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June 15 Tuesday12:30 PM → 02:00 PMSessions: 1Instructor: Dahl DeluLocations: ZoomSet designers play a major role in creating the world in which the magic of an opera production takes place. To be successful the designer must have artistic, practical and negotiating skills. This class will explain how sets are constructed, who is in charge, what is involved. Whether the opera company is large or small the set designer works closely with... read moreSet designers play a major role in creating the world in which the magic of an opera production takes place. To be successful the designer must have artistic, practical and negotiating skills. This class will explain how sets are constructed, who is in charge, what is involved. Whether the opera company is large or small the set designer works closely with other technical and artistic leaders, and the creative situations are often complex and challenging. Dahl Delu is an Emmy award winning Art Director and Production Designer, who worked in opera at the Met in New York. He has extensive experience in American theater, film and Primetime television - designing sets, costumes and lighting for Broadway, Off-Broadway, the New York City Opera and Ballet, and many regional theaters including Albuquerque's Landmark Productions. Since moving to the city in 2009 he has designed sets for Opera Southwest. He currently shows his paintings at the YUCCA Gallery in Old Town. Julius Kaplan received his PhD in art history from Columbia University and spent his career teaching at UCLA and California State University, San Bernardino. A lifelong opera enthusiast, he is a board member of Opera Southwest and offers frequent classes on opera for the community. -
June 22 Tuesday12:30 PM → 02:00 PMSessions: 1Instructor: Anna Constantz & Julius KaplanLocations: ZoomAudiences love the costumes in opera performances but have no idea how complex they have to be. The wealthiest opera houses have major costume production facilities, but smaller organizations rent costumes from specialized costume companies. All costumes have to made to meet the demands of any opera production, including different sized singers, and very... read moreAudiences love the costumes in opera performances but have no idea how complex they have to be. The wealthiest opera houses have major costume production facilities, but smaller organizations rent costumes from specialized costume companies. All costumes have to made to meet the demands of any opera production, including different sized singers, and very quick costume changes. Major and minor repairs may be required, and after the final performance everything has to be cleaned, and then packed for return to the owner. A consummate costume professional, recently retired after forty-odd years at Opera Southwest (OSW), she also worked in opera productions at the Spoleto Festival in Charleston, South Carolina. Expert in the special demands of opera costuming, she proved herself adaptable when facing the constraints of the small budgets characteristic of regional theater. A master of improvisation with a "can-do" attitude, she will entertain you with anecdotes of her challenges and triumphs at OSW. Julius Kaplan received his PhD in art history from Columbia University and spent his career teaching at UCLA and California State University, San Bernardino. A lifelong opera enthusiast, he is a board member of Opera Southwest and offers frequent classes on opera for the community.
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May 19 Wednesday12:30 PM → 02:00 PMSessions: 1Instructor: Charles EatonLocations: ZoomIn this class, you are asked to reflect upon what has made your life truly worth living in the past, in the present, and what is essential to you as you approach the completion of your life. We utilize the workbook "What Matters to Me" from The Conversation Project. The Conversation Project, founded by Pulitzer Prize winner Ellen Goodman, has a simple and... read moreIn this class, you are asked to reflect upon what has made your life truly worth living in the past, in the present, and what is essential to you as you approach the completion of your life. We utilize the workbook "What Matters to Me" from The Conversation Project. The Conversation Project, founded by Pulitzer Prize winner Ellen Goodman, has a simple and transformative goal: to ensure every person's end-of-life care wishes are expressed and respected. Dr. Charles Eaton earned his PhD in Psychology studying under Viktor Frankl. He wrote his dissertation on The Diagnosis and Therapy of Persons Suffering Loss of Meaning and Purpose in Life. He has most recently served as psychologist and chaplain for a palliative-care/hospice team.
