Leslie Howland
Spring classes at the Wynne Home Arts center began Saturday with beginning ukulele and African dance, but there’s still time to register because classes will continue throughout the end of March.
“Some of the classes are quite different than what we’ve offered before such as the dance, clay making and ukulele,” said Linda Pease, cultural services director for the city of Huntsville and the Wynne Home.
Some new additions to the classes include a movie series discussion hosted by Sam Houston State University English professor, Ralph Pease, on the lives of artists depicted in film. The series meets on Mondays through March 26 at 7 p.m. Although there is no cost to participate, the class is limited to 40 people.
The first film in the series is the 1952 Moulin Rouge movie depicting the life of French artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. Other films include The Moon and Sixpence about the impressionist painter Paul Gauguin, Lust for Life about the life of Vincent van Gogh and A Song to Remember a biography of musician Frederic Chopin.
“I will have handouts about each movie and there will also be a discussion about each movie,” Ralph said. “We may also hold similar discussions about actors who’ve won Academy Awards for playing real people.”
There will be a children’s musical clay making class taught by Tamara Chasteen. Participants will create pottery projects such as wind chimes, whistles and shakers. Children ages 6 to 10 will meet from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesdays beginning today through March 27, while children 10 to 14 will meet Wednesdays beginning Feb. 28 through March 28. Each class is limited to 12 participants and costs $18 per participant.
Chasteen is also the first Artist-in-Education for the Wynne Home and will be demonstrating weaving every Tuesday and Thursday in April from 2 to 6 p.m.
“I’ll be working on some of my weaving projects while people watch,” Chasteen said. “Some of the students from the weaving classes may come and people are also encouraged ask questions.”
Ahia Shabaaz from the World Cultural Exchange and Touchstone Neurorecovery Center will teach a jewelry making class March 10 for free for children ages 8 to 18 from 10 to 11 a.m.
Shabaaz will also teach an etiquette class where participants will learn how to set a formal table, table manners and formal introductions. There will also be discussion about cultural differences in various countries. The class is open to children ages 10 through 18 and will take place March 10 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Members of the Spinners and Weavers Guild will teach several classes on Saturdays including spinning, knitting, Kumihimo, needle work and marbling.
For a complete listing of spring classes visit the Wynne Home at 1248 11th Street from Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Register for classes at the Wynne Home or contact (936) 294-5424.
