Evelyn C. McDonald
Arts & Culture Reporter
August 31, 2016 5:00 p.m.
A new session of lifelong learning courses starts the end of September, marking the 16th year of specialized short courses intended to enrich and enliven. Some courses are new, some will explore new aspects of popular courses, and some will repeat popular courses.
New this fall, Marge Powell, an herbalist and member of the International Herb Association, will explore humanity’s lifelong relationship with herbs. As she notes, we’ve been using herbs longer than language. Marge will discuss herbs and health, the alchemy of scent, and the role of herbs in everyday life.
Lea Gallardo, who conducts a variety of photography courses, is expanding her scope. She will offer a course on the basics of composition and creativity including such concepts as the use of color, the Rule of Thirds, and the uses of diagonal lines. Lea will also repeat her popular course which introduces students to the use of Adobe Lightroom.
Language courses are perennial favorites with CLL students. This fall Berta Arias is continuing her Spanish for Busy People course. This has been a popular introduction to Spanish that aims to increase conversational skills.
John Dyal has been helping folks get the most out of their iPads in his iPad basics courses. This fall he plans something little different. John calls it Apple-licious Homelife. In this course, he will offer an introduction to the entertainment aspects of Apple devices including audio and video usage.
Arts and literature are represented by three courses. Bernie McCabe will discuss William Shakespeare’s first undoubted masterwork, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Jim Kemp, an Asian studies teacher at FSCJ, will share his knowledge and his art collection in a course on Chinese Graphic Arts and Chinese Folk Religion. The course will explore the relationship between Chinese art and religion through art works and films. Sandra Dawson will conduct the second of her art courses on Masters of the High Renaissance. This semester she will cover Botticelli, Caravaggio, Brunellesci, and Masaccio as they reflect the ideas of religion, beauty, commerce, and authority of their times.
And because one does not live by bread alone, Bill Castleberry will show you how to liven up your holiday desserts by making a Yule log. You will learn how to make icing look like tree bark as well as other baking tricks and techniques.
So join up and have some fun with no homework or final exams. Courses are offered at St. Peter’s, the Plantation, and the FSCJ campus. Information on these courses and registration can be found at www.fscj.edu/cll or by calling FSCJ at 904-548-4432.
Evelyn McDonald moved to Fernandina Beach from the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C. in 2006. She is a chair of Arts & Culture Nassau, a city commission charged with support of the arts in Nassau County. She serves on FSCJ’s Curriculum Committee for the Center for Lifelong Learning. She is also the chair of the Dean’s Council for the Carpenter Library at the UNF. Ms. McDonald has MS in Technology Management from the University of Maryland’s University College and a BA in Spanish from the University of Michigan.