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June 3 Thursday10:00 AM → 12:00 PMSessions: 1Instructor: Norma LibmanLocations: ZoomEveryone has a story to tell, and now is the time to tell yours. In this workshop, Norma Libman shows you how to retrieve memories you thought were forgotten, how to get them written down, and how to organize them into your own life story. Have paper and pen available for writing exercises and you will have composed a start to your memoir when the workshop... read moreEveryone has a story to tell, and now is the time to tell yours. In this workshop, Norma Libman shows you how to retrieve memories you thought were forgotten, how to get them written down, and how to organize them into your own life story. Have paper and pen available for writing exercises and you will have composed a start to your memoir when the workshop is over. Limited enrollment. Norma Libman specializes in topics such as T.S. Eliot, E.E. Cummings, Shakespeare's sonnets, and Jewish history. She taught writing, literature, and humanities in Chicago and now leads workshops and trips throughout New Mexico. A freelance journalist with degrees in education and literature from Northeastern Illinois University, she has had more than 500 articles published in newspapers nationwide and is the author of the award-winning Lonely River Village: A Novel of Secret Stories.
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June 4 – June 18 Friday10:00 AM → 12:00 PMSessions: 3Instructor: Scott WiggermanLocations: ZoomBoth reading poetry and writing poetry have healing powers--and who doesn't need more healing? In this class we will use a series of poems by such writers as Mary Oliver, Joy Harjo, and Li-Young Lee as springboards to brief writing exercises, all of which are focused to bring out the poetic medicine of words with a renewed focus and reflection on the... read moreBoth reading poetry and writing poetry have healing powers--and who doesn't need more healing? In this class we will use a series of poems by such writers as Mary Oliver, Joy Harjo, and Li-Young Lee as springboards to brief writing exercises, all of which are focused to bring out the poetic medicine of words with a renewed focus and reflection on the world at large and our part in it. All levels of writers welcome. Scott Wiggerman, author of three books of poetry and editor of a dozen others, is the Albuquerque Chair of the New Mexico State Poetry Society as well co-organizer of the Poets' Picnic at the Open Space Visitor Center and co-founder of Dos Gatos Press, which runs a monthly poetry workshop in conjunction with Bookworks Albuquerque. In a former life, he was a high school librarian in Austin, Texas. Wiggerman is a 2021 inductee into the prestigious Texas Institute of Letters.
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May 26 Wednesday12:30 PM → 02:00 PMSessions: 1Instructor: Harry RosenfeldLocations: ZoomWhat is Judaism? Throughout the centuries, scholars have looked at and debated the question. How has the answer changed over time? Just how different is the definition of Judaism in the 21st Century than centuries past. Harry Rosenfeld is the rabbi of Congregation Albert and holds a master's degree in Hebrew letters from Hebrew Union College-Jewish... read moreWhat is Judaism? Throughout the centuries, scholars have looked at and debated the question. How has the answer changed over time? Just how different is the definition of Judaism in the 21st Century than centuries past. Harry Rosenfeld is the rabbi of Congregation Albert and holds a master's degree in Hebrew letters from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati. He was an adjunct professor at SUNY Buffalo, Canisius College, and Alaska Pacific University.
