Osher institute offers sessions on quilts, photography, Shakespeare

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute begins a series of seven-week study sessions starting Oct. 23, including studies on quilts, photography and Shakespeare, in addition to other topics.

"Quilts: The Story They Tell," taught by Carolyn Ducey, UNL International Quilt Study Center curator, examines the heyday of American quilting between 1870 and 1930. This class will focus in depth on quilt styles including pieced quilts, crazy quilts, redwork and kit quilts. It also includes a tour by Mary Ghormley of the exhibition "Reading, Writing, and a Rhythmic Stitch: Doll Quilts from the Mary Ghormley Collection," as well as a day devoted to examining and identifying quilts brought in by attendees of the class.

"Photo WOW," taught by George Tuck, emeritus professor in UNL's College of Journalism and Mass Communications, is a "soup-to-nuts" photo course designed for anyone with a camera -- digital, film, point-and-shoot or SLR -- or considering buying one. The course covers the basics of camera operation, composition and how to create images that produce a "WOW!" This is not a traditional darkroom course, but rather a quick how-to that will include some work on the computer.

"Reading Shakespeare" will be taught by James McShane, emeritus professor of English at UNL. Works to be covered include sonnets, "Henry IV Part 1," "Merchant of Venice," "Julius Caesar," "Antony and Cleopatra" and "Cymbeline." Participants will learn about Shakespearean language, metaphor and symbols, dramatic structure and what Shakespeare would have us think about the common issues of our lives.

The UNL Osher Lifelong Learning Institute is a joint program of the Bernard Osher Foundation and the UNL College of Education and Human Sciences. For information about membership, registration for classes and details of the upcoming study sessions schedule, contact the OLLI office at (402) 472-6265 or olli@unl.edu or visit the OLLI Web site at http://manila.unl.edu/olli.

CONTACTS: Deanna Aguilar, Administrative Director, Osher Institute, (402) 472-6265;
Deanna Eversoll, Director of Marketing and Recruitment, Osher Institute, (402) 472-9891