The Glory of Spain

A cultural crossroads for centuries, Spain possesses a rich architectural and artistic heritage. Islamic, European, Asian and New World forms and motifs each made their way into extraordinary buildings that all testaments to global influences interpreted by Spanish designers in their own unique way.

Lectures: Mondays at 11am

May 3  Islamic Splendor: The Alhambra

May 10 Spanish Gothic

May  21 Sacred and Worldy Royal Retreats:  The Escorial and palace of Aranjuez

May 28 Innovation and Ingenuity: The Art Nouveau Master Works of Barcelona 

John Tschirch is an award-winning architectural historian and Honorary Member of the Garden Club of America. His thirty-year career in historic preservation has led him on treks across the globe to study heritage sites. Based in Rhode Island, John has directed projects at Newport mansions and teaches for  Rhode Island School of Design CE. He is author of Newport: The Artful City (D. Giles Ltd. London, 2020) and Gods and Girls: Tales of Art, Seduction and Obsession (Amazon, 2019). 

Beginning Watercolor 

Have you always felt that watercolors were too hard? Tried them before, but felt frustrated? 

Leave those worries behind! This beginner watercolor class is designed for everyone. It is fun and relaxing, and doesn't take much time to get a painting you'll love. We will start by getting comfortable with the materials, and start learning different techniques, including washes, wet on wet, dry brush, etc. We will also touch on the basics of painting, including color, value, and composition. Each class will focus on a project as we build up our skills. I will show you how to correct mistakes, or use them to your advantage! 

I will cover: 

• Best practices for getting watercolors to do what you want them to do

• The importance of composition and making a value study

• How to effectively use reference images, and work on our observation skills

• How to fix or incorporate mistakes to make your painting better

Pour yourself a cup of tea, grab your watercolor materials, and let's get painting!

Anne P. Wert is an artist, illustrator, and educator. After a career as an elementary school teacher, Anne spent many years living and painting overseas in Europe and Asia before eventually moving with her family to Rhode Island. 

Her fine art work focuses on landscapes, most recently of scenes inspired by living in New England. Her background is in oils, but she is also captivated by the immediacy and unpredictability of watercolors. She mostly works from her home studio, but still enjoys plein air painting when possible. 

In addition to being an Elected Artist member at the Providence Art Club, Anne is an Artist member of the Rhode Island Watercolor Society, and the Art League of Rhode Island. She is also a member of the New England Watercolor Society, the American Watercolor Society, and the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Her paintings and illustrations have been shown and juried into galleries around New England and her paintings are in private collections around the world.

Talking About Movies with Jerry DeSchepper - Mondays at 12 pm 

A new ongoing film discussion group. Each week participants will choose a movie, which they will view on their own, in time for the group’s next meeting. Do you have a favorite you’d like to share? Old or New? American or International? Comedy or Tragedy? Join us and we will discuss it together. Led by Jerry DeSchepper. Class limit: 15  Please email Hamilton House to register. 

Great Decisions with Michael Mageau - Monday, May 10 at 1 pm - Brexit and the European Union: by Harris LaTeef 

With the “Brexit transition period” coming to an end this year, the United Kingdom will formally leave the European Union at the start of 2021. With negotiations between the two entities continuing to stall, what does the future of Europe and the UK look like? Will the UK survive a possible Scottish vote to leave? Who will step up and take command of Europe now that Angela Merkel is out of the spotlight? 

email John Lord if interested

​
​Introduction to Yang Snake Style Tai Chi
Tuesdays at 10:30am

The Yang Snake Style is a dynamic tai chi method that mobilizes the spine while stretching and strengthening the core body muscles. Practicing this ancient martial art increases strength, balance, flexibility, vitality, peace of mind, and martial skill.

Snake style tai chi uses core body strength to initiate movement. Through discussion and practice, students will learn the principles of snake style movement, learning stretching exercises to help create the strength and flexibility needed to create this movement, and be introduced to the tai chi form. For in depth instruction, beginners arrive at 9:30. At 10:30 all levels practice stretching exercises and the tai chi form together. Please wear loose clothing and flat shoes.

Ida Schmulowitz has been practicing Yang Style Tai Chi since 1984. She has been studying Yang Snake Style since 2005 with Bao Tak Fai (Master Robert Boyd of Burlington,Vt. ) and is a certified Snake Style instructor.

Class fee: $5.00 members; $10 non-members per class; payable directly to Ida.

Join Jodie, from BodySoul, for an upbeat workout!

A low impact class for active older adults. The class consists of a combination of upper and lower body exercises which help seniors with balance and strength. This class can also help preserve bone density, vitality, and independence with age. Achy joints can actually benefit from exercise classes for older adults.

Needlework Circle - Tuesdays from 1pm- 3pm

Do you have a needlework (knitting, crochet, needlepoint, embroidery, sewing) project that has been abandoned, neglected, forgotten? Or would you like to start a piece of needlework? Please join the Needlework Circle which gets together to help each other and share good conversation.

