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This class has been added since catalog publication.
Wilmington (Arsht Hall): December 5, 2024
Thursday at 1:00 PM
Join local artist Katie LeCocq in making your own hand sewn journal or sketchbook. We repurpose a variety of paper to build your custom book bound in the Japanese Stab Binding style using items you likely have around your home. Offered in partnership with The Art Studio, the arts education center of New Castle County’s Department of Community Services. Additional fee: Please note that this course requires an additional fee of $37. Participants receive a payment link from OLLI prior to the first class. There is also an additional $8 material fee due to the instructor at the first class.
Taught by: Katherine LeCocq, Nicole Sexton
This class has been added since catalog publication.
Wilmington (Arsht Hall): November 21, 2024
Thursday at 1:00 PM
Learn how to add a touch of gold to your artwork. Participants work on a snowy fox scene and go home with the know-how to add any metal leaf to their artwork. Offered in partnership with The Art Studio, the arts education center of New Castle County’s Department of Community Services. Additional fee: Please note that this course requires an additional fee of $37. Participants receive a payment link from OLLI prior to the first class. There is also an additional $10 material fee due to the instructor at the first class.
Taught by: Katherine LeCocq, Nicole Sexton
Wilmington (Arsht Hall): September 5, 2024 to December 5, 2024
Thursday at 12:45 PM
Art workshop in any medium. No instruction, but help if needed. A time to paint, relax and hang out with art friends.
Taught by: Dot Owens-Davis
Wilmington (Arsht Hall): September 5, 2024 to December 5, 2024
Thursday at 9:00 AM
Beginners and experienced students enjoy sculpting and ceramic techniques. Beginners work with the instructor alongside experienced students using simple coils, slabs and hand sculpting of figures, bas relief and ceramics. Emphasis on form and textures. Be creative; try what appeals to you. Please note additional fee mentioned above. Additional fee: $40 materials fee, payable to instructor.
Taught by: Joseph Germano, Isabel Kramen, Svetlana Lisanti
Wilmington (Arsht Hall): September 5, 2024 to December 5, 2024
Thursday at 12:45 PM
This workshop is an opportunity to further experience and enjoyment of pastel painting with others who share this interest. No formal instruction is offered, so familiarity with pastels is encouraged (but not required). Both facilitators and participants identify topics for short instructional videos. Participants paint from personal or other reference photos, or imagination. A positive critique session each week offers support and advice, as well as sharing skills, techniques, and ideas. Prerequisite: Pastel experience encouraged but not required.
Taught by: Ann Walker, Tricia Watson
Wilmington (Arsht Hall): September 5, 2024 to December 5, 2024
Thursday at 9:00 AM
Students work with a drawing supplied. Step-by-step instruction for successful pet paintings with assistance and support. Discussions and demonstrations on brushstrokes for different types of fur, realistic depiction of eyes, nose and tongue, composition, color and texture. After completion of the drawing-supplied painting, students start on their own painting with help. Supplies list for students to be issued at first class. Prerequisite: Students with prior acrylic painting experience.
Taught by: Emily Spadafora, Linda Simon
Wilmington (Arsht Hall): September 5, 2024 to December 5, 2024
Thursday at 9:00 AM
Learn the fundamentals of watercolor in this step-by-step introductory class. From brushstrokes to color blending and watercolor washes, create transparent art in this fluid medium. This is a progressive process. Regular attendance is beneficial.
Taught by: John Erickson, Isabelle Fugedy, Patti Morse, Patricia Scarpitti
Wilmington (Arsht Hall): October 17, 2024 to November 14, 2024
Thursday at 10:45 AM
There is a lot at stake here! Remember when you ran home after school to watch Dark Shadows, Barnabas and the Collins family? This class covers the history of Dark Shadows, behind the scenes information, characters and cast members, with special emphasis on Jonathan Frid and Barnabas Collins, supplemented with television and movie videos right out of Barnabas’ coffin, book biographies and CD recordings. Boo!
