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- Ancient Maya Civilization In Person
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Maximum Enrollment: 25
Have you ever wondered about a radically different way of *being in the world*? This course leads us into the extraordinary realm of the ancient Maya of Mexico and Central America. Through PowerPoint lectures and hands-on activities, we'll learn and think about Maya culture, religion, art, calendrics, government, and warfare, using knowledge and perspectives from archaeology, anthropology, and hieroglyphic decipherment. Our optional parallel read is "House of the Waterlily, A Novel of the Ancient Maya World," written by the instructor.
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- Building the Meal - A Focus on the Foundations of Cooking Session 1
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Fee: $60.00
Dates: 2/17/2026 - 3/17/2026
Times: 2:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Days: Tu
Sessions: 5
Building: Sullivan University
Room: Lab 3
Instructor: John Foster
Maximum Enrollment: 20
Welcome back to OLLI! We will be learning how to put together a complete meal during our five weeks, complete with stops from around the world. You'll get to see and taste some new dishes and old favorites and even join in there work if you want! (Fee includes food cost)
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- Building the Meal - A Focus on the Foundations of Cooking Session 2
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Fee: $60.00
Dates: 4/7/2026 - 5/5/2026
Times: 2:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Days: Tu
Sessions: 5
Building: Sullivan University
Room: Lab 3
Instructor: John Foster
Maximum Enrollment: 20
Welcome back to OLLI! We will be learning how to put together a complete meal during our five weeks, complete with stops from around the world. You'll get to see and taste some new dishes and old favorites and even join in there work if you want! (Fee includes food cost)
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- Fashions of the Past: What We Wore, Who We Are In Person
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Maximum Enrollment: 20
Do you love historical costuming in movies and BBC-TV series? Does your family treasure an old christening or wedding dress? This course explores the story of fashion change during America's 250 years, and the economic, artistic and social forces that drive Western fashion in all periods. You can learn to find, identify, understand and care for apparel that survives from our past.
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- Four Paramount French Romantic and Realist Painters: Gericault-Delacroix-Courbet-Manet In Person
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Maximum Enrollment: 22
We focus on these four renowned rebel painters (active 1815- 70) who paved the way to Impressionism and Modernism. The Anglophile and equestrian, Géricault, captured the spirit of wild horses in action, did unprecedented portraits of mental patients, and left a powerful masterpiece, "The Raft of the Medusa." Delacroix, the quintessential Romantic, revived the colorful and grandiose style of Rubens and discovered a special kind of light during his visit to North Africa; Courbet, leader the Realist movement, monumentalized everyday scenes, which he rendered in a bold, dark technique. Manet shocked viewers with a new type of realism, inspired by Japanese prints with novel spatial arrangements. Moreover, he reduced objects and figures to highly simplified forms, making him the Father of Modern art.
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- From Doo-Wop to Woodstock: The Music of the 60's In Person
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Maximum Enrollment: 20
In this class we will dive into the music of the 60s and examine its impact on a generation. There will be a lot of listening as we explore the wide variety of the decade's music. But we'll not just listen. We will also discuss how the music helped shape the culture, with some of it focused locally on changes taking place in Lexington. The course will encompass many facets of the music industry. We anticipate lively interaction as we listen to and discuss the music of this exceptional decade.
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- Keep Watching the Skies! 1950's Science Fiction Movies (Hybrid) In Person
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Maximum Enrollment: 25
Film historians and fans alike look back on the 1950s as the golden age of science fiction B-movies. In this course, you'll have the chance to rediscover these cinematic treasures—and perhaps experience some for the very first time. Together, we will watch and analyze eleven iconic science fiction films, delving into the stories behind their creation, examining their cinematic techniques, and discussing the impact each had on the evolution of the science fiction genre. We'll also assess the plausibility of the science and technology presented in these films, and explore how their themes mirror Cold War anxieties and the shifting social and cultural landscape of 1950s America. Above all, this course is designed to rekindle the sense of wonder that these movies inspired when we first encountered them.
