OLLI-UO Events

Tuesday, May 22, 1:30–3:30 p.m.
70 NW Couch Street Portland, OR 97209

Each year, when members of the Texas Boys’ Choir dress in Revolutionary costume to celebrate the Continental soldier of yore, they strike up a song about one such soldier—a woman named Deborah Sampson, who fought in George Washington’s army for three years and was awarded a pension by one of the first acts of the U.S. Congress. Deborah Sampson is just one example of the high-mettled heroine of popular ballads who masquerades as a man and ventures to war for love and glory. Songs celebrating such women flourished as “hits” for more than 200 years, reaching their zenith in the eighteenth century. The ballads are still alive today, embedded in the folksong traditions of America and Britain.

This presentation introduces audiences to the courageous heroines of ballads and history—Hannah Snell in eighteenth-century England, Deborah Sampson in Revolutionary America, Sarah Rosetta Wakeman in the American Civil War—as well as the folk songs that celebrate their valor and deeds. We’ll listen to ten ballads from the 120 songs I have collected, in varied contexts and musical styles from Elizabethan to present-day cowboy songs. We also will discuss aspects of national history and politics illustrated by the songs, the cultural forms that shape heroism and women, and the popular music traditions of ordinary people.

Raised on a small ranch in the rural Pacific Northwest, presenter Dianne Dugaw began her career as a folksinger. In the 1970s, she traveled to the Ozark Mountain region of Arkansas and Oklahoma to collect traditional songs, hymns, and tunes. After earning a B.A. in English at the University of Portland, Dugaw went on to earn a master’s degree in English from the University of Colorado. She then studied literature, music, drama, and folklore at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and received her Ph.D. in English. For the past fifteen years, she has taught in the Department of English and the Folklore Program at the University of Oregon. Dugaw has published three books on topics in literary history and folklore and, in 2002, she recorded a CD entitled “Dangerous Examples—Fighting and Sailing Women in Song.” She has written numerous articles on literature, folklore, popular culture, and women’s studies, which have appeared in national and international journals. She continues to play music and sing in the Eugene area.

Discover Lifelong Learning Day

Saturday, February 4
10:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

A broad sampling of classes, lectures and workshops are on the menu at “Discover Lifelong Learning,” a free, one-day introduction to the University of Oregon in Portland Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.

Register for one or all sessions, at no cost. Pre-registration is required as spaces are limited for some classes. To register, call the OLLI-UO office at 503-412-3653 or 800-824-2714. Click on the course title to register online.

10:00 a.m. The Rise of Humans: Great Scientific Debates
[DVD discussion group]

Lecture: Neandertals—Extinct or Ancestors?
Facilitator: Mike Ellis
“Follow along as scientists examine Neandertal genes to determine just how close our ties are to this primitive species, which disappeared about 30,000 years ago. What scientists found when the entire genome sequence of Neandertals was reconstructed in 2010—and what it reveals about the true fate of Neandertals—may surprise you” (http://bit.ly/n3H5sI).

11:00 a.m.–noon Chinese Culture [lecture]

Presenter: Professor Emeritus of Anthropology Philip Silverman
This lecture will provide a selective examination of China’s history and major social institutions, such as the family and religion. Silverman will examine various contradictions and conflicts of Chinese life today that make the country an inexhaustible source of fascination for some and a troubling concern for others.

Presenter Philip Silverman is an OLLI member and professor emeritus of anthropology from California State University Bakersfield.

Noon–12:50 p.m. Lunch

Participants are welcome to bring their own lunch, but refrigeration will not be provided. A catered option is available:

• Sandwich Sack Lunch—$9.25 Your freshly made sandwich, 1oz lightly salted Kettle chips, our petite chocolate chip & Elephant shortbread cookies
• Salad Sack Lunch—$9.95 Your delicious entrée salad, fresh baguette slice & butter, our petite chocolate chip & Elephant shortbread cookies

1:00–2:00 p.m. Popular Houses of Oregon [lecture]

Presenter: Professor of Architecture Thomas C. Hubka
For over 150 years, settlers to Oregon have constructed a range of common houses that contribute to the state’s varied residential landscapes. Professor Thomas C. Hubka will present the full range of these houses and analyze what is typical and unique about them in relation to residences from the rest of the country. Through a series of slide lectures, he will outline the major periods of housing construction and describe the dominant house types that have been built in various periods throughout Oregon, including bungalows, Capes, four-squares, early settlement houses, ranches, mobile homes, and multi-unit houses. Residences will also be interpreted according to their construction systems, design development, and family usage and history.

2:00–2:20 p.m. Coffee Break

2:30–3:30 Leaving a Trace: Writing About Your Life [workshop]

Instructor: Judi McGavin
In this introductory session to the art of memoir writing, instructor Judi McGavin will lead participants through writing exercises. This workshop is part of an ongoing memoir writing class.

Based on the instructional model, seating is limited for the DVD discussion group and writing workshop. Seating is unlimited for the two lectures.