Taught by: Michael Walsh
Wilmington (Arsht Hall): September 5, 2024 to October 3, 2024
Thursday at 12:45 PM
Was she a kook or an unpolished gem? No one was quite sure when 18-year-old Barbara Streisand won a talent contest and a job at a Greenwich Village gay bar in 1960. Sixty years later, after losing an “a” and winning multiple Oscars, Grammys and Emmys, Barbra is a living legend. This class takes us back to where and when her legend began.
Taught by: Thomas Powderly
Wilmington (Arsht Hall): September 5, 2024 to December 5, 2024
Thursday at 2:30 PM
Strauss wrote music to investigate deep into the minds, hearts and lives of his characters. This is early 20th century, post-Freud music that can be both pleasant and challenging to listen to in the same opera. And, these operas are still entertaining! Conductors, singers and designers selected for this class are offering their very best work.
Taught by: Robert Violette
Wilmington (Arsht Hall): September 5, 2024 to December 5, 2024
Thursday at 2:30 PM
The OLLI Brass Quintet performs standard brass quintet literature and explores the available works from the Canadian Brass and other performing quintets. Members are selected by the instructor through audition. Limited to four advanced musicians, which include one additional trumpet, one horn, one trombone and one tuba.
Taught by: William Cavender
Wilmington (Arsht Hall): September 5, 2024 to December 5, 2024
Thursday at 12:45 PM
The Osher Chorus will learn holiday repertoire this fall from two collections of international carols arranged for mixed chorus. Not only will chorus members sing in a variety of musical styles but they will learn to sing in a variety of languages from around the world. A $20 fee will be charged per chorus member for two choral collections and their share of the expenses for the rehearsal tracks. A singer’s mask may be required if COVID protocols change. Prerequisite: Ability to sing on pitch and read music.
Taught by: Michael Bareham
Wilmington (Arsht Hall): September 5, 2024 to December 5, 2024
Thursday at 2:30 PM
The Osher Flute Choir enjoys playing a variety of musical styles from classical and popular to folk and baroque. This is a recurring class, but we welcome new members with prior playing experience. We share our expertise to improve tone, technique and intonation. The instructor is happy to answer any questions before registration. Prerequisite: Intermediate level flute.
Taught by: Margaret Love, Pamela Finkelman
Wilmington (Arsht Hall): September 5, 2024 to December 5, 2024
Thursday at 10:45 AM
Students continue their progress and increase their skill in playing the recorder. Course covers folk music as well as music of the Renaissance and Baroque periods. Prerequisite: Experience playing the recorder.
Taught by: Don von Schriltz, Andrew Corbett, Helene Furlong
Wilmington (Arsht Hall): September 5, 2024 to December 5, 2024
Thursday at 12:45 PM
A fun learning experience featuring easy pieces and duets. Study in small easy steps develops music sight-reading, left and right hand position and playing technique. Two to three hours of practice time a week is recommended. Students should rent or purchase a violin.
Taught by: Richard Wellons, Eleanor Dooley
Wilmington (Arsht Hall): September 5, 2024 to December 5, 2024
Thursday at 2:30 PM
A fun learning experience featuring interesting pieces and duets with growing skill and confidence. Continuing study of violin playing including scales, bowing and exercises, advancing to study of positions and solo pieces. Four to six hours of weekly practice time is recommended. Prerequisite: Skills equal to completion of Violin Instruction: Beginner; required text: Introducing the Positions for Violin, Vol 1, Harvey S. Whistler.
Taught by: Richard Wellons, Eleanor Dooley
Wilmington (Arsht Hall): September 5, 2024 to December 5, 2024
Thursday at 2:30 PM
Participating in recreational international folk dancing is a wonderful way to meet people in the U.S. and many other countries, since knowing other languages is not required. This mild to moderate form of exercise is a great way for seniors to maintain cardiac fitness, mobility balance and brain health. The focus is to learn dances that are frequently done in circles, lines or couples by local community groups in DE, PA , NJ and NY. Best to wear low heeled leather bottom shoes. Prerequisite: International Folk Dance experience.