Play Reading: Page to Stage with Michael Walczak - Eight Week Series - Tuesdays from 1 pm - 2:30 pm - March 23, 30, April 6, 13, 20, 27, May 4, 11

The joy of drama is to take the words from the page and breath life into them for the stage. Our task will be to read a couple short plays (a modern comedy and classic drama) as a group while we begin learning about some of these transformational skills. Text analysis, physical and emotional characterization, and the visuals of costume and set design to name a few. If you love a good play, and always wanted to be Romeo /Juliet then this is the class for you.

I'd check out Amazon for paperback and kindle of the selected readings:

“The Dining Room“ by A.R. Gurney  $10:00

“Our Town“ By Thornton Wilder  $8:45

“Angels In America—Part 1” by Tony Kushner —prices vary due to used copies

All the plays deal with  different perspectives on American culture.
Dining Room is the comedy.  Our town and angels are the dramas. Angels will be considered as a supportive piece.     Class Limit: 8   Please email Hamilton House to register.

Michael Walczak is a high energy and upbeat performing and visual artist living in Providence. Michael spent 25 years of his career working at a number of independent schools heading numerous theatre programs while teaching theatre studies and directing a number of plays. In addition Michael worked as a class facilitator in text studies for Shakespeare and Company of Lenox, Massachusetts. For the past five years Michael taught collage and figure drawing at Castle Hill in Truro, Massachusetts and collage at Hamilton House last fall.

Meditation Circle with Lee Clasper-Torch - Wednesdays at 9:30 am - April 7 ,14, 21, 28, May 5, 12, 19, 26

Enjoy a time of centering silence, meditation and mindful reflection. The Circle is a simple and welcoming time of listening to the silence, sinking into our hearts, and gently practicing the art of being still. Open to all - experienced or brand new to meditation - we are invited to hold space with one another to help deepen our inner awareness and develop our individual practice. As in past Circles, we will continue to share in a quality time of sitting silence, meditate on various poems and passages and share open, honest and mindful conversation with one another. Please email Hamilton House to register.

 "You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough" - Mae West

Memoir Writing with Tammy Bolotow - Eight Week Series - Wednesdays at 10 am - April 7, 14, 21, 28, May 5, 12, 19, 26

The pandemic’s siege of our lives has, possibly, been a time for deeper contemplation, reflection, nostalgia: memories - ready to be put to paper in the form of the memoir.  In these sessions, you will read excerpts from memoirs, discuss the elements of memoir writing (as opposed to the autobiography), and write your own memoir to keep to yourself, pass on to your family (or not!).   Maybe you will want to write your “fantasy” memoir, or a future memoir as you look back on this period in your life. The blank page is waiting for your memories.

Discussions focus on a variety of non-fiction readings, which are distributed at least a week in advance. Discussions are led by the group member who selects the reading and is responsible for having copies made.

Leadership of the discussion rotates weekly and, while encouraged, leading a session is not essential for participating in the group. Selected readings of a piece of non-fiction prose should be 1) interesting to discuss, 2) thought-provoking, and 3) not too long (typically under 15 pages). Anyone is welcome to join this group on an occasional or regular basis.

The titles of the readings are listed in the weekly E-bulletin, and copies are available to members online (whenever possible) and in a folder by the front desk a week prior to their being discussed.

Readings recently discussed covered a wide range of topics--cabbage strudel, American exceptionalism, burkinis, healthcare, the history of prohibition, coffee, and much more--humorous, serious, and informative.

Email HH if interested.

Join instructor Alicia Elwin for beginner Spanish. She plans to use the book (Amazon or ABE books): SPANISH MADE SIMPLE, Revised and Updated, by Judith Nemethy, (February 10, 2004).ISBN: 9780767915410. If interested in E-Book version, ISBN: 9780307434593.

Please register by emailing Hamilton House.

Designed for the absolute beginner. We are actively looking for a new teacher. Email Hamilton House if you are interested: hamiltonhouse276@gmail.com

Join Jodie from Body+Soul for an upbeat workout!

A low impact class for active older adults. The class consists of a combination of upper and lower body exercises which help seniors with balance and strength. This class can also help preserve bone density, vitality, and independence with age. Achy joints can actually benefit from exercise classes for older adults.

Classical and Romantic Eras of Music with Lacie Eades - Eight Week Series - Thursdays at 1 pm - May 13, 20, 27, June 3, 10, 17, 24, July 1

Building on the new genres and techniques of the Baroque era, composers in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries found new ways to explore the creative possibilities of music. Classical composers of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries echoed the contemporary ideals of the Enlightenment and explored ways to bring music to the emerging middle class while Romantic composers later in the nineteenth century embraced ways in which to make music novel, highly expressive, and nationalistic. 

This eight-week course will cover both the Classical and Romantic eras of music history, roughly the years between 1750 and 1900. Through musical examples and discussion, this course will contextualize specific composers and musical works within the historical backdrop of each era, revealing ways in which music intersected with the political and social climate of the times.

Lacie Eades will be starting her Ph.D. in musicology at Duke University in the fall of 2021. She will complete her Master of Music in musicology at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory in May 2021 with a research interest in seventeenth-century Venetian music. Lacie also holds a Bachelor of Music Education with an emphasis in piano and voice from Southeast Missouri State University and a Master of Education in Teaching and Technology from William Woods University. Prior to pursuing graduate studies in musicology, Lacie taught choir and general music at Jackson High School in Jackson, Missouri, a position she held for eight years. She also works as assistant editor for the Friends of Chamber Music annual program book and coordinates educational programming and supplemental curriculum for the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra Classical Adventures outreach program. In her free time, Lacie likes to play tennis with her husband and two teenage sons, read, and try new recipes.