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- Keep Watching the Skies! 1950's Science Fiction Movies (Hybrid) Zoom Only
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Fee: $30.00
Dates: 2/6/2026 - 4/17/2026
Times: 1:00 PM - 3:45 PM
Days: F
Sessions: 11
Building: ZOOM
Room:
Instructor: Ed Reeves
Maximum Enrollment: 25
Film historians and fans alike look back on the 1950s as the golden age of science fiction B-movies. In this course, you'll have the chance to rediscover these cinematic treasures—and perhaps experience some for the very first time. Together, we will watch and analyze eleven iconic science fiction films, delving into the stories behind their creation, examining their cinematic techniques, and discussing the impact each had on the evolution of the science fiction genre. We'll also assess the plausibility of the science and technology presented in these films, and explore how their themes mirror Cold War anxieties and the shifting social and cultural landscape of 1950s America. Above all, this course is designed to rekindle the sense of wonder that these movies inspired when we first encountered them.
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- Lifelong Philosophy SIG Zoom Only
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Fee: $0.00
Dates: 2/6/2026 - 5/8/2026
Times: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Days: F
Sessions: 14
Building: ZOOM
Room: Online Only
Instructor: Maryann Wellman
Maximum Enrollment: 25
The Lifelong Philosophy SIG is a discussion group addressing contemporary issues which incorporate historical philosophical concepts. Members meet weekly and dialog informally about a social, ethical or humanist topic selected by the group within certain broad categories such as art, science, medical advances, technology, etc. Additionally, members periodically share their experiences with books, film and other media that convey a particular philosophical theme and/or stimulate deeper thinking. SIG members who so choose gather socially from time to time to strengthen the bonds of friendship among members and share ideas in a relaxed setting.
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- Masters Teaching Masters - Shaping the Future of Art In Person
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Maximum Enrollment: 30
Ever wonder who taught and gave inspiration to artists like Leonardo, Titian, Michelangelo and Matisse? In this course we will explore the connections between several artists and their teachers. We will look at Leonardo’s early work when in the studio of Verrocchio, who in turn was trained by Donatello. While at the Ecole des Beau-Arts, Gustave Moreau had Matisse and Georges Rouault as students in his studio. In Venice, the Bellini brothers trained both Titian and Giorgione.
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- O'Keeffe and Others In Person
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Fee: $30.00
Dates: 2/10/2026 - 3/17/2026
Times: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Days: Tu
Sessions: 6
Building: Easter Seals
Room: Auditorium
Instructor: David Shattuck
Maximum Enrollment: 40
We will look closely at the life and art of Georgia O'Keeffe, but only for the first two classes. In the remaining classes we will view art from about 3 dozen women artists, spanning several centuries, the vast majority of whom remain largely unknown. Because of this, I am more excited about preparing this Course than any other I've presented.
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- Reading Plato: An Introduction to Philosophy In Person
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Fee: $30.00
Dates: 2/3/2026 - 2/26/2026
Times: 10:30 AM - 11:45 AM
Days: Tu Th
Sessions: 8
Building: The Living Arts & Science Center
Room: Glow Room
Instructor: Steven Froehlich
Maximum Enrollment: 18
In this course we will read carefully some of the fundamental writings in the history of philosophy: the dialogues of Plato, and we will try to think philosophically about the ideas presented in this writing.
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- Renaissance Art and Architecture in Italy: The High Renaissance, Explore the Grandeur of Italy's Artistic Pinnacle In Person
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Maximum Enrollment: 45
Continue your Renaissance journey—or begin anew— with an exploration of the High Renaissance, a period of extraordinary creative achievement that radiated far beyond Florence to the courts of Mantua and the great cities of Rome and Venice. This richly illustrated and immersive course reveals how art, architecture, and cultural ambition converged to shape some of the most iconic works in Western history. Together, we'll examine the vibrant interplay between artists, patrons, religious institutions, and political powers that fueled this golden age. From aweinspiring church commissions to the refined splendor of courtly art, we’ll uncover how creativity became a powerful force for expression, devotion, and prestige. Guided by themes such as the revival of classical antiquity, humanist ideals, and artistic innovation, we’ll encounter the genius of Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael, Giorgione, Titian, and more. Whether continuing from Part I or joining fresh, this course offers a compelling window into the grandeur and legacy of Italy’s High Renaissance.
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