Taught by: Lorraine Cohn, Martin Cohn
Wilmington (Arsht Hall): September 5, 2024 to December 5, 2024
Thursday at 12:45 PM
Philadelphia is famous for Independence Hall, the Phillies and Eagles, Rocky, cheesesteaks and soft pretzels. It is also famous for many firsts: library, hospital, medical school, university and zoo. There are so many stories to share: from art and science museums to department stores, parks and people. From Colonial Philly to current Philly!
Taught by: Judy Filipkowski
Wilmington (Arsht Hall): September 5, 2024 to December 5, 2024
Thursday at 10:45 AM
The course offers an in-depth review behind key U.S. economic developments and financial market events over the past 120 years. The course material focuses on two segments. The first highlights strides in economic growth from the beginning of the 20th century, with emphasis on changes in living and working conditions.
Taught by: William Francis
Wilmington (Arsht Hall): September 5, 2024 to October 3, 2024
Thursday at 9:00 AM
This course traces the history of the political, economic and social relations between the United States and India from the early beginnings of the U.S. to the present, and discusses prospects for the future, particularly after the changed circumstances post 9/11. Course includes updates regarding the Quad (collaboration between the U.S., Australia, Japan and India) in the Indo-Pacific region. Guest speakers may be included.
Taught by: Pradip Khaladkar
Wilmington (Arsht Hall): September 5, 2024 to December 5, 2024
Thursday at 2:30 PM
In the 123 years of the Nobel Prize in literature, only 17 women have been honored. We discuss specific works by Sigrid Undset (Norway), Nadine Gordimer (South Africa), Toni Morrison (U.S.), Herta Muller (Romania/Germany) and Alice Munro (Canada). Most classes include a lecture segment on the writer’s biography, the conditions she presents and how the work we read fits into her overall body of work. Required text: Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset ISBN# 976-0-14-118941-0 [and other books].
Taught by: Susan Shoemaker
Wilmington (Arsht Hall): September 5, 2024 to December 5, 2024
Thursday at 10:45 AM
When women writers began adapting the literary genres, they focused on topics unexamined by others, adopting a new perspective on the novel tradition. Perhaps they are shifting perspective again, this time aiming the literary camera lens on themselves. We take a look at that, but also discuss other novels where the lens has been refocused, including mysteries, historical novels and a literary classic. For more information, see the course website at https://sites.google.com/view/readnovels/.
Taught by: Rebecca Worley
Wilmington (Arsht Hall): September 5, 2024 to November 19, 2024
Thursday at 9:00 AM
Each class features an introduction followed by a video presentation and class discussion. Topics include Middle East realignment, climate technology and competition, science across borders, U.S.-China trade rivalry, NATO’s future, understanding Indonesia, High Seas Treaty, and pandemic preparedness. Purchase of the Great Decision Briefing Book is recommended. This is a hybrid class which will meet for 11 sessions.
Taught by: Steven Dombchik, Arthur Butler, Claude Faulkner
Wilmington (Arsht Hall): September 5, 2024 to October 3, 2024
Thursday at 9:00 AM
An introduction to writing your family history in narrative form. The emphasis is on writing short drafts to share with class members using suggested topics to ignite the process. Approaches include memoir or the remembered past, family stories, oral history, research-based analysis and creative nonfiction. Supportive and collaborative efforts.
Taught by: Susan Dion
Wilmington (Arsht Hall): September 5, 2024 to December 5, 2024
Thursday at 12:45 PM
In this class designed for OLLI instructors and students, we cover how to create and present a slide show containing text, pictures, sound, and videos. The goal is to deliver ideas and accompanying media to a class, organization, friends or relatives. The class starts with the basics of PowerPoint (first six weeks) then migrates to more advanced activities.
Taught by: Lewis Martin Jr., Anita Sterling
Wilmington (Arsht Hall): September 5, 2024 to December 5, 2024
Thursday at 10:45 AM
This course is for students with little or no previous instruction in the Spanish language. We start at the beginning. The course is based primarily on the textbook with supplementary stories and songs.