Join Lisa from Body-Soul for Chair Yoga. Lisa has requested students bring water to class as well as a yoga block and yoga strap if you have them.

Painting for All Levels with Ida Schmulowitz - Fridays at 10 am - May 7, 14, 21, 28 and June 4, 11, 18, 25

May and June painting classes will be part zoom and part on location in the landscape. Whenever the weather permits, we will be painting outside at various locations, with social distance and mask wearing required. Other days the class will take place on zoom, with students setting up still lives according to a specific assignment that will be given. All levels are welcome. Beginners can opt to gain some experience by focusing on drawing instead of painting. Join us in the tradition of plein air painting or drawing. Experimentation and expression are encouraged!

Students must bring their own supplies. Email Ida for a list of paints or drawing supplies. (idahs@cox.net) When outdoors, students are also responsible for bringing a portable chair, and easel or table to work on, as well as a tray for their supplies. Ida Schmulowitz has been a professional artist  for over 45  years and holds a BFA in painting from RISD. Her work has been exhibited locally and nationally and is in corporate and private collections including the RISD Museum and Newport Art Museum. Her website is idaschmulowitz.com. Fee: $48 per month – Payable directly to Ida Schmulowitz.  Register by emailing Hamilton House.

American Short Stories - Weekly Series with John Lord - Fridays at 11 am 

Join us every week for discussions of classic American short stories. Using The Oxford Book of American Short Stories,we will read and react to a new story each week. The plan is for this class to run for 10-12 weeks and follow a format similar to Poetry and Readings & Discussions. Open to all; no long term commitment. Come when you can. 

The book is available at Amazon ($13-15 used) or at Abebooks.com ($4.40 w/ free shipping).

Philosophy Discussion Group with Ian Steller - Fridays at 1 pm 

It has been said by some that thinking is the most important form of doing. In this discussion group, we will think - a lot. The guiding principle of our enterprise will be philia sophia, which from Greek can be taken to mean "the love of wisdom". This curious attitude is fundamental to the nature of philosophical examination.

Philosophy is not like other disciplines. It is not a subject whose issues are sufficiently put to rest with some programmatic catalogue of "yeses" and "nos". Instead, philosophy is an activity. It is elicited and practiced more than it is taught and learned. It is, in its most honest manifestation, a way of living. Aristotle would say that philosophy is a distinct kind of "science", concerning itself with independent things, the study of "being as being". The questions raised during this process are ostensibly simple; complication arises as we attempt to answer them.  The occasional murkiness conjured by this endeavor does not, however, prevent it from being edifying. And so, our goal will be to harness and fine-tune the philosophical disposition that exists within all of us. Our focus will involve two things: The work of past thinkers, and the open articulation of our own interpretations of the questions at hand.  Class limit: 10; Space is still available. Please email Hamilton House to register.

Join Mary Nyman and HH member's for weekly conversation.

The Glory of Spain

A cultural crossroads for centuries, Spain possesses a rich architectural and artistic heritage. Islamic, European, Asian and New World forms and motifs each made their way into extraordinary buildings that all testaments to global influences interpreted by Spanish designers in their own unique way.

Lectures: Mondays at 11am

May 3  Islamic Splendor: The Alhambra

May 10 Spanish Gothic

May  21 Sacred and Worldy Royal Retreats:  The Escorial and palace of Aranjuez

May 28 Innovation and Ingenuity: The Art Nouveau Master Works of Barcelona 

John Tschirch is an award-winning architectural historian and Honorary Member of the Garden Club of America. His thirty-year career in historic preservation has led him on treks across the globe to study heritage sites. Based in Rhode Island, John has directed projects at Newport mansions and teaches for  Rhode Island School of Design CE. He is author of Newport: The Artful City (D. Giles Ltd. London, 2020) and Gods and Girls: Tales of Art, Seduction and Obsession (Amazon, 2019). 

Beginning Watercolor 

Have you always felt that watercolors were too hard? Tried them before, but felt frustrated? 

Leave those worries behind! This beginner watercolor class is designed for everyone. It is fun and relaxing, and doesn't take much time to get a painting you'll love. We will start by getting comfortable with the materials, and start learning different techniques, including washes, wet on wet, dry brush, etc. We will also touch on the basics of painting, including color, value, and composition. Each class will focus on a project as we build up our skills. I will show you how to correct mistakes, or use them to your advantage! 

I will cover: 

• Best practices for getting watercolors to do what you want them to do

• The importance of composition and making a value study

• How to effectively use reference images, and work on our observation skills

• How to fix or incorporate mistakes to make your painting better

Pour yourself a cup of tea, grab your watercolor materials, and let's get painting!

Anne P. Wert is an artist, illustrator, and educator. After a career as an elementary school teacher, Anne spent many years living and painting overseas in Europe and Asia before eventually moving with her family to Rhode Island. 

