The Quill
Quick Updates for Independent Lifelong Learners
January 31, 2021
#333
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It's Not Too Late to Choose More Spring Courses
Wintersession! Week Four - Tuesday, 2/2 - Thursday, 2/4
It's So Surreal (Suzanne Art) - Thursday, 2/4
Don Bermont Returns - Tuesday, 2/9
Monet and Boston (Beth Sanders) - Wednesday, 2/10
Exploring Impressionism at the Clark - Wednesday, 2/17
LLAIC Zoom Happy Hour - Thursday, 2/18
Spanish Conversation Group (La Tertulia) - Monday, 2/1
LLAIC Lit-Lovers - Friday, 2/12
No Geniuses on Wall Street - Monday, 2/15
Movie Mavens - Friday, 2/19
French Conversation Group
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IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO CHOOSE MORE SPRING COURSES
Most of our exciting courses are still open -- first come, first served. Consider adding a first, second, or third one to your spring schedule. Look over the wide selection on the course schedule page and see whether you're intrigued by any that you haven't already picked. Now that we are all so comfortable with Zoom, you might consider a course every day!
If you missed our two information sessions where course leaders described their courses, you'll find links to the recordings of those sessions on our website under "Spring 2021 Program."
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WEEK FOUR OF WINTERSESSION!
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2 - THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4
10:00 A.M.
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Welcome to the fourth and final week of LLAIC's four-week Wintersession programming. There is no extra charge for these programs. However, you will need a separate Zoom invitation to attend each one.
This Tuesday, February 2 at The New Yorker Roundtable, we will discuss "Ava's Apartment" by Jonathan Lethem. Here is a link to that story. In case you can't access it, here is a PDF for you to download. The class will be limited to 23 people for optimal discussion possibilities. Click here before registration closes at noon tomorrow, Monday, February 1, to request an invitation. You'll receive it by 3 p.m. that day.
Our group is lively and fun. We hope you wil join us at our final meeting of the winter.
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Jerry Jacobs leads a Current Events discussion every Wednesday. Click here before noon on Tuesday, February 2, to request an invitation to the February 3 session. You'll get your invite by 3 p.m. that day.
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On Thursday, February 4, Suzanne Art will speak with us about surrealism in art. See below for details and a link to sign up.
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LLAIC LOVES ART
IT'S SO SURREAL!
VENTURING BEYOND THE FRINGE
SUZANNE ART
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4 10:00-11:30
(A WINTERSESSION PROGRAM)
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It's been a tough year, and we can all use a break from reality. All it
takes is some imagination! So let's pull out all the stops and venture into
the realm beyond the real - the surreal. Surrealism was a major art movement of the early 20th century, one that was strongly influenced as much by the bizarre creatures of 16th century artist Hieronymous Bosch as by the theories of Sigmund Freud. After briefly examining André Breton's Manifesto of Surrealism (1924), we'll look at some of the works of Miro, Dali, Tanguy, and others. Then, as we play some mind games with the illusions of Magritte, we'll figure out what makes him a quintessential surrealist. Finally, we'll discover how surrealism is alive and well in today's multiple media.
Suzanne Art has taught a wide range of courses in art history at LLAIC. She has degrees in history, French language and literature, and teaching, as well as a lifelong passion for the arts, no pun intended. Click on this link before regisration closes at noon on Wednesday, February 3, to request an invitation. You'll receive it by 3 p.m. that day.
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DON BERMONT RETURNS
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9 10:00 A.M.
We recently found an old magazine from 1996 that described in glowing terms this new thing called “The Internet,” otherwise known as “The World Wide Web.” This “thing” already had over 25 million users world wide! Check out this video that explains it all — the first five minutes is enough.
Now, twenty-five years later, the Internet has a few billion users worldwide and it has certainly created change!
We will look at how it has changed everything: communication, marketing, retail and sales, work, healthcare, war, crime and policing, dating and mating, politics, journalism, free speech, the truth, truthiness, outright lies and deep fakes, how we have lived during the pandemic and even how we play and what we play with.
Think about how we lived our lives in 1994. What about the internet has made our lives better, easier and more convenient? What has made things more challenging, confusing and intrusive? What do you think will happen over the next five years? Is this what we want? And can we do anything about it?
Let’s discuss how we think the internet is working for us -- the good and the bad. Click on this link before registration closes at noon on February 8 to request an invitation. You'll receive it by 3 p.m. that day.
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LLAIC LOVES ART
MONET AND BOSTON: LASTING
IMPRESSIONS
BETH SANDERS
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10 1:15-2:30
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The Boston Museum of Fine Arts has brought together its unparalleled collection of Monet paintings but now the museum is closed and an opportunity to visit the special exhibit curated by Katie Hanson is not possible. Murray Whyte in the Boston Globe described his impression after a brief opening in November: “Walking into the galleries at the Museum of Fine Arts’ freshly-opened “Monet and Boston: Lasting Impression,” the waves of relief washing over me took almost physical force…. Curator Katie Hanson makes an elegant choice; the exhibition is simple chronology, first to last, leaving the work to stand on its own ample merits.”