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July 12 Monday10:00 AM → 11:30 AMSessions: 1Instructor: Frank YatesLocations: ZoomThis lecture provides a comparative religions approach to the presentation of Jesus in the New Testament Gospels and the Islamic Koran. We will note the similarities and the differences in the presentations, with special attention paid to the role of Mary in the Koran. Our main texts will be Islam's Jesus by Zeki Saritoprak and Christianity and the World... read moreThis lecture provides a comparative religions approach to the presentation of Jesus in the New Testament Gospels and the Islamic Koran. We will note the similarities and the differences in the presentations, with special attention paid to the role of Mary in the Koran. Our main texts will be Islam's Jesus by Zeki Saritoprak and Christianity and the World Religions by Hans Kung. This lecture is offered to further inter-faith understanding. Reverend Dr. Frank Yates is parish associate at First Presbyterian Church. He also teaches New Testament in the religious studies program at UNM, and philosophy and ethics at Lewis University, as well as at St. Norbert University in Wisconsin. He is a graduate of Abilene Christian University and UT Austin and has graduate degrees from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. -
July 13 Tuesday12:30 PM → 02:00 PMSessions: 1Instructor: Maya SuttonLocations: ZoomWho is the Dark Goddess? How might she manifest in your life? The Dark Goddess awakens the very old parts of us called intuition, gut feelings, shadow, dreams, instinct, introspection, the unconscious. Examples of the Dark Goddess are La Llorona in Spanish culture, The Morrigan in Celtic culture, Kali the fierce Indian battle goddess, Egyptian Isis who... read moreWho is the Dark Goddess? How might she manifest in your life? The Dark Goddess awakens the very old parts of us called intuition, gut feelings, shadow, dreams, instinct, introspection, the unconscious. Examples of the Dark Goddess are La Llorona in Spanish culture, The Morrigan in Celtic culture, Kali the fierce Indian battle goddess, Egyptian Isis who helps us to re-member lost parts, and Hawaiian Pele, who demands respect for her volcanic fire. Interested in more? Dr. Sutton taught 16-week courses concerning the Dark Goddess at UNM for many years. She has visited fifteen Black Madonnas in France and Spain. She honors our local dark goddess, Our Lady of Guadalupe. -
July 20 Tuesday10:00 AM → 11:30 AMSessions: 1Instructor: Shlomo KarniLocations: ZoomThe Talmud is a post-Biblical encyclopedic body of Jewish civil and religious laws. It constitutes the greatest contributions to rabbinical literature in the history of Judaism. Shlomo Karni examines its historical evolution and its contents and structure. The class will read and discuss a few short selections. Dr. Shlomo Karni is professor emeritus... read moreThe Talmud is a post-Biblical encyclopedic body of Jewish civil and religious laws. It constitutes the greatest contributions to rabbinical literature in the history of Judaism. Shlomo Karni examines its historical evolution and its contents and structure. The class will read and discuss a few short selections. Dr. Shlomo Karni is professor emeritus at UNM where he taught in both the departments of electrical engineering and religious studies. He received his undergraduate degree from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology and his graduate degrees from Yale University and the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. -
August 12 Thursday02:30 PM → 04:00 PMSessions: 1Instructor: George LeoneLocations: ZoomJoel Goldsmith (1892-1964) studied the ancient philosophical, religious, and mystical texts of all the major religions. From these studies he formed an understanding of the truth that runs through all these texts. From this understanding, Joel presented his mysticism to the world in a variety of writings. This course will look at his teachings from the... read moreJoel Goldsmith (1892-1964) studied the ancient philosophical, religious, and mystical texts of all the major religions. From these studies he formed an understanding of the truth that runs through all these texts. From this understanding, Joel presented his mysticism to the world in a variety of writings. This course will look at his teachings from the standpoint of his writings, especially his first few books outlining what he called The Infinite Way. George was raised in a home in which his father was a student of Joel Goldsmith. George's father became involved in Joel's group, The Infinite Way. He came to direct the Infinite Way Study Center in St. Petersburg, FL for 20 years. Since George had degrees in philosophy, he and his father had frequent discussions about the mystical philosophy of Joel. From these discussions, George formed a high regard for the teachings of Joel Goldsmith. -
June 3 Thursday02:30 PM → 04:00 PMSessions: 1Instructor: Leslie McFaddenLocations: ZoomPhysical weathering of pre-existing rock ultimately leads to the formation of sedimentary rocks, as well as development of many desert landforms. In the 19th century geologists proposed that periodic daily solar heating and cooling could cause the breakdown of exposed rocks, however laboratory studies in the 1930s cast doubt on “diurnal solar... read morePhysical weathering of pre-existing rock ultimately leads to the formation of sedimentary rocks, as well as development of many desert landforms. In the 19th century geologists proposed that periodic daily solar heating and cooling could cause the breakdown of exposed rocks, however laboratory studies in the 1930s cast doubt on “diurnal solar insolation” as a cause of physical weathering. Recent research has restored the key role the sun plays in physical weathering. Les McFadden is a professor emeritus in the UNM Earth & Planetary Sciences (E&PS) Department. He received an MS & PhD in geosciences from the University of Arizona after earning a BA in anthropology from Stanford University. He served as chair of the E&PS Department (1999-2007) and is a fellow of the Geological Society of America (GSA). In 2017 he received the Kirk Bryan Award for Excellence from the Council of the GSA.