Her fine art work focuses on landscapes, most recently of scenes inspired by living in New England. Her background is in oils, but she is also captivated by the immediacy and unpredictability of watercolors. She mostly works from her home studio, but still enjoys plein air painting when possible. 

In addition to being an Elected Artist member at the Providence Art Club, Anne is an Artist member of the Rhode Island Watercolor Society, and the Art League of Rhode Island. She is also a member of the New England Watercolor Society, the American Watercolor Society, and the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Her paintings and illustrations have been shown and juried into galleries around New England and her paintings are in private collections around the world.

Talking About Movies with Jerry DeSchepper - Mondays at 12 pm 

A new ongoing film discussion group. Each week participants will choose a movie, which they will view on their own, in time for the group’s next meeting. Do you have a favorite you’d like to share? Old or New? American or International? Comedy or Tragedy? Join us and we will discuss it together. Led by Jerry DeSchepper. Class limit: 15  Please email Hamilton House to register. 

email John Lord if interested

​
​Introduction to Yang Snake Style Tai Chi
Tuesdays at 10:30am

The Yang Snake Style is a dynamic tai chi method that mobilizes the spine while stretching and strengthening the core body muscles. Practicing this ancient martial art increases strength, balance, flexibility, vitality, peace of mind, and martial skill.

Snake style tai chi uses core body strength to initiate movement. Through discussion and practice, students will learn the principles of snake style movement, learning stretching exercises to help create the strength and flexibility needed to create this movement, and be introduced to the tai chi form. For in depth instruction, beginners arrive at 9:30. At 10:30 all levels practice stretching exercises and the tai chi form together. Please wear loose clothing and flat shoes.

Ida Schmulowitz has been practicing Yang Style Tai Chi since 1984. She has been studying Yang Snake Style since 2005 with Bao Tak Fai (Master Robert Boyd of Burlington,Vt. ) and is a certified Snake Style instructor.

Class fee: $5.00 members; $10 non-members per class; payable directly to Ida.

Join Jodie, from BodySoul, for an upbeat workout!

A low impact class for active older adults. The class consists of a combination of upper and lower body exercises which help seniors with balance and strength. This class can also help preserve bone density, vitality, and independence with age. Achy joints can actually benefit from exercise classes for older adults.

Needlework Circle - Tuesdays from 1pm- 3pm

Do you have a needlework (knitting, crochet, needlepoint, embroidery, sewing) project that has been abandoned, neglected, forgotten? Or would you like to start a piece of needlework? Please join the Needlework Circle which gets together to help each other and share good conversation.

Meditation Circle with Lee Clasper-Torch - Wednesdays at 9:30 am - April 7 ,14, 21, 28, May 5, 12, 19, 26

Enjoy a time of centering silence, meditation and mindful reflection. The Circle is a simple and welcoming time of listening to the silence, sinking into our hearts, and gently practicing the art of being still. Open to all - experienced or brand new to meditation - we are invited to hold space with one another to help deepen our inner awareness and develop our individual practice. As in past Circles, we will continue to share in a quality time of sitting silence, meditate on various poems and passages and share open, honest and mindful conversation with one another. Please email Hamilton House to register.

 "You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough" - Mae West

Memoir Writing with Tammy Bolotow - Eight Week Series - Wednesdays at 10 am - April 7, 14, 21, 28, May 5, 12, 19, 26

The pandemic’s siege of our lives has, possibly, been a time for deeper contemplation, reflection, nostalgia: memories - ready to be put to paper in the form of the memoir.  In these sessions, you will read excerpts from memoirs, discuss the elements of memoir writing (as opposed to the autobiography), and write your own memoir to keep to yourself, pass on to your family (or not!).   Maybe you will want to write your “fantasy” memoir, or a future memoir as you look back on this period in your life. The blank page is waiting for your memories.

Discussions focus on a variety of non-fiction readings, which are distributed at least a week in advance. Discussions are led by the group member who selects the reading and is responsible for having copies made.

Leadership of the discussion rotates weekly and, while encouraged, leading a session is not essential for participating in the group. Selected readings of a piece of non-fiction prose should be 1) interesting to discuss, 2) thought-provoking, and 3) not too long (typically under 15 pages). Anyone is welcome to join this group on an occasional or regular basis.

The titles of the readings are listed in the weekly E-bulletin, and copies are available to members online (whenever possible) and in a folder by the front desk a week prior to their being discussed.

Readings recently discussed covered a wide range of topics--cabbage strudel, American exceptionalism, burkinis, healthcare, the history of prohibition, coffee, and much more--humorous, serious, and informative.

Email HH if interested.

A group for aging adults who want to define and address their own experiences and needs in aging.

Join instructor Alicia Elwin for beginner Spanish. She plans to use the book (Amazon or ABE books): SPANISH MADE SIMPLE, Revised and Updated, by Judith Nemethy, (February 10, 2004).ISBN: 9780767915410. If interested in E-Book version, ISBN: 9780307434593.

Please register by emailing Hamilton House.

Designed for the absolute beginner. We are actively looking for a new teacher. Email Hamilton House if you are interested: hamiltonhouse276@gmail.com

Join Jodie from Body+Soul for an upbeat workout!

