" (2014), paperback.

 

 

In this class, students will learn the basic painting skills. We will explore layout and design, tonal values and color exploration, all while learning about the medium itself. Six to eight paintings will be finished by the end of the term. Subjects will range from still lifes to landscapes and possibly animals. Students will work not from other artists' paintings, but rather from photographs. Beginner and intermediate painters are welcome! Students will need to bring their own supplies. Supply List  A $10 Artist Fee will be added to your registration fee to cover the cost of the artist instructor. 

 

Learn to play a wind instrument and read music: actual group lessons on the soprano recorder. Designed for adults who have no musical experience. Regular music lessons— you, the instrument, the lesson book, and the instructor— but as a small group with opportunities for interaction and ensemble playing (duets, etc.). Emphasis on playing beautiful, expressive sounds and accurate rhythms from the beginning. We progress at a pace comfortable for the group. Yes, you have to practice. Good for the brain, and a whole lot of fun. Students will need to purchase a recorder and a music book (approx. $15 total).

 

We watched eight superb noirs last fall, but there's still so much cream to skim, new adventures to be had. Want to go sleuthing with Raymond Chandler's most famous detective? Grab your trench coat. Want a noir in Technicolor? Let it blaze forth. Maybe a Western noir? Sure thing, pardner. How about a sultry, passionate noir? Bring your church fan! A noir on a speeding train? All aboard. A noir that later became an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical? Strike up the overture! The bottom line is this: there'll be something for everyone. Students who missed last fall's class are welcome to register for this class. 

 

 

A look at groundbreaking (sometimes hidden in plain sight) American and international films. This fall selection will include the best films that have been showcased over the past eight times the class has been offered; however, the discussion surrounding the films will be new. The instructor will contact you for film suggestions selected from this document: FA26 International Film Fest Options prior to class start date. Participants will explore award-winning films through lively discussion. Viewer discretion advised.

 

 

Join kid-lit author Kerry Ferguson for a madcap literary journey through the silly, sublime, joyful, and surprisingly subtle world of picture books. From Ruth Krauss to Maurice Sendak and Floyd Cooper to Margaret Wise Brown, 20th and 21st century authors have reflected, and in some cases created, the experience of childhood in all its magic, terror, glory and wonder. Each week, we will explore the work of a single author looking closely at technical aspects (word count, revelatory page turns, voice) as well as the universal thematic concerns of some of the most important and innovative authors of the genre. In the last section of class, participants will have the opportunity to learn the process of unlocking and crafting their own original stories.

 

 

Whether or not you have read these classics before, they are worth reading again and are interesting to discuss with peers. All three were written by women in the first half of the nineteenth century, and read together they offer interesting insights and commentary on both their own era and ours. The instructor will provide background information and literary perspective, but this class is discussion based. Students will read about 100 pages a week of the following three novels, starting with "Emma": Jane Austen's "Emma," Charlotte Bronte's "Jane Eyre," and Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein."

 

Let's explore together two short novels: "The Stranger" by Albert Camus and "Ethan Frome" by Edith Wharton. Any edition will do. The poems are to be decided. Suggestions are welcome and the instructor will contact you via email to see if you have any poem suggestions. Copies of the poems will be provided. A $5 fee will be added to your cart to cover the cost of poem copies. 

 

How do public figures shape the stories that survive them—and how do artists, filmmakers, and historians reshape those stories in turn? We shall explore the fragile boundary between lived experience and public memory through films that examine legacy as performance, construction, and contest (Citizen Kane, Amadeus, Jackie, Spencer, Never Look Away, Neruda, I’m Not There). We will consider how iconic individuals become myths, symbols, or cultural battlegrounds. We will examine the role of media, biography, art, and imagination in shaping how lives are remembered. Blending cultural history, close analysis, and lively discussion, this course invites participants to rethink the narratives that define greatness, fame, and remembrance. Participants will watch the films at home on their own (we'll discuss this process during the first class) and all films are available on Amazon Prime Video for $3.99 each. Viewer discretion advised.