In honor of its 150th anniversary, the MFA celebrates a great treasure of its collection. Although a gallery was dedicated to a rotating display of the artist’s works in 2016, it has been 25 years since the entire collection was shown together.
Beth Sanders will offer an unofficial glimpse into the collection and appreciation of Monet’s paintings Boston had had since the late 19th century. Not the same as visiting the gallery but a chance to admire together a much-loved artist’s work.
Photo by David Ryan for The Boston Globe
Read about Beth here. We're fortunate to have her as a Course Leader this coming semester.
Click on this link before registration closes at noon on Tuesday, February 9, to request an invitation. You'll receive it by 3:00 p.m. that day.
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LLAIC LOVES ART
EXPLORING IMPRESSIONISM AT THE CLARK
KATHLEEN SCHULTZE
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17 1:15-2:30
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Join Clark Art Institute docent Katheen Schultze for a close look and discussion of selected Impressionist paintings from the Clark collection. Together, explore how the Impressionists' brushwork, use of light and color, and new subject matter broke the status quo to forge a revolutionary new form of painting.
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Kathleen Schultze is a Professor Emeritus from The Sage Colleges in Troy, NY. She has been a Clark Education Department docent for four years.
Click here by noon Tuesday, February 16, to request an invitation. Sign up early; this presentation will be in meeting format with limited attendance to facilitate interaction, and will fill early. You will receive an invitation by 3:00 pm on the 16th.
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COME TO OUR LLAIC ZOOM HAPPY HOUR!
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18 4:00-5:00 P.M.
We had a great time at our January Happy Hour as usual. Since it was the day after the inauguration, we talked a lot about how Congress worked and what the government would do next. Then we compared notes on how we got our news. We also made time, though, for the usual informative discussion of good restaurants for takeout and good pizza in general.
We hope you'll join us again on Thursday, February 18, from 4 to 5 p.m. A lot will have happened between now and then. Bring your drinks, snacks, and conversation.
Click on this link before noon on Wednesday, February 17, to request an invitation. You'll receive the invite by 3 p.m. that day.
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SPANISH CONVERSATION GROUP
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1 AT 1 P.M.
¡Bienvenidos a La Tertulia!
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Newcomers are welcome at the Spanish conversation group, hosted by Miriam Grodberg and Larry Krakauer. We meet biweekly and focus on conversation using current Spanish language media. Please consider joining us to maintain and improve your Spanish language skills and have some fun along the way.
Click here before noon today, January 31, to request an invitation. You'll receive it before 3 this afternoon. If you are new and wish to attend, please let Miriam know at [email protected].
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A PASSAGE TO INDIA
BY E.M. Forster
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12 10:30-12:00
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Sign up here before registration closes at noon on Thursday, February 11, to request a Zoom invitation. The meeting will open 15 minutes early so we can socialize before we begin the discussion. Contact Joan Chasan if you have trouble signing up.
Among the greatest novels of the twentieth century and the basis for an Oscar-winning film, A Passage to India tells of the clash of cultures in British India after the turn of the century. In exquisite prose, Forster reveals the menace that lurks just beneath the surface of ordinary life, as a common misunderstanding erupts into a devastating affair. Written while England was still firmly in control of India, Forster's novel follows the fortunes of three English newcomers to India and the Indian with whom they cross destinies. The idea of true friendship between the races was a radical one in Forster's time, and he makes it abundantly clear that it was not one that either side welcomed.
Click here to see a list of the upcoming book selections through May.
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THERE ARE NO GENIUSES ON WALL STREET
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15 10:30 A.M.-12 NOON
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Are you an experienced investor, or are you new to "the market" and want to know more? We are an easygoing discussion group that deals with all market-related topics. Bring your opinions, insights, and questions. Or just listen.
Sign up here before registration closes at noon on Sunday, February 14, to request an invitation to the February 15 meeting. You'll receive it by 3 p.m. that day.And save March 22 for the next meeting. If you have any questions, contact Richard Lewis: lewisdmd@ yahoo.com or 617-448-4439.
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MOVIE MAVENS
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19 2:00 P.M.
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Our Movie Maven film of the month is “Elizabeth is Missing” an incredibly powerful film with a brilliant performance by Glenda Jackson.
From the Boston Globe review: “’Elizabeth Is Missing’ is a searing portrait of dementia wrapped in a murder-mystery.” From another reviewer: “With equal parts sensitivity and suspense, 'Elizabeth is Missing' displays an emotional range that is sometimes uncommon in crime by interweaving it with an intensely personal drama. The result is mesmerizing.”
The film can be found on PBS (On Demand), Netflix, and Amazon Prime.
We will gather on Zoom on Friday afternoon, February 19th, at 2:00 p.m. to share our impressions of the movie. Click on this link to request an invitation before registration closes at noon on Thursday, February 18. You'll receive your invite by 3 p.m. that day.
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FRENCH CONVERSATION GROUP |
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On February 8 the French Conversation Group will begin reading 120, Rue de la Gare, by Leo Malet. This book is available in paperback and Kindle versions. We are a group of intermediate to advanced level speakers. We read books aloud, taking turns, and stopping often to discuss any interesting aspects of what we are reading. If you are interested in this group, please contact Richard Mansfield at [email protected].
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