Parking and Transportation

For information on directions and parking for the White Stag Block, please visit our website: Parking and Transportation

About OLLI-UO in Portland

OLLI-UO strives to encourage the joy of learning without the requirements of tests, grades or formal admission. College degrees or previous affiliation with the University of Oregon are not required for membership. For more information on OLLI-UO, visit our website at http://osher.uoregon.edu.

Tuesdays, February 21–March 20, 2012
1:30–3:30 p.m.

Printmaking has been an art and craft throughout the history of Western art, yet has often been neglected in the mainstream studies of painting and drawing.  But as we will notice, most prominent artists over time have also been major printmakers.  In this richly illustrated course, we will see Durer, Rembrandt, Goya, Picasso and scores of other artists all favoring techniques suitable to their own styles.

We define a print as simply an artist’s image transferred to paper in order to make multiple impressions for distribution.  Sometimes the intent was to reproduce a painting or to illustrate a text, but more significantly to create a work of art best expressed in a printing medium. We will explain the basic techniques of printmaking: Relief (e.g. woodcut), Intaglio (e.g. etching), Planar (e.g. lithography) as we weave them and their many ramifications  into relevant social and artistic eras.

• February 21
  Introduction; Examples of Printmaking Techniques 15th and 16th century, including Durer and others
• February 28
  16th and 17th century, including Rembrandt and others
• March 6
  18th and 19th century, Goya, Impressionists and others
• March 13
  20th century, early modern
• March 20
  20th century, Picasso, late modern and others

Instructor
Art Historian, Joan Kirsch, will teach this ten-session course. Kirsch is currently a lecturer in art history, a docent for the Portland Art Museum, and an artist of woodcuts and collage.

Registration

Registration required. Space is limited. Call 800-824-2714 to reserve your seat.

Cost

Free for OLLI-UO members.
$40.00 per person for non OLLI-UO members.

About OLLI-UO

Drawing from the rich resources of current and retired UO faculty as well as independent scholars, community experts, and peer leaders, OLLI-UO strives to create an atmosphere centered around the joy of learning without the stress of tests, grades, or admission requirements. College degrees or previous affiliation with the University of Oregon are not required for membership.

To learn more about the OLLI-UO in Portland program, current course offerings or membership, call 800-824-2714 or visit osher.uoregon.edu.

OLLI-UO in Portland

Find a group that fits your interests.
The following study and discussion groups meet weekly unless otherwise specified. Please see the winter break closure announcement below. All members are welcome to attend these sessions. Past participation is not required. For questions, study materials or more information on these groups, please call the OLLI-UO in Portland office at 503-412-3653.

Tuesdays

The Rise of Humans: Great Scientific Debates
December 6 and 13, 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

The Tuesday morning DVD discussion group will begin a new Teaching Company course in December: The Rise of Humans: Great Scientific Debates.

“Trying to understand our human origins has always been a fundamental part of who we are. One of the core things we want to know is how we came to be. Thousands of years ago, human civilizations developed elaborate stories to explain the origins of humans. But today, with the help of dramatic archaeological discoveries and groundbreaking advancements in technology and scientific understanding, we are closer than ever before to learning the true story.

In recent decades, paleoanthropology has exploded, bringing us closer than ever before to making sense of this controversial subject and providing us with a richer understanding of our origins. It’s also sparked continued debate among the greatest minds in the field and prompted anthropologists to revise, update, and even, in some cases, overturn ideas and theories about key issues in human evolution” (http://bit.ly/n3H5sI). [DVD discussion group] Facilitator: Mike Ellis.

Wednesdays

How to Listen to and Understand Great Music
December 7 and 14, 10:30 a.m.–noon

“Music, the most abstract and sublime of all the arts, is capable of transmitting an unbelievable amount of expressive, historical, and even philosophical information to us, provided that our antennas are up and pointed in the right direction.

“In this Teaching Company DVD course “you will hear and understand an entire language of unmatched beauty, genius, and power [as] Professor Greenberg takes you inside magnificent compositions by Bach, Handel, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Verdi, Wagner, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky, and more.” (http://bit.ly/mEQ6kk) [DVD discussion group] Facilitator: Joanna Rood

Thursdays

Extra Innings
December 1, 8, and 15, 10:30 a.m.–noon

As “third agers,” we are experiencing, for the first time in human history, thirty additional years of healthy life. This experimental discussion course will utilize emerging findings from the science of gerontology as well as gerogogy, defined as self-directed learning using life experience as a platform. This discussion course is not a life-review course. Class discussion will not only allow participants to look back on past experiences, but will encourage participants to look ahead as they travel through their third age.
Facilitator: Ken Calvin

Literati
December 1 and 15, 1:00–2:30 p.m.

In December, Literati will read and discuss two works:

• Franz Kafka’s 1915 novella, The Metamorphosis on December 1
• Isabel Wilkerson’s novel, The Warmth of Other Suns on December 15

Copies of The Metamorphosis are available online to read and download for free at Proj­ect Gutenberg (www.gutenberg.org). For a hard copy of The Metamorphosis, please call the OLLI-UO office at 503-412-3653. Literati will supplement discussion with the DVD Teaching Company series, History of World Literature, taught by Purdue University Professor Grant L. Voth.
Facilitator: George Davidson.