A low impact class for active older adults. The class consists of a combination of upper and lower body exercises which help seniors with balance and strength. This class can also help preserve bone density, vitality, and independence with age. Achy joints can actually benefit from exercise classes for older adults.

Classical and Romantic Eras of Music with Lacie Eades - Eight Week Series - Thursdays at 1 pm - May 13, 20, 27, June 3, 10, 17, 24, July 1

Building on the new genres and techniques of the Baroque era, composers in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries found new ways to explore the creative possibilities of music. Classical composers of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries echoed the contemporary ideals of the Enlightenment and explored ways to bring music to the emerging middle class while Romantic composers later in the nineteenth century embraced ways in which to make music novel, highly expressive, and nationalistic. 

This eight-week course will cover both the Classical and Romantic eras of music history, roughly the years between 1750 and 1900. Through musical examples and discussion, this course will contextualize specific composers and musical works within the historical backdrop of each era, revealing ways in which music intersected with the political and social climate of the times.

Lacie Eades will be starting her Ph.D. in musicology at Duke University in the fall of 2021. She will complete her Master of Music in musicology at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory in May 2021 with a research interest in seventeenth-century Venetian music. Lacie also holds a Bachelor of Music Education with an emphasis in piano and voice from Southeast Missouri State University and a Master of Education in Teaching and Technology from William Woods University. Prior to pursuing graduate studies in musicology, Lacie taught choir and general music at Jackson High School in Jackson, Missouri, a position she held for eight years. She also works as assistant editor for the Friends of Chamber Music annual program book and coordinates educational programming and supplemental curriculum for the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra Classical Adventures outreach program. In her free time, Lacie likes to play tennis with her husband and two teenage sons, read, and try new recipes.

Join Lisa from Body-Soul for Chair Yoga. Lisa has requested students bring water to class as well as a yoga block and yoga strap if you have them.

Painting for All Levels with Ida Schmulowitz - Fridays at 10 am - May 7, 14, 21, 28 and June 4, 11, 18, 25

May and June painting classes will be part zoom and part on location in the landscape. Whenever the weather permits, we will be painting outside at various locations, with social distance and mask wearing required. Other days the class will take place on zoom, with students setting up still lives according to a specific assignment that will be given. All levels are welcome. Beginners can opt to gain some experience by focusing on drawing instead of painting. Join us in the tradition of plein air painting or drawing. Experimentation and expression are encouraged!

Students must bring their own supplies. Email Ida for a list of paints or drawing supplies. (idahs@cox.net) When outdoors, students are also responsible for bringing a portable chair, and easel or table to work on, as well as a tray for their supplies. Ida Schmulowitz has been a professional artist  for over 45  years and holds a BFA in painting from RISD. Her work has been exhibited locally and nationally and is in corporate and private collections including the RISD Museum and Newport Art Museum. Her website is idaschmulowitz.com. Fee: $48 per month – Payable directly to Ida Schmulowitz.  Register by emailing Hamilton House.

American Short Stories - Weekly Series with John Lord - Fridays at 11 am 

Join us every week for discussions of classic American short stories. Using The Oxford Book of American Short Stories,we will read and react to a new story each week. The plan is for this class to run for 10-12 weeks and follow a format similar to Poetry and Readings & Discussions. Open to all; no long term commitment. Come when you can. 

The book is available at Amazon ($13-15 used) or at Abebooks.com ($4.40 w/ free shipping).

"Italian Masterpieces" with Dr. Rocky Ruggiero - Six Part Series - Alternate Fridays at 11 am (Dates provided below)

Friday 4/9:  Lecture 1 The Competition that Sparked the Renaissance - Lorenzo Ghiberi vs. Filippo Brunelleschi

The competition of 1401 for the contract for a set of bronze doors for Florence Baptistery is generally considered the event that kicked off the Renaissance. This lecture will explore how each artist brought his own unique vision and style to his work, and why sometimes losing actually means winning.

Friday 4/23:  Lecture 2 – Lorenzo Ghiberti’s Gates of Paradise

Often described as the most beautiful and famous doors on the planet, the Gates of Paradise took nearly a full generation for their artist, Lorenzo Ghiberti, to complete. The ten richly- decorated-gilded-bronze panels depict Old Testament subject matter like pages from a picture book. 

Friday 5/7:  Lecture 3 – Donatello’s bronze David

Donatello’s bronze David was the first free-standing nude statue to be made since ancient Roman times. In addition to restoring sculpture to its place alongside architecture, and not simply as ornamentation for it, Donatello also caused quite a ripple in traditional Christian iconography. The eroticism of the sculpture is palpable. Combined with anomalous details such as boots and a hat (for which my students have appropriately nicknamed the statue the Puss in Boots David) the true meaning of the sculpture has eluded people in my business for many years. 

Friday 5/21:  Lecture 4 – Alessandro Botticelli’s Primavera and Birth of Venus

When Botticelli painted the Primavera in the 1470s, he opened up a veritable Pandora’s Box. No longer would Renaissance artists be limited to simply dressing Christian saints in togas and sandals, they could now gradually introduce the very literature, philosophy and religion of the ancient Greco-Roman world into their own art. This lecture will unpack Botticelli’s great allegorical painting by identifying its characters and their meaning; but it will also explore how the first Renaissance painting to ever depict a pagan subject was still loaded with Christianity.

