Explore Creative Pursuits
Twice a year a bundle of goodies arrives by email from LLI. Open the course catalog for Spring 2019 and dig in to find a dizzying range of possibilities for stimulating the mind and body over the coming weeks: a favorite presenter back with new ideas; a chance to deepen one’s understanding of art or a period in history; an invitation to explore creative paths you thought you were too old to try; insights into the communities we live in.
The course offerings that begin March 22 do not disappoint. Between the arts, philosophy, science, history, current events, and creative pursuits and physical activities, it will once again prove difficult for some members to select a digestible schedule when such a marvelous array beckons.
Active Participation Welcome
Several of the course titles are in the form of questions: this indicates the interactive character of most LLI offerings. LLI membership includes people with a wealth of experiences, skills, and knowledge. Most of the presenters welcome the engagement of class participants within whatever parameters are established to move the course along. To ensure effective interaction, class size is limited for several courses. Members are encouraged to select their choices as soon as possible, taking care not to overload one’s plate or brain.
The intellectual challenges posed by some spring term courses begin with the very first listing in the catalog, period one: “Does Wisdom Still Matter?” Nothing banal here, Cher de Rossiter, PhD, with a background in tech management, will lead an exploration of wisdom, neuroscience, and technology. Some other courses aim to merge philosophy, creativity or science with life challenges, particularly those posed by aging. Check out the discussion of Dr. Atul Gawande’s much-cited book Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End, presented by Nina Lynch who supports older adults through the Rhinebeck at Home nonprofit, or the more prosaic but no less critical course on “Financial Planning for Seniors.”
Dealing with Today
Several courses encourage applying personal skills, thoughts, and memories to the creative arts and communication, and some make an effort to address how to navigate the current turbulent times: “Learning to Communicate about Our Differences in Civil and Noncombative Ways” will present six ways to conduct discourse, by a veteran of business and development programs, H. Tucker Upshaw, PhD. Can one really talk to the other side? Take the course and see. And former foreign service officer William Goldman is back with his popular “What Do You Think?,” during which class members discuss current issues as presented in individual news articles or op/eds. The presenter is adept at encouraging a range of opinions without allowing any bruises to be inflicted.
Writing and Reading
The catalog offers various opportunities to explore new and old ways of writing and reading with depth and relevance:
“Yoga and Writing,” led by experienced yoga teacher Susan Blacker and Hudson Valley poet Tana Miller will encourage participants to add poetry, journaling, memoir, and free writing to their yoga practice. If it’s that time in life to look back and tell your stories, writer Beverly LeBov Sloane will help participants produce compelling work in “Memoir Writing.” And by analyzing published poems, presenters Barbara Danish and Laura Brown will assist aspiring to writers to discover their own creative sparks and skills.
Additionally, for those intending to become writers–or those with completed work–, public readings may be part of the process. More and more, writers are called upon as performers, of their own work or others’. That’s the thinking behind actor Allan Lipper’s course “Reading Aloud: Finding Your Voice,” which will help students develop the skills to captivate audiences by means of the written word.
Exploring literature more analytically is a favorite pastime of LLI Bard members: in the spring, the creators of the podcast series “The Strange Recital: Fiction, Audio and ‘Reality,’” Brent Robison and Tom Newton, are returning to share some of their surreal, contemporary audio stories. And poet Anne Richey will lead a look into how Emily Dickinson grappled with the transformational changes during her lifetime in the course “Emily Dickinson: Pugilist and Poet.”
Reading selected works by three great American playwrights (O’Neill, Miller, and Williams), who in their plays dealt with disturbing national events, will form the basis of the course “Modern Madness” presented by Lou Trapani, Artistic and Managing Director of the CENTER for Performing Art in Rhinebeck.
Visual Arts
For the more visually oriented, art photographer Lauren Piperno is back with a new take on her inspirational seminars (“POV: One Word, a Thousand Pictures. Creating a Photo Series”). Her goal this semester is to encourage students to compose a series of images that express the photographer’s viewpoint.
How photojournalism recorded and influenced world events will be the theme of photographer Gary Miller’s course “World Events Through the Eyes of Photojournalism.” While Miller has also taught photo and video skills, for this spring he will share his amazing collection of critical images dating back to prehistoric cave drawings.
The Hudson Valley is home to many noted artists, past and living. LLI members taking “Meet the Artists” will talk in person about the creative process with a series of regional luminaries.
Music
Bard College’s world-famous musical offerings have provided material for several superb music-related courses. This spring, composer Joan Tower will be back with the Bard Conservatory students to perform and discuss works ranging from classical to contemporary as part of the course “Creating and Playing Music.”
How the work of J.S. Bach has been interpreted for various instruments and arrangements over time will be the focus of “Bach Transformed,” presented by performer-scholar Raymond Erickson.
And during “What Makes It Italian?” opera director Gina Cruso will use a curated selection of music to demonstrate how music defines and expresses national character.
History
Veteran LLI presenters of U.S. history are back with new offerings. It was not so long ago that our national government was split and in turmoil, targeting internal “enemies.” Attorney Stevin Bassin, who taught at Bard, the New School, and NYU, will guide a study of “The House Un-American Activities Committee and the McCarthy Hearings.” Mark Isaacs, a prolific raconteur and minister, will share his research into political violence in a course that examines “Six Assassinations that Changed America.”
With an anthropological approach to American history, “The Changing Meaning of Household Objects Over Time” will trace cultural changes through the things that people use. Presenter Carol Bassin is an investment adviser whose passion is the study of American decorative objects.
The Region
This spring, LLI members will have several opportunities to get to know the surrounding area by various means. Producer Regina Armstrong has assembled a series of Thursday walking tours aimed at providing an intimate view of the culture and history of the ever-changing town of Hudson. At the same time, she has produced a series of lectures about the transformation of Hudson. Among the different weekly presenters will be the town’s mayor Rick Rector, a former alderman, an urban planner, a writer and a musician.
Bicycling veteran George Jahn will lead a maximum of 16 participants down local roads (he says they are largely flat) for “Biking in the Hudson Valley,” which also features tips on bike maintenance and basic repairs.
Local Libations
Getting to know the region through its drink will be the theme of the course “Chef’s Studio: Libations in the Hudson Valley,” a quest which began for LLI in the spring of 2017 with presenter Valerie Balint’s “Chef’s Studio” series. In this course, participants will learn from local vintners, brewers and distillers about the history and renaissance of the domestic wine, beer, and spirits production and culture.
On the subject of alcohol, presenter Paul McLaughlin is also returning with his popular “Wine Tasting,” selecting examples from around the globe in his course on the advances in wine production and marketing.
In a rare opportunity to know one of the premier arts centers of the region, producer Jane Diamond has arranged for her “Dancers at Work” class to attend rehearsals—on off-Fridays–by visiting dance companies who will be performing at the Kaatsbaan International Dance Center in Tivoli.
Science and Medicine
LLI members became fascinated with bacteria during Dr. John Ferguson’s course last year. He is returning with a dramatic sequel: “Biology of Infectious Diseases: Viruses,” covering the most devastating and unusual viral diseases and means of controlling them.
Too Much Sitting?
And finally, if sitting too much gets you down, or if you had too many cookies at the refreshment table in Olin Hall, get up and move with “Tai Chi” early Friday afternoons, led by Annie LaBarge, right on campus. The meditative martial art “promotes longevity and increases cognition, strength, confidence, balance, and flexibility.” What more could anyone ask for?
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