Rochester Oasis Classes

With their emphasis on the unconscious and Freudian beliefs in the centrality of sex, male Surrealists made the sexualized female as a prime focus. While women certainly played a part as models and muses, a number of them were artists in their own right and developed alternative modes of expression. This class looks at Surrealist artists such as Dali, Magritte, Man Ray, Cahun, Carrington, Fini, Varos, and gender as a defining feature of Surrealist expression.  Please register for this class if you plan to join the class in person.

As we head into the Bicentennial, this class will look at how and when American artists dealt with their past. The discovery of America, the Pilgrims and the Colonial period, the Revolution and Founding Fathers, the settling of the West, as well as With their emphasis on the unconscious and Freudian beliefs in the centrality of sex, male Surrealists made the sexualized female as a prime focus. While women certainly played a part as models and muses, a number of them were artists in their own right and developed alternative modes of expression. This class looks at Surrealist artists such as Dali, Magritte, Man Ray, Cahun, Carrington, Fini, Varos, and gender as a defining feature of Surrealist expression. Please register for this class if you plan to join the class via Zoom.

A Short History of Lying to the Public. You’d be surprised how far back in history humans have lied to each other and called it news. Even in your average democracy. From a very young age, we’re told not to lie, but the minute we get into business, we forget everything our parents taught us. Even though we understand that the lies have consequences. Lies have toppled empires, religions, and entire patterns of thinking. We explore the long history of misinformation and enjoy the fact that, as deep as it got… we all survived. Please register for this class if you are interested in participating via Zoom only.  You must have access to a computer/tablet/phone with audio and video capability.

A Swan versus the Boar. The crown of the King of England moved around over eight different heads in the fifteenth century. But it wasn’t just two sides fighting over the royal seat. These were cousins. Blood relatives. And none of them had any problem shedding that blood to get what they wanted. A place at the front of the line. The top of the hill. But the view from up there was nothing more than a horde of people rushing up the slopes to pull you down. Or drown you in a vat of wine. Shakespeare loved this stuff. Please register for this class if you are interested in participating via Zoom only.  You must have access to a computer/tablet/phone with audio and video capability.

The Misunderstood King. In 1763, America loved this guy. We put up a statue of him in New York City. He was the twelfth English king to lay claim to this part of North America. And by 1776, we hated his guts… and told him so in our Declaration of Independence. Now, 250 years after that eventful day, it might be worth a minute to see who this person was. The man who went from beloved to hated in so brief a time span. Before he died, he was tortured by his own people. A man who never once claimed to be the King of America. Please register for this class if you are interested in participating via Zoom only.  

Impressionist artistic relationships of male and female artists have been often viewed in a master-pupil light, with the female artist as the secondary figure. This 4-session class will look at the artistic interchanges among these painters and print-makers in the larger context of conditions for women artists and the Impressionist movement.  Please register for this class if you plan to join the class in person.

Impressionist artistic relationships of male and female artists have been often viewed in a master-pupil light, with the female artist as the secondary figure. This 4-session class will look at the artistic interchanges among these painters and print-makers in the larger context of conditions for women artists and the Impressionist movement. Please register for this class if you plan to join the class via Zoom.

The beginnings of photography in Britain in the 19^th century were affected by a unique set of circumstances that restricted commercial activity and fostered the growth of work by privileged amateurs. This 4-session class will look at the technical and aesthetic aspects of mid-century photography, with special attention to the work of Julia Margaret Cameron, and will follow the expansion of the medium as it recorded the rapidly changing culture of Victorian England. Please register for this class if you plan to join the class in person.

The beginnings of photography in Britain in the 19^th century were affected by a unique set of circumstances that restricted commercial activity and fostered the growth of work by privileged amateurs. This 4-session class will look at the technical and aesthetic aspects of mid-century photography, with special attention to the work of Julia Margaret Cameron, and will follow the expansion of the medium as it recorded the rapidly changing culture of Victorian England. Please register for this class if you plan to join the class via Zoom.