This is a gathering of people who love to do art, be it painting with oils, watercolor, acrylic or pastels, or pencil drawings or any other visual medium. It is not a course with instruction, but an occasion where we each work on our own art, and sometimes we share what we know—our mistakes as well as our triumphs. We learn from each other every time we meet. All visual art mediums are welcome, such as painting (non-volatile oils or other media), collage, gelli printing, alcohol inks, mixed media, Zentangle®, etc. Our coordinator is a working artist, mostly in oil, sometimes in watercolor or pastels.Bring your own supplies, share your art and be inspired by fellow artists! Group members will help clean the area after each session. Limit 15.

Karen Golden, Facilitator
12:30—3:30 P.M. Thursday, Starts Sept. 17
United Christian Church
3500 W. Parmer Lane (78727)

From a 20,000-year-old flute to Chappel Roan's "Pink Pony Club" music has been part of humanity. In this class we will survey the history of music, focusing on significant events that shaped Western music and culture. We'll reference important figures like Bach and Beethoven, define important time periods such as Romantic and Post Modern, look at when and how the orchestra and instruments changed, and all while placing it within a historical context of general history. Limit 40.

Gus Sterneman
1:00—3:00 P.M. Thursday, Starts Sept. 17
Abiding Love Lutheran Church, Activity Center
7210 Brush Country Road (78749)

This course is for those who have never played bridge, or for those who have played before and want to review the fundamentals. This is a learn-by-doing class. You will play a lot of practice hands, each focused on learning the "Standard American" method of bidding, and the most widely-used play-of-the-hand and defense methods. Limit 20.

Jack Graham
1:00—3:00 Thursday, Starts Sept. 17
The Church at Highland Park, Burchette Room
5206 Balcones Drive (78731)

Build your confidence and advance your Spanish skills in this welcoming and engaging early/intermediate course based on the acclaimed video series Destinos*. Expand your vocabulary, sharpen your conversational fluency, and strengthen your listening comprehension through lively video episodes, partner activities, and guided discussions.

Key grammar concepts are reviewed in a clear, practical way that supports real communication in a relaxed environment. Ideal for students with some previous, but limited, Spanish experience who want a supportive setting to practice, participate, and enjoy learning Spanish. *Videos and ancillary materials for Destinos are free and can be found at http://destinostelenovela.org/

Please bring $4 to the first meeting for course materials. Limit 20.

Verónica Putney
1:00—3:00 P. M. Thursday, Starts Sept. 17
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Rm 205
3525 Bee Caves Road (78746)

This course is designed for learners with prior French experience who wish to deepen their knowledge and improve fluency. We will review foundational concepts, expand vocabulary, introduce more complex grammar, and practice conversation through dialogues, listening activities, and short readings. Students will strengthen their confidence and accuracy in everyday communication in French. Limit 20.

Eduardo Duarte
1:00—3:00 P.M. Thursday, Starts Sept. 17
Westover Hills Church of Christ, Room 201
8332 Mesa Drive (78759)

This state is an area of great beauty and enormous diversity. It has greatly varied landscapes as well as water resources, soils, climate, vegetation, fauna, and human use. Basic to all this diversity is the underlying geology. Variations in the geology—the types of rocks present, their geometric arrangement (geologic structures), and the geologic processes active now and in the past—are the major determinants for present landforms. Climate and biologic activity also play important parts. This course will cover:

• Geologic Basics—to set the background for understanding what’s to come

• Bedrock Geology—the distribution of rocks by geologic age

• Structural Framework – major structural features that influence geology

• Geologic History of Texas—the geologic events that have brought us to the present time

• Landscapes of Texas—how all this geology and geologic history are reflected in the present surface features.

Our very popular instructor is a retired Petroleum Geologist and teacher, who brings a wide perspective and thorough detail to his classes. Please bring $2 to the first meeting to cover course handouts. Limit 30.

Peter Boone, PhD
1:00—3:00 P.M. Thursday, Starts Sept. 17
Unity Church of Austin
5501 W. US Hwy 290 (78735)

Through the science and engineering of materials, humans have fashioned and refashioned the world, creating the life we have now. This course explores the making and science of materials, beginning with the basic nature of things from stone to steel, and then moving on to alloys, composites, ceramics, and plastics (benefits and problems). Blending history, science, engineering, and human ingenuity, this course reveals how materials have shaped civilization:  how the evolution of materials has been affected by geography and the rise and fall of empires, how the construction of the Samurai katana sword (15th century) was affected by the geology of Japan, and what made it such a formidable weapon. To understand how materials behave, we explore the nature of crystalline structure and the ways alloying can be used to control strength, hardness, flexibility, and durability. We examine how engineers understand material properties through their response to stress, and how early architects used limited materials available to construct monumental cathedrals. We also explore how materials fail, and how failure often drives technological progress. Why did the world’s first commercial jet airliner suffer catastrophic crashes? How did a simple glass of ice water help reveal the cause of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster? What material and engineering factors may have contributed to the sinking of the Titanic? Our instructor is a retired defense department research physicist and a university senior lecturer in physics and engineering who enjoys inquisitive students. Limit 24.

Thomas Lawrence
1:00—3:00 P.M. Thursday, Starts Sept. 17
Triumphant Love Lutheran Church, Upper Room
9508 Great Hills Trail (78759)

In this seminar we'll investigate this quintessential American literary art form and enjoy reading and discussing 8 stories from 8 different writers, one per week, including stories by Crane, Chesterton, Bierce, and Chekhov. You'll get an email when registration finishes with final story names and links. In the meantime, you may want to start now with The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky by Stephen Crane. Just do an internet search on the book title, and you'll find it free in several places. Our instructor is an experienced teacher with backgrounds in anthropology, Russian language, comparative literature and software engineering. Join us for great conversations about great stories! Limit 15.

Anne Gregory
1:00—3:00 P.M. Thursday, Starts Sept. 17
Violet Crown City Church
1300 Morrow Street (78757)

These forms have been used for centuries as gentle, soothing, enjoyable exercises to increase circulation, enhance balance and concentration, and gently tone the body for health and well-being. We will do Qigong exercises developed for optimum health, as well as T’ai Chi (Taiji) forms. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. The instructor has been practicing and teaching for more than 50 years. Note: 1-week delayed start; course extends 1 week to November 12. Limit 25.

Anya Rylander-Jones, PhD
1:30—3:00 P.M. Thursday, Starts Sept. 24
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Gym
3525 Bee Caves Road (78746)

This course is NOT about strange, pretzel acrobatics, but rather strengthening and stretching, with enough balance and flexibility exercises to age well and be able to do what we want to keep doing. Using yoga exercises, we strengthen and tone the body, enhance flexibility in the joints, improve balance and focus, reduce stress, and improve circulation and concentration. Please bring a mat or blanket and wear comfortable, non-binding clothes. As with any exercise program, check first with your doctor, especially if there is history of untreated high blood pressure, eye disease complications, or other health concerns. The instructor has been teaching yoga for more than 50 years. Note: 1-week delayed start; course extends 1 week to November 12. Limit 23.

Anya Rylander-Jones, PhD
3:00—4:00 P.M. Thursday, Starts Sept. 24
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Gym
3525 Bee Caves Road (78746)