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!

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 - Fridays at 10 am - February 5, 12, 19, 26

Beginners and experienced artists are welcome in this painting workshop. Assignments for beginners will include tonal studies, exercises on mixing colors, and becoming acquainted with working with paint. More advanced students will be working on more complex still life setups and further developing their eye. Having all levels working in the same class is a beneficial experience. New students can learn from the more experienced students and more experienced can reconnect with the excitement of the beginners. Zoom painting classes are a great choice for learning. Students can see each other working, and have a dialogue as class goes on. I can comment and help each student during the class, in the same way that I would in person. Students should contact me for a list of supplies.

$48 for December – Payable directly to Ida Schmulowitz  Register by emailing: hamiltonhouse276@gmail.com

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).

Renaissance in Six Italian Cities with Dr. Rocky Ruggiero - Alternate Fridays at 11:00 am  - January - March (Dates provided below)

Part 1: Assisi: The Little Giant - St. Francis and Franciscan Art and Philosophy - January 8 

At the turn of the 13th and 14th Centuries, a man named Francis from Assisi changed the world. Not only did he begin to reform the Catholic Church by living the example of Christ in taking a vow of poverty, but he also changed the way that medieval Christians saw the natural world. Francis claimed that nature was given to us as a gift from God and therefore was not only good but imbued with God himself. Nature should not be shunned and ignored, but celebrated and revered. Not surprisingly, within a half century of his death in 1226, artists like Cimabue, Dante and Giotto appeared, and each reflected the little giant’s philosophy in his respective art. To honor St. Francis, a basilica was built in his honor and the greatest artists of Europe converged on Assisi to decorate the church, much as they would centuries later at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. 

Part 2: Florence: The Art of Magnificence - January 22

Florence, Italy, was the cradle of the Renaissance and the birthplace of the modern world. From Dante to Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo, this central Italian town produced the greatest concentration of artistic genius in history.  The legacy of this creative explosion is still very much present in the city. Whether it is Brunelleschi’s crowning dome above the titanic cathedral, Ghiberti’s stunning golden doors known as The Gates of Paradise, Botticelli’s beautiful painting of the Birth of Venus or Michelangelo’s unrivaled statue of David, beauty and inspiration are found in every corner of this open-air museum that is Florence. This lecture will tell the story of Florence through its art, architecture and history – a story that is simply magnificent!

Part 3: Padua: Giotto and The Scrovegni Chapel - February 5

Giotto’s 14th-century fresco cycle in the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua, Italy, is perhaps the seminal motion picture in Western Art. The artist transformed the iconic, sacred subjects of his contemporary painting world into a very human story- or what I like to call the “visual vernacular”. This lecture will examine a surprisingly modern aspect of Giotto’s work, that is the cinematic quality. To put it simply, the paintings in the chapel read like a motion picture or a film, in which humanity is the star. Giotto’s mise en scène is full of expressive character types, landscapes, colour and visual arrangements. The sequential arrangement and juxtaposition of scenes, instead, produce a visual narrative of which most modern film directors would be envious. In a purely visual medium, Giotto is able to evoke sounds and smells, emotions and expectations, humor and terror.

Part 4: Siena: The City of the Virgin Mary - February 19

In the first half of the 14th century, the city of Siena was Florence’s main political, economic and artistic rival. Artists such as Duccio, Simone Martini and Ambrogio Lorenzetti were members of one of Europe’s most important school of painting. The striking Gothic cathedral of Siena clearly expresses the city’s devotion to the Virgin Mary; while, the civic architecture of the city is embodied in the city’s most important civic structure known as the Palazzo Pubblico. This late 13th-century building still serves as Siena’s town hall and preserves some of the most important murals of the 14th Century such as Simone Martini’s Maestà in the former room of the “Great Council” and the Allegory of Good and Bad Government by Ambrogio Lorenzetti in the “Room of the Nine”, which was Siena’s medieval Oval Office.

Part 5: Venice: La Serenissima - March 5

Venice was the longest lasting Republic in history. The city’s privileged position as cultural and economic bridge between the Eastern and Western Christian world contribute to the uniqueness of Venice. The art and architecture in Venice clearly display this combination of Islamic, Byzantine, and Classical influences. Artists such as Bellini, Giorgione, Titian and Tintoretto would make Venetian painting perhaps the only school to rival that of the Central Italian Renaissance. We will not only examine the buildings and paintings of Venice, but also the history of perhaps the most singular city in the world.

