Wednesday AM   

In this class we will venture outside to study the local trees — their overall structure, trunk, branches, leaves, and bark. We will draw and paint the individual elements. Spring will be a rich time of year to do this as the leaves branch out and we can hold them in our hands as well as see the overall bone structure of the trunks. It will be exciting to experience the varieties and truly get to know them. Think maple, oak, ginko, ilex, and cherry to name a few. I always like to think about how trees love to dance. Repeat in-person course. Format includes hands-on learning.

MATERIALS: Pencils (2, 4, 6, B2, 4, and 5), good eraser, good set of watercolors, either pencils and/regular block paints, charcoal, good drawing paper (at least 9 x 12 in. or 14 x 17 in.; Strathmore, for example). Bring a board to lean on and a small table to put your supplies on. Also water, if you want to use paint. I find wearing a hat is helpful for sitting outdoors.

SUGGESTED READING: Dirr’s Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs, Michael Dirr, ISBN 9780881929010

In this class we will view and discuss four of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s late operas: Cosi fan Tutte, Don Giovanni, Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro) — all with libretti by the composer’s great collaborator, Lorenzo da Ponte — and his final opera, Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute). The videos are filmed live in magnificent opera houses with superb conductors, and brilliant singers, and include performances from Teatro a la Scala in Milan, the Salzburg Festival in Austria, and The Royal Opera House Covent Garden and the Glyndbourne Festival in Britain. Each opera is about three hours long and will be viewed over two class sessions. Written material will be provided and discussion topics will include Mozart’s life and musical style, the staging, the stories, and more.

Repeat in-person course. Format includes lecture, discussion, and film.

By nature, writing is a solitary enterprise with authors working in quiet spaces with quills and pens. However, outside their workspaces is a world of conflicting politics, cutthroat business, and complex culture. In preparation for OLLI’s literary trip to England, we will dive into seven historical periods: Shakespeare in the 1590s, John Milton in the 1650s-60s, Samuel Johnson in the 1750s, Jane Austen in the 1810s, Charles Dickens in the 1850s, Arthur Conan Doyle in the 1880s-90s, and the Inklings and Evelyn Waugh in the 1930s-40s. Our quick exploration will include kings and queens, political rivalries, literary and artistic trends, and a glimpse of everyday life onthe farm and in cities. Everyone is welcome; registration for the trip is not a requirement to join the class.

New in-person course on Wednesdays. Format includes lecture, discussion, and film.

Aging creates gradual physical and mental challenges. We all make both informed and uninformed choices daily that can have a significant impact on our future health. If you are willing to change old habits, accept new challenges, and travel outside your comfort zone, this course is for you. Join me in exploring scientifically backed principles of movement, nutrition and habits that can directly impact the effect on many diseases. Learn and sample movement and nutritional “hacks” you can use daily to improve your ability to move, increase energy levels, decrease pain, and create better mental health. If you are up for the challenge, you can optimize your health and thrive!  

New in-person course. Format includes lecture, hand on learning, and movement.

MATERIALS: Dress comfortably in exercise clothes. 

Art in the streets (including graffiti, murals, stickers, and paste-ups) gives voice to marginalized communities, shapes urban environments, and challenges institutional norms. This course explores graffiti and street art in the U.S. and around the world, examining their histories, motivations, and social impact. Participants will consider the rise of global mural movements, efforts to preserve and present street art, and its evolving role in activism, community identity, and social change.

Led by two Maine Master Naturalists, the course will explore selected topics associated with springtime transformations in Maine. Topics will include changing landscapes and human influences, trees and plants, amphibians and vernal pools, birds and migration, and ferns and lichen. The course will involve two field trips and several hands-on activities. Students will maintain a nature journal and report their phenological observations.

New in-person course. Format includes lecture, discussion, hands-on learning, and movement.

There’s a mist of myth and misunderstanding surrounding the 1960s. One way to poke through that mist is by looking at something tangible, like the speeches of the time. There were lots of significant ones because the times and the conditions demanded them. And there were leaders who moved us with their words. Thanks to television, videotape, and YouTube we have recordings to look at and learn from.

Note: This course is an updated edition of an earlier course. New speeches have been added, more events are covered. Repeat remote course. Format includes lecture, discussion, and film.

Starting with a review of 20th Century Modernism up to 2026, this course will cover the explosion of Perpetual Contemporary Art to the present. We will use the Metro-politan Museum guided tour format of viewing thematic exhibitions with dialogue between a “facilitator” and participants. This will include worldwide players and explore reactionary movements and attitudes. This is a “shared inquiry” course where knowledge of Art History is not required. It is about viewing art and having a discussion.
New in-person course. Format includes lecture and discussion.