Lifelong Learning Through the Arts
Creative Aging‘s Senior Studio courses offer lifelong learning through the arts. Lead by talented teaching artists, these multi-session courses provide people who are aging with access to participatory, art making opportunities. Creativity enhances seniors’ sense of control, offers social engagement, enhances physical and mental functioning, and improves attitude.
Upcoming Courses
Senior Studio Course Catalog
Senior Studio workshops are taught in museums, libraries, and senior communities. Courses are scheduled upon the mutual agreement of the location and the instructor. Program length, number of participants, and cost varies. Basic course descriptions are below. Limited scholarship funds are available. Contact Mia Henley to schedule a course!
Abstract Acrylic Painting
Instructor: Judith Weintraub
This 6-week painting course offers students opportunities for fun, outside the box creativity using color, play and movement. Maximum 10.
Acting & Improv
Instructor: Princeton James Productions
Activate your improv and acting skills. This 6 to 8 session class offers students a chance to share their stories through acting and improv, discovering new skills and creating their own short production. Maximum 20.
Collage & Memories
Instructor: Cindi Ledger
Students use basic art supplies to create a memory collage from pictures and pieces of paper saved from special events. Students learn basic skills involving pleasing compositions, collage layering for artistic depth, use of texture and color for interest, and greater creative expression. 4 to 6 weeks, up to 10.
Creative Journaling: Keeping an Artist’s Sketchbook
Instructor: Jimpsie Ayers
During this 6-week course, students develop an artist’s sketchbook, learning techniques including photo manipulation and alteration, collage, calligraphy, printmaking and image transference. Maximum 10.
Creative Movement
Instructor: Kristen Lucas
Engage your mind, body and spirit in a truly fun experience. Students will learn a variety of dance styles and dance fundamentals, creating opportunities for skill mastery and creative self-expression. Number and length of course varies.
Music in America
Instructor: Christian Stanfield
Learn about the development of American musical genres and be able to recognize their characteristics by ear. This 4 to 6 week course explores music from 1900 to 1960, including Ragtime, the Blues, Jazz, Big Band, Swing, Country, Rock & Roll, Soul, and others. Up to 20.
Dulcimer Instruction
Instructor: Lee Cagle
In this 6-hour course, taught over 4 weeks, students learn basic dulcimer playing skills from acclaimed dulcimer artist Lee Cagle. Maximum number of students varies. Instruments provided.
Mosaics
Instructor: Kristi Duckworth
Students learn basic skills needed to work with the art of mosaics from local mosaic artist Kristi Duckworth, including drawing and coloring a mosaic piece pattern, cutting the piece out of clay, glaze, adhering mosaic pieces, and grouting.
Modern Day Variety
Instructor: The Orpheum Theatre Group in partnership with the University of Memphis and members of the Orpheum STAR Council
In this 8-week course (meets twice a week), participants explore aspects of acting, improvisation and comedy; vocals and performance; and dance and movement. Maximum 12.
Pottery Painting
Instructor: Adam Loeffel
In this 6-week course, participants paint ceramic pieces, exploring aspects of the pottery making process including color theory and principles of design; application processes; and how paints and glazes work together to create different effects, patterns and colors. Maximum 30.
Rigid Heddle Weaving or Inkle Loom Weaving
Instructor: Felicitas Sloves
In this 6-week course, participants learn to prepare a loom (warp) and materials for weaving, weave a project, and create a finished product either by sewing, mounting, or framing their work. Looms provided. Maximum 8 (up to 10 if some students have a loom).
Songwriting--Blues from the Heart and Soul
Instructor: Kenneth Jackson
In this 6-week course, award winning R & B musician and acclaimed instructor Kenneth Jackson teaches students the art of writing the blues. Working first as a group and then individually, students learn the history and cultural impact of the blues, common blues song structure, how to write their own blues song, and how to accompany themselves on homemade instruments. Up to 15.
Spanish
Instructor: Barbara Mansberg
Via commands and short stories, students interact with the course leader and one another. Students learn appropriate physical and voice responses, incrementally engaging in and responding to humorous mini-stories and situations. Through involvement in sight and sound, question and response, students build confidence in vocabulary, comprehension, and expression. Up to 10. Classes occur 2 times per week for 8 weeks.
Storytelling/Creative Writing Workshops
Instructor: Elaine Blanchard
Learn to tell a good story with renowned storyteller Elaine Blanchard. In this 6-week course, participants learn various components of storytelling. Maximum 12.
Writing the Marvelous Real: Stories of the Imagination
Instructor: Sheree Renee Thomas
In this 6-week course (meets twice a week) students explore magical realism—taking ordinary people and places and merging them with the extraordinary—to develop their own marvelous tales. Come prepared to read, discuss and write! Maximum 12.