Part 6: Rome: The Eternal City - March 19

The ancient Romans referred to their city as the “caput mundi”, or the “capital of the world”. Stretching as far west as the Atlantic Ocean, as far south as the Sahara, north to modern-day Scotland, and east to the Euphrates River, the Roman Empire encompassed nearly half of the known world. With the collapse of the Roman Empire, Christianity became the new “spiritual empire”. Renaissance Popes supplanted the emperors and began to compete with them as patrons, appropriating much of their architectural and artistic style in order to create what Pope Julius II called the “New Ancient Rome”. No complex better embodies this tradition than the Vatican. The greatest artists of the day migrated to Rome to contribute their skills to honor St. Peter. The result is one of the greatest decorative complexes on the planet, which includes works like the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. From the Colosseum to St. Peter’s Square, the monuments of Rome still stand as testimony to the greatness of this eternal city.

Philosophy Discussion Group with Ian Stellar - 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 Italian Villa: Rome Revived

Inspired by the rediscovery of ancient Roman villas, the merchant princes and popes of the Italian Renaissance embarked on the creation of fantastic and whimsical country houses. Architectural invention and landscape innovations resulted in an extraordinary artistic accomplishment known as the “villa.” 

John Tschirch is an award-winning architectural historian and an Honorary Member of the Garden Club of America for his achievements in the research and preservation of historic buildings and landscapes. His work has been featured in the Magazine Antiques, The New York Times and Martha Stewart Living. Among his publications are Newport: The Artful City (Giles, Ltd. 2020) and the forthcoming America’s Eden: Newport Landscapes Through the Ages (Giles, Ltd, 2021). He is also the author of historical fiction, such as Gods and Girls: Tales of Art, Seduction and Obsession (Amazon, 2019). His work and writings may be viewed at www.johnstories.com

My newly published book Newport: The Artful City is #1 on Amazon in it's category. Thank you to those who have already acquired the book and to those who will enjoy it in the future. See the link below for details.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/new-releases/books/16244611/ref=zg_b_hnr_16244611_1?fbclid=IwAR1Lpa7I_tK7GExKtYm8p1tWtX5oYmpC8bCwQSg9PKtdRwpiOtjtMyLlFAc

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, March 8 at 1 pm - Global Supply Chains and National Security: by Jonathan Chanis 

The shutdown of global supply chains due to the Covid-19 pandemic brought to the fore an issue with the high level of global economic interdependence: what happens when one country is the main source for an item, say face masks, and then can no longer supply the item? Countries suddenly unable to meet the demand for certain supplies are faced with growing calls for economic nationalism. What are some of the lasting effects that the pandemic could have on global supply chains and trade? How would this affect national security?

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!

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.

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.

“Meandering Through a Memoir” with Maggie Miles - Four Week Series - Thursdays at 10 am - March 11, 18, 25, April 1 

“Four Seasons in Rome” By Anthony Doerr

Oh, to be able to travel!  If you like first-person accounts that contain beautiful writing, humor and intellectual wanderings, then this class is for you. Doerr, the author of the Pulitzer Prize winning novel, All the Light We Cannot See, has given us a true gift as he describes his year in Rome with his wife and twin baby boys.

One minute he is describing the Sistine Chapel and the next he is learning the word for “diaper” in Italian. Each week, we will discuss a season or chapter. Participants will be encouraged to keep a notebook nearby to record phrases or sentences that appeal to them.  The complete title of the book is Four Seasons in Rome - On Twins, Insomnia and the Biggest Funeral in the World. It was published in 2007 and is available at local libraries and used on Amazon and other distributors. Class Limit: 15  Please email Hamilton House to register.

The book is available at local libraries and used on Amazon.  Class Limit: 15  Please email Hamilton House to register.

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!

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 - Fridays at 10 am - February 5, 12, 19, 26

Beginners and experienced artists are welcome in this painting workshop. Assignments for beginners will include tonal studies, exercises on mixing colors, and becoming acquainted with working with paint. More advanced students will be working on more complex still life setups and further developing their eye. Having all levels working in the same class is a beneficial experience. New students can learn from the more experienced students and more experienced can reconnect with the excitement of the beginners. Zoom painting classes are a great choice for learning. Students can see each other working, and have a dialogue as class goes on. I can comment and help each student during the class, in the same way that I would in person. Students should contact me for a list of supplies.

$48 for December – Payable directly to Ida Schmulowitz  Register by emailing: hamiltonhouse276@gmail.com

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 Stellar - 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 Italian Villa: Rome Revived

Inspired by the rediscovery of ancient Roman villas, the merchant princes and popes of the Italian Renaissance embarked on the creation of fantastic and whimsical country houses. Architectural invention and landscape innovations resulted in an extraordinary artistic accomplishment known as the “villa.” 

John Tschirch is an award-winning architectural historian and an Honorary Member of the Garden