Acting, Art, & Art History   

Many of Shakespeare’s sonnets revolve around the destructive power of time, a fear of mortality, and the joys, yearnings, and agonies of procreation, love, and sexual desire. The universality of these themes coupled with Shakespeare’s remarkable insight and depth of feeling makes the sonnets readily accessible to 21st-century readers. We examine the sonnet, consider Shakespeare’s underlying musical score, and look at ways to decipher the rhythm and image codes in the verse. Participants will read aloud and present a sonnet of their choosing.

Repeat in-person course. Format includes discussion.

REQUIRED BOOK: Shakespeare’s Sonnets, Stephen Booth,
ISBN 300024959

This is an invitation to everyone who’s played a few improv games (at OLLI or elsewhere) and wants to play more. I call improv “play for intelligent adults.” And play deserves a lot of respect! Humans (and loads of other critters) are biologically wired to play. And like all other universally held biological characteristics, the urge to play exists to increase our chances of survival. Having said all that, the objective of this class will not be to discuss fun, but to make it. Please join us if this sounds like your cup of tea!
Repeat in-person course. Format includes lecture, discussion, film, hands-on, movement.

“The best camera is the one that’s with you.”— Chase Jarvis. For many of us, that camera is the iPhone we carry in our pocket every day. This course will cover setting up your iPhone for shooting better photos, focusing and composition techniques, editing on your iPhone (or iPad if you have fat fingers like me), and how to find your way to shooting in black & white on the streets of Maine. Join the international iPhone photography community. Repeat workshop. Format includes lecture, discussion, and hands-on.

REQUIRED MATERIALS: You will need a relatively up-to-date iPhone and the Snapseed app (free in the app store).

“The best camera is the one that’s with you.”— Chase Jarvis. For many of us, that camera is the iPhone we carry in our pocket every day. This course will cover setting up your iPhone for shooting better photos, focusing and composition techniques, editing on your iPhone (or iPad if you have fat fingers like me), and how to find your way to shooting in black & white on the streets of Maine. Join the international iPhone photography community. Repeat workshop. Format includes lecture, discussion, and hands-on.

REQUIRED MATERIALS: You will need a relatively up-to-date iPhone and the Snapseed app (free in the app store).

Do artists see the world differently than the average viewer? In what ways do artists see, interpret, and translate visual information into artwork? This course gives a unique view into the difference between an artist’s “aesthetic” vision and an ordinary person’s “customary” way of seeing the world. The course will use a new book written after years of teaching called Studio Seeing: A Practical Guide to Drawing, Painting, and Perception. The course will not only change your perception of “seeing” but will also take you on a fascinating journey through centuries of art demonstrating key concepts. The first part of the course will be grounded in the book/classroom and there will also be a few sessions where we will visit the Portland Museum of Art, Cove Street Arts, and Greenhut Galleries, among others — perhaps even the instructor’s studio. New in-person course. Format includes lecture and discussion.
REQUIRED BOOK: Studio Seeing: A Practical Guide to Drawing, Painting, and Perception, Michael Torlen, ISBN 9781789387896

This course will explore the achievements of women artists throughout history following Linda Nochlin’s Feminist essay, “Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?” Based on The Metropolitan Museum’s curated tour format, this course encourages classroom dialogue by posing questions and answers. Each session will replicate a gallery exhibition of 10–30 works showing themes by historically prominent women artists. This seminar course is a “shared inquiry” dialogue where knowledge of art history is not required.

New in-person course. Format includes lecture and discussion.

In this very playful gathering, we will have fun with easy light-hearted theater games. You’ll practice the games with your group and then find yourself naturally applying the skills in all arenas of your life. From the shy to the bold, this is a safe place to try something different, connect with others in a deeper way, gain new perspectives, give your self-expression and creativity an outlet, and feel refreshed and rejuvenated. The final class is an informal, interactive performance party. No experience necessary! New in-person course. Format includes discussion, hands on learning, and movement.

This five-week introductory course teaches the basics of the Zentangle pen & ink drawing method of art. It is an easy-to-learn, relaxing, and fun way to create beautiful images by drawing patterns within structured spaces.  Zentangle has proven to have beneficial health effects as well! This course will provide instruction in fundamental pen strokes, multiple tangle patterns, and simple shading techniques. Each class focuses on learning a specific design style while learning a variety of “tangles” that employ this type of design specific. We will also explore basic components of design and ideas for embellishment. New remote workshop. Format includes discussion and hands-on.
REQUIRED MATERIALS: Materials Kit for Zentangle 101, ($15; purchased from facilitator)

This five-week introductory course teaches the basics of the Zentangle pen & ink drawing method of art. It is an easy-to-learn, relaxing, and fun way to create beautiful images by drawing patterns within structured spaces.  Zentangle has proven to have beneficial health effects as well! This course will provide instruction in fundamental pen strokes, multiple tangle patterns, and simple shading techniques. Each class focuses on learning a specific design style while learning a variety of “tangles” that employ this type of design specific. We will also explore basic components of design and ideas for embellishment. New remote workshop. Format includes discussion and hands-on.
REQUIRED MATERIALS: Materials Kit for Zentangle 101, ($15; purchased from facilitator)

Shading could be said to be the most exciting component of the Zentangle method! After your tangles have been placed on your tile, it is your shading techniques that make your overall design “pop.” In this class, you will explore shading basics, and how to apply these skills to the original white, black, Renaissance, and grey Zentangle tiles.

New remote workshop. Format includes hands-on learning.

REQUIRED MATERIALS: Beginner materials ($15) can be mailed directly to the registrants and payment is made directly to the facilitator via Venmo or a check.