Friday 6/4:  Lecture 5  – Leonardo Da Vinci’s Last Supper

Leonardo’s great masterpiece was painted in 1495 on a wall of the refectory of a Dominican convent in Milan, Italy, and is celebrated as the first work of the High Renaissance. Few people realize that Leonardo’s painting of the subject was the culmination of nearly 1000 years of iconographic tradition. Moreover, his depiction of Jesus and twelve (soon to be eleven) of his closest followers sharing their last meal together was one of dozens of Last Supper paintings to adorn refectory – or “dining hall” – walls in Italy. This lecture will explore the evolution of the subject of the Last Supper in Italian art, as well as explain why Leonardo’s Last Supper is perhaps the most perfect expression of form and content in Renaissance painting.

Friday 6/18:   Lecture 6 – Michelangelo’s Pietà

The Pietà was Michelangelo’s first “number one hit”. At the ripe old age of 23 years, he had produced one of the greatest statues of all time.  The innocence, sensitivity and stillness of this particular early work would never be achieved again in Michelangelo’s 72-year career. This lecture will explore the meaning and tradition of the “Pietà” subject in art and also address why Michelangelo’s is the most famous interpretation.

Philosophy Discussion Group with Ian Steller - Fridays at 1 pm 

It has been said by some that thinking is the most important form of doing. In this discussion group, we will think - a lot. The guiding principle of our enterprise will be philia sophia, which from Greek can be taken to mean "the love of wisdom". This curious attitude is fundamental to the nature of philosophical examination.

Philosophy is not like other disciplines. It is not a subject whose issues are sufficiently put to rest with some programmatic catalogue of "yeses" and "nos". Instead, philosophy is an activity. It is elicited and practiced more than it is taught and learned. It is, in its most honest manifestation, a way of living. Aristotle would say that philosophy is a distinct kind of "science", concerning itself with independent things, the study of "being as being". The questions raised during this process are ostensibly simple; complication arises as we attempt to answer them.  The occasional murkiness conjured by this endeavor does not, however, prevent it from being edifying. And so, our goal will be to harness and fine-tune the philosophical disposition that exists within all of us. Our focus will involve two things: The work of past thinkers, and the open articulation of our own interpretations of the questions at hand.  Class limit: 10; Space is still available. Please email Hamilton House to register.

Join Mary Nyman and HH member's for weekly conversation.

The Glory of Spain

A cultural crossroads for centuries, Spain possesses a rich architectural and artistic heritage. Islamic, European, Asian and New World forms and motifs each made their way into extraordinary buildings that all testaments to global influences interpreted by Spanish designers in their own unique way.

Lectures: Mondays at 11am

May 3  Islamic Splendor: The Alhambra

May 10 Spanish Gothic

May  21 Sacred and Worldy Royal Retreats:  The Escorial and palace of Aranjuez

May 28 Innovation and Ingenuity: The Art Nouveau Master Works of Barcelona 

John Tschirch is an award-winning architectural historian and Honorary Member of the Garden Club of America. His thirty-year career in historic preservation has led him on treks across the globe to study heritage sites. Based in Rhode Island, John has directed projects at Newport mansions and teaches for  Rhode Island School of Design CE. He is author of Newport: The Artful City (D. Giles Ltd. London, 2020) and Gods and Girls: Tales of Art, Seduction and Obsession (Amazon, 2019). 

Beginning Watercolor 

Have you always felt that watercolors were too hard? Tried them before, but felt frustrated? 

Leave those worries behind! This beginner watercolor class is designed for everyone. It is fun and relaxing, and doesn't take much time to get a painting you'll love. We will start by getting comfortable with the materials, and start learning different techniques, including washes, wet on wet, dry brush, etc. We will also touch on the basics of painting, including color, value, and composition. Each class will focus on a project as we build up our skills. I will show you how to correct mistakes, or use them to your advantage! 

I will cover: 

• Best practices for getting watercolors to do what you want them to do

• The importance of composition and making a value study

• How to effectively use reference images, and work on our observation skills

• How to fix or incorporate mistakes to make your painting better

Pour yourself a cup of tea, grab your watercolor materials, and let's get painting!

Anne P. Wert is an artist, illustrator, and educator. After a career as an elementary school teacher, Anne spent many years living and painting overseas in Europe and Asia before eventually moving with her family to Rhode Island. 

Her fine art work focuses on landscapes, most recently of scenes inspired by living in New England. Her background is in oils, but she is also captivated by the immediacy and unpredictability of watercolors. She mostly works from her home studio, but still enjoys plein air painting when possible. 

In addition to being an Elected Artist member at the Providence Art Club, Anne is an Artist member of the Rhode Island Watercolor Society, and the Art League of Rhode Island. She is also a member of the New England Watercolor Society, the American Watercolor Society, and the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Her paintings and illustrations have been shown and juried into galleries around New England and her paintings are in private collections around the world.