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June 7 Monday10:00 AM → 11:30 AMSessions: 1Instructor: Deirdre KannLocations: ZoomNew Mexico’s climate is considered semi-arid to arid, so it can be surprising to hear that floods and flash floods are common and the leading cause of weather-related fatalities in the state. Floods have been reported in all months of the year and no county is spared though some areas are favored. We will discuss the various weather regimes that produce... read moreNew Mexico’s climate is considered semi-arid to arid, so it can be surprising to hear that floods and flash floods are common and the leading cause of weather-related fatalities in the state. Floods have been reported in all months of the year and no county is spared though some areas are favored. We will discuss the various weather regimes that produce flooding, the favored locations, and how to anticipate and stay safe during flood events. Deirdre Kann worked for various offices of the National Weather Service for 30 years before retiring in 2016, including 23 years at the Albuquerque NWS office. During this time, she provided operational support, completed damage surveys, and prepared local studies during and after major flood events.
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June 7 Monday12:30 PM → 02:00 PMSessions: 1Instructor: Dave WeaverLocations: ZoomObviously, there must have been Neanderthal women. For many reasons, they barely have been noticed in most evolutionary accounts. Recent analyses and perspectives have brought more attention to this situation and the findings are helping to fill out their largely missing portion of Neanderthal life history. At last, in this presentation we will see... read moreObviously, there must have been Neanderthal women. For many reasons, they barely have been noticed in most evolutionary accounts. Recent analyses and perspectives have brought more attention to this situation and the findings are helping to fill out their largely missing portion of Neanderthal life history. At last, in this presentation we will see Neanderthal women become more than a passing aside as a fuller picture of Neanderthal life develops. Dave Weaver received his doctorate in physical anthropology from UNM. After 25 years at Wake Forest University, he returned to New Mexico. He has worked in North and Central America, Europe, and Africa on human skeletal analysis, forensic anthropology, bone microstructure, human evolution, and osteoporosis. In retirement, he volunteers for the US Forest Service, the Sandia Mountain Natural History Center, and Animal Humane New Mexico, and travels as much as possible.
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June 11 Friday10:00 AM → 11:30 AMSessions: 1Instructor: Laurel LadwigLocations: ZoomOur backyards can be a window into our wondrously complex natural world, filled with extraordinary interactions and interdependencies. Learn all about the ABQ Backyard Refuge Program and how you can build a certified backyard refuge. You can build a refuge for wildlife even with a patio or balcony, or just by being a lazy gardener! We’ll explore the ways... read moreOur backyards can be a window into our wondrously complex natural world, filled with extraordinary interactions and interdependencies. Learn all about the ABQ Backyard Refuge Program and how you can build a certified backyard refuge. You can build a refuge for wildlife even with a patio or balcony, or just by being a lazy gardener! We’ll explore the ways you can support our wild neighbors by sharing resources and being responsive to their needs. Laurel Ladwig is a geographer and lifelong birder who has been teaching about birds and stars in informal science education settings for more than three decades. She is on the advisory board for Bernalillo County Master Naturalists, co-coordinates Albuquerque’s participation in the City Nature Challenge, and is the Partnership Coordinator for the Friends of Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge’s backyard refuge program. Laurel recently contributed to “Now We Heal - An Anthology of Hope”.
