The Quick Center for the Arts’ Open MINDS Institute Presents Four Classes for the Fall | Press Releases

FAIRFIELD, Conn. (August 11, 2017) — The Open MINDS Institute (OMI) – an exploratory “classroom without walls,” will present seminars and workshops with master professors from Fairfield University and beyond, on topics designed to deepen the experience of the programming at the Quick Center for the Arts.

Student curiosity is rewarded with stimulating, topical ideas that are presented by expertly trained seminar leaders. Classes maximize the world class learning resources of Fairfield University by combining academic excellence in open ended lectures and interactive conversations. Classes are entirely participatory and provide ongoing dialogue between teachers and students as a learning partnership.

Enrolled participants will also be given special access to the lectures and performances that make up the Quick Center’s regular season.

No application essays or SAT scores are required — everybody is accepted. Five-week class sessions begin in late September and run through November.

Open MINDS Institute seminars and workshops include:

Four Great Masters / Four Great Centuries

Instructor: Fiona Garland

Begins Sept. 5 - Ends Oct. 10

Tuesdays 10 a.m - 11:45 a.m.

Giotto, van Eyck, Leonardo, and Velazquez are giant names in the history of Western art. Their paintings define the essence of artistic genius, and have been a source of inspiration and a touchstone for beauty for centuries. In this class devoted to the work of these Old Masters, each lecture will bring to life one of these artists in a dynamic presentation, exploring both their influence and influences. The final class will meet at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC for an on-site analysis.

Four Giants of American Music: George Gershwin, Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland, Richard Rodgers

Instructor: Orin Grossman

Begins Sept. 27 - Ends Oct. 25

Wednesdays 10 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.

Explore the fascinating lives and music of four American music legends, and the ways in which these musicians changed the landscape of music in the United States. The course will trace the life and influences of each songwriter, highlighting seminal events and major accomplishments. Each class will feature full piano performances of selections by these brilliant musicians.

Outraged, or Just Out of Sorts? — Making and Keeping Peace in Your Family, Social Club, or Workplace

Instructor: Trevor Mullineaux

Begins Oct. 5 - Ends Nov. 2

Thursdays 11 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.

Explore the emotional, intellectual, and value systems that underpin our contemporary discourse in this divisive and angry age. The course will examine and discuss attachment theory, relational interaction, self-awareness, and reactivity in a lively discussion format designed to enlighten and hopefully smooth over those pesky “family and friends” discussions.

You, on the Aisle: Re-Thinking the Greatest American Films

Instructor: Peter J. Fox

Begins Oct. 11 – Ends Nov. 8

Wednesdays 1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m

From King Kong to Star Wars , Gone with the Wind to American Hustle , this class familiarizes students with popular films produced during crucial periods in the modern history of the United States. This is an in depth look at the movie industry from multiple perspectives, including the nature of financial backing, distribution, the challenges of production, and the impact of premieres, audience and critical responses.

Courses are $290 each. Quick Member price per course is $275. Enroll in two or more courses and enjoy a discounted price of just $250 per course. For information about enrollment, please visit Fairfield.edu/openminds or call the Quick Center Box Office at 203-254-4010 or toll-free 1-877-ARTS-396.

#Vol. 50 No. 18

Fairfield University is the modern Jesuit University, rooted in one of the world’s oldest intellectual and spiritual traditions. More than 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students from 36 states, 47 foreign countries, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico are enrolled in the University’s five schools. In the spirit of rigorous and sympathetic inquiry into all dimensions of human experience, Fairfield welcomes students from diverse backgrounds to share ideas and engage in open conversations. The University is located in the heart of a region where the future takes shape, on a stunning campus on the Connecticut coast just an hour from New York City.