Talking About Movies with Jerry DeSchepper - Mondays at 12 pm 

A new ongoing film discussion group. Each week participants will choose a movie, which they will view on their own, in time for the group’s next meeting. Do you have a favorite you’d like to share? Old or New? American or International? Comedy or Tragedy? Join us and we will discuss it together. Led by Jerry DeSchepper. Class limit: 15  Please email Hamilton House to register. 

email John Lord if interested

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​Introduction to Yang Snake Style Tai Chi
Tuesdays at 10:30am

The Yang Snake Style is a dynamic tai chi method that mobilizes the spine while stretching and strengthening the core body muscles. Practicing this ancient martial art increases strength, balance, flexibility, vitality, peace of mind, and martial skill.

Snake style tai chi uses core body strength to initiate movement. Through discussion and practice, students will learn the principles of snake style movement, learning stretching exercises to help create the strength and flexibility needed to create this movement, and be introduced to the tai chi form. For in depth instruction, beginners arrive at 9:30. At 10:30 all levels practice stretching exercises and the tai chi form together. Please wear loose clothing and flat shoes.

Ida Schmulowitz has been practicing Yang Style Tai Chi since 1984. She has been studying Yang Snake Style since 2005 with Bao Tak Fai (Master Robert Boyd of Burlington,Vt. ) and is a certified Snake Style instructor.

Class fee: $5.00 members; $10 non-members per class; payable directly to Ida.

Join Jodie, from BodySoul, for an upbeat workout!

A low impact class for active older adults. The class consists of a combination of upper and lower body exercises which help seniors with balance and strength. This class can also help preserve bone density, vitality, and independence with age. Achy joints can actually benefit from exercise classes for older adults.

Needlework Circle - Tuesdays from 1pm- 3pm

Do you have a needlework (knitting, crochet, needlepoint, embroidery, sewing) project that has been abandoned, neglected, forgotten? Or would you like to start a piece of needlework? Please join the Needlework Circle which gets together to help each other and share good conversation.

Meditation Circle with Lee Clasper-Torch - Wednesdays at 9:30 am - April 7 ,14, 21, 28, May 5, 12, 19, 26

Enjoy a time of centering silence, meditation and mindful reflection. The Circle is a simple and welcoming time of listening to the silence, sinking into our hearts, and gently practicing the art of being still. Open to all - experienced or brand new to meditation - we are invited to hold space with one another to help deepen our inner awareness and develop our individual practice. As in past Circles, we will continue to share in a quality time of sitting silence, meditate on various poems and passages and share open, honest and mindful conversation with one another. Please email Hamilton House to register.

 "You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough" - Mae West

Memoir Writing with Tammy Bolotow - Eight Week Series - Wednesdays at 10 am - April 7, 14, 21, 28, May 5, 12, 19, 26

The pandemic’s siege of our lives has, possibly, been a time for deeper contemplation, reflection, nostalgia: memories - ready to be put to paper in the form of the memoir.  In these sessions, you will read excerpts from memoirs, discuss the elements of memoir writing (as opposed to the autobiography), and write your own memoir to keep to yourself, pass on to your family (or not!).   Maybe you will want to write your “fantasy” memoir, or a future memoir as you look back on this period in your life. The blank page is waiting for your memories.

Discussions focus on a variety of non-fiction readings, which are distributed at least a week in advance. Discussions are led by the group member who selects the reading and is responsible for having copies made.

Leadership of the discussion rotates weekly and, while encouraged, leading a session is not essential for participating in the group. Selected readings of a piece of non-fiction prose should be 1) interesting to discuss, 2) thought-provoking, and 3) not too long (typically under 15 pages). Anyone is welcome to join this group on an occasional or regular basis.

The titles of the readings are listed in the weekly E-bulletin, and copies are available to members online (whenever possible) and in a folder by the front desk a week prior to their being discussed.

Readings recently discussed covered a wide range of topics--cabbage strudel, American exceptionalism, burkinis, healthcare, the history of prohibition, coffee, and much more--humorous, serious, and informative.

Email HH if interested.

Join instructor Alicia Elwin for beginner Spanish. She plans to use the book (Amazon or ABE books): SPANISH MADE SIMPLE, Revised and Updated, by Judith Nemethy, (February 10, 2004).ISBN: 9780767915410. If interested in E-Book version, ISBN: 9780307434593.

Please register by emailing Hamilton House.

Designed for the absolute beginner. We are actively looking for a new teacher. Email Hamilton House if you are interested: hamiltonhouse276@gmail.com

Join Jodie from Body+Soul for an upbeat workout!

A low impact class for active older adults. The class consists of a combination of upper and lower body exercises which help seniors with balance and strength. This class can also help preserve bone density, vitality, and independence with age. Achy joints can actually benefit from exercise classes for older adults.

Classical and Romantic Eras of Music with Lacie Eades - Eight Week Series - Thursdays at 1 pm - May 13, 20, 27, June 3, 10, 17, 24, July 1

Building on the new genres and techniques of the Baroque era, composers in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries found new ways to explore the creative possibilities of music. Classical composers of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries echoed the contemporary ideals of the Enlightenment and explored ways to bring music to the emerging middle class while Romantic composers later in the nineteenth century embraced ways in which to make music novel, highly expressive, and nationalistic. 

This eight-week course will cover both the Classical and Romantic eras of music history, roughly the years between 1750 and 1900. Through musical examples and discussion, this course will contextualize specific composers and musical works within the historical backdrop of each era, revealing ways in which music intersected with the political and social climate of the times.