Taught by: Jeanne Hanson
Wilmington (Arsht Hall): September 5, 2024 to December 5, 2024
Thursday at 9:00 AM
This is the fifth semester of Spanish instruction. It includes textbook work, small group conversation and singing in Spanish. Prerequisite: Four semesters of OLLI Spanish or the equivalent. Required text: The Complete Ultimate Spanish, Ronni Gordon, ISBN #1264259107.
Taught by: Jeanne Hanson
Wilmington (Arsht Hall): September 5, 2024 to December 5, 2024
Thursday at 2:30 PM
The mission of the OLLI Eco Team is to support green behavior in our homes, communities and the world through our actions and education. We are a group that discusses our agenda for the year and breaks into groups to accomplish goals. Our focus for the semester is to implement elements of the UD Sustainability Plan. We develop immediate goals and devise action plans. Prerequisite: Willingness to participate in group actions.
Taught by: Judy Winters, Michael Rominger, Mark Mendelson
Wilmington (Arsht Hall): September 5, 2024 to December 5, 2024
Thursday at 12:45 PM
Join us as we prepare to move off our couches and walk a 5K right here at Arsht Hall! Each class includes stretching, tips for healthy eating and walks together. Every other week we welcome a guest to talk about products and or practices that can enhance your walking and your health!
Taught by: Karen Asenavage
Wilmington (Arsht Hall): September 5, 2024 to December 5, 2024
Thursday at 9:00 AM
Learn about yoga philosophy and lifestyle through instructor-guided yoga practice (poses, breathing and relaxation). Explore basic postures, stretches, breath control, balances, relaxation and meditation. Practice between sessions is helpful, but not required. Those with physical disabilities are welcome to participate according to their ability. Materials required: A yoga mat.
Taught by: Brian Hanson, Lorie Tudor, Barbara Bareford
Wilmington (Arsht Hall): September 5, 2024 to December 5, 2024
Thursday at 12:45 PM
Chair yoga is offered as an option for those who wish to practice yoga and are uncomfortable transitioning between floor poses and standing poses. Options for stretches and yoga poses are offered, including sitting on a chair and standing using a chair for support. Materials required: Blocks and a tie or belt are helpful.
Taught by: Carol Lovett
Wilmington (Arsht Hall): September 5, 2024 to November 14, 2024
Thursday at 10:45 AM
Presenting the latest info on the Earth: earthquakes, volcanos, oceanography, caverns, the atmosphere, glaciers, coal oil diamonds and much more. All with beautiful pictures, some stunning and wonderful videos with entertaining explanations by me! No prior knowledge is presumed.
Taught by: Craig Lewis
Wilmington (Arsht Hall): September 5, 2024 to November 14, 2024
Thursday at 10:45 AM
Knowledgeable guest speakers present lectures on timely regional, national and international issues across a broad spectrum of topics, followed by a lively question and answer session.
Taught by: Peg Stanford, Nancy Hannigan, Jeff Ostroff
Wilmington (Arsht Hall): October 17, 2024 to November 14, 2024
Thursday at 2:30 PM
How is the real estate market? You’ll find out about all the recent changes for home sellers. In the meantime, ignore the hype and learn how to appeal to those picky HGTV-loving buyers, regardless of the shifting market. In this lively, interactive class, you create a case study for your own house based on the instructor’s signature buyer-guest experience method. This class is for anyone thinking about selling now or in the future. Past participants are welcome.
Taught by: Madeline Dobbs
Wilmington (Arsht Hall): September 5, 2024 to December 5, 2024
Thursday at 10:45 AM
Mexican Train Dominoes is easy to learn and lots of fun to play. Try it with us and see for yourself. This class is for both new and experienced players.
Taught by: Mary McNeeley, Addie Cole
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at the University of Delaware
OLLI is an academic cooperative for adults 50 and over to enjoy classes, teach, exchange ideas and socialize together, with no exams or educational requirements for participation. OLLI welcomes you.
Kent/Sussex | Wilmington