Leaving a Trace: Writing About Your Life
December 1, 2:30–4:30 p.m.

This group provides a friendly, supportive, and intimate setting to explore and share memories and experiences.

In this course, we will explore moving from journal writing to finding the ‘line of thought.’ We will write, share, engage in writing exercises, and have a couple of guests who have moved from journal, to memoir, to a published book.

Through this experience, I hope to share with you how to leave a lasting piece of work about your lives. We will identify ten key patterns hidden in all journals and find the story underneath the surface of recorded fact. We will learn how to play detective to your days, find the ‘thought line’ or the arc of life’s meaning in your life, and frame these stories for journal, family chronicle or memoir.

• Past questions the writing group has considered are:
• What is something that got left behind?
• What is something you cannot deny?
• What is something you wrote or did that you no longer understand?

Members may join this group at anytime. Facilitator: Judi McGavin

Winter break closures

OLLI-UO in Portland will take a winter break December 21–23, however, OLLI-UO in Eugene offices will be open. The University of Oregon is closed for winter holidays December 26 and January 2. For more information on the winter break schedule, please call 800-824-2714.

Wednesday, November 16
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Newspapers are crucial to understanding communities. The values, pace, and flavor of communities are exemplified through local news articles. For instance, how did the small community of Joseph, Oregon, experience the Stock Market Crash of 1929? Were they even affected by it?

Join University of Oregon Librarian for History, African Studies, and Medieval Studies, John Russell, for this special lecture on the Oregon Digital Newspaper Program (ODNP). ODNP is “an initiative to digitize historic Oregon newspaper content and make it freely available to the public through a keyword-searchable online database.

The initial phase of the program will concentrate on newspapers published between 1860 and 1922, with a goal of approximately 150,000 pages freely available online in the first two years (2009-2011)” (http://libweb.uoregon.edu/diglib/odnp/). Russell will approach this topic through a historic lens.

“Historic newspapers supply vital evidence of our history and culture and are used by students, scholars, historians, arts groups, businesses, urban planners, genealogists and others,” says Karen Estlund, UO Librarian and Head of ODNP. “These primary source materials provide a window into the life of local Oregon communities a century or more ago, covering early environmental preservation, industry, agriculture, urban development, Native American and race relations, the establishment of the state and more” (http://bit.ly/q31shg).

This statewide project was made possible by a $364,042 grant to the UO from the National Endowment for the Humanities and Library of Congress and matching grants totaling $145,000 from the Oregon Historic Preservation Office and Oregon Heritage Commission through the Oregon Cultural Trust.

This is a lecture not to miss; friends and family are invited. For more information and publicity materials, contact the OLLI office at 503-412-3653.

Tuesdays, November 15, 22, and 29
1:30–3:30 p.m.

Join professional artist and instructor Eileen S. Kane for this introductory series into the world of watercolor. Kane, whose specialties include drawing, watercolor, painting, design, and anatomy, will use these three sessions to introduce you to the basics of watercolor. These sessions are open to members of every skill level.

Eileen S. Kane was born in Cambridge, MA and educated at Smith College (AB,’67- Zoology), Harvard University (MS,’69 and Ph.D.,’67-Anatomy) and the Pacific Northwest College of Art (BFA equivalent, ‘87-painting and drawing). She has shown her work nationally and internationally in many one-person and group shows. She has taught a variety of art classes at the grade school, college and graduate levels as well as at community art centers.

Supply List

The following materials are recommended for these sessions. If you have any questions or difficulty obtaining these items, please contact the Academic Extension office.

Watercolor paper: Cold-pressed, 140lb in pads, blocks (about 11’x14’) or individual sheets.

A kitchen plate to use as a palette.

Paints: Tubes of the following transparent watercolors:

• Cadmium or Hansa Yellow (Cadmium Yellow “hue” will work. It’s less expensive).
• Cadmium Red (medium): a rich, dark red (”hue” is OK).
• Cobalt Blue or Ultramarine Blue (French Ultramarine)
• Turquoise or Cerulean Blue
• Hooker’s Green (Light or Dark)
• Burnt Umber (or another rich, dark brown, eg- Raw Umber)
• Permanent Alizarin Crimson or Rose Madder

Brushes: Please have these three short-handled brushes for the first class:

• A large “wash” brush (at least 1.5” wide): This can be an actual watercolor wash brush (a full, round head with soft bristles) or a simple wall-painting brush (from the hardware store) that also has soft bristles. Larger cosmetic brushes also work for stretching paper and for washes.
• A medium-sized (about 3/4” wide) flat, watercolor brush. Synthetic bristles are fine and less expensive. Winsor-Newton makes a great, clear-handled, beveled end brush.
• A pointed watercolor brush, about 3/4”-1” in length and about 1/2” at its widest.

If you already own brushes, just bring those to the first class.