Lacie Eades will be starting her Ph.D. in musicology at Duke University in the fall of 2021. She will complete her Master of Music in musicology at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory in May 2021 with a research interest in seventeenth-century Venetian music. Lacie also holds a Bachelor of Music Education with an emphasis in piano and voice from Southeast Missouri State University and a Master of Education in Teaching and Technology from William Woods University. Prior to pursuing graduate studies in musicology, Lacie taught choir and general music at Jackson High School in Jackson, Missouri, a position she held for eight years. She also works as assistant editor for the Friends of Chamber Music annual program book and coordinates educational programming and supplemental curriculum for the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra Classical Adventures outreach program. In her free time, Lacie likes to play tennis with her husband and two teenage sons, read, and try new recipes.

Join Lisa from Body-Soul for Chair Yoga. Lisa has requested students bring water to class as well as a yoga block and yoga strap if you have them.

Painting for All Levels with Ida Schmulowitz - Fridays at 10 am - May 7, 14, 21, 28 and June 4, 11, 18, 25

May and June painting classes will be part zoom and part on location in the landscape. Whenever the weather permits, we will be painting outside at various locations, with social distance and mask wearing required. Other days the class will take place on zoom, with students setting up still lives according to a specific assignment that will be given. All levels are welcome. Beginners can opt to gain some experience by focusing on drawing instead of painting. Join us in the tradition of plein air painting or drawing. Experimentation and expression are encouraged!

Students must bring their own supplies. Email Ida for a list of paints or drawing supplies. (idahs@cox.net) When outdoors, students are also responsible for bringing a portable chair, and easel or table to work on, as well as a tray for their supplies. Ida Schmulowitz has been a professional artist  for over 45  years and holds a BFA in painting from RISD. Her work has been exhibited locally and nationally and is in corporate and private collections including the RISD Museum and Newport Art Museum. Her website is idaschmulowitz.com. Fee: $48 per month – Payable directly to Ida Schmulowitz.  Register by emailing Hamilton House.

American Short Stories - Weekly Series with John Lord - Fridays at 11 am 

Join us every week for discussions of classic American short stories. Using The Oxford Book of American Short Stories,we will read and react to a new story each week. The plan is for this class to run for 10-12 weeks and follow a format similar to Poetry and Readings & Discussions. Open to all; no long term commitment. Come when you can. 

The book is available at Amazon ($13-15 used) or at Abebooks.com ($4.40 w/ free shipping).

Philosophy Discussion Group with Ian Steller - Fridays at 1 pm 

It has been said by some that thinking is the most important form of doing. In this discussion group, we will think - a lot. The guiding principle of our enterprise will be philia sophia, which from Greek can be taken to mean "the love of wisdom". This curious attitude is fundamental to the nature of philosophical examination.

Philosophy is not like other disciplines. It is not a subject whose issues are sufficiently put to rest with some programmatic catalogue of "yeses" and "nos". Instead, philosophy is an activity. It is elicited and practiced more than it is taught and learned. It is, in its most honest manifestation, a way of living. Aristotle would say that philosophy is a distinct kind of "science", concerning itself with independent things, the study of "being as being". The questions raised during this process are ostensibly simple; complication arises as we attempt to answer them.  The occasional murkiness conjured by this endeavor does not, however, prevent it from being edifying. And so, our goal will be to harness and fine-tune the philosophical disposition that exists within all of us. Our focus will involve two things: The work of past thinkers, and the open articulation of our own interpretations of the questions at hand.  Class limit: 10; Space is still available. Please email Hamilton House to register.

Join Mary Nyman and HH member's for weekly conversation.

Beginning Watercolor 

Have you always felt that watercolors were too hard? Tried them before, but felt frustrated? 

Leave those worries behind! This beginner watercolor class is designed for everyone. It is fun and relaxing, and doesn't take much time to get a painting you'll love. We will start by getting comfortable with the materials, and start learning different techniques, including washes, wet on wet, dry brush, etc. We will also touch on the basics of painting, including color, value, and composition. Each class will focus on a project as we build up our skills. I will show you how to correct mistakes, or use them to your advantage! 

I will cover: 

• Best practices for getting watercolors to do what you want them to do

• The importance of composition and making a value study

• How to effectively use reference images, and work on our observation skills

• How to fix or incorporate mistakes to make your painting better

Pour yourself a cup of tea, grab your watercolor materials, and let's get painting!

Anne P. Wert is an artist, illustrator, and educator. After a career as an elementary school teacher, Anne spent many years living and painting overseas in Europe and Asia before eventually moving with her family to Rhode Island. 

Her fine art work focuses on landscapes, most recently of scenes inspired by living in New England. Her background is in oils, but she is also captivated by the immediacy and unpredictability of watercolors. She mostly works from her home studio, but still enjoys plein air painting when possible. 

In addition to being an Elected Artist member at the Providence Art Club, Anne is an Artist member of the Rhode Island Watercolor Society, and the Art League of Rhode Island. She is also a member of the New England Watercolor Society, the American Watercolor Society, and the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Her paintings and illustrations have been shown and juried into galleries around New England and her paintings are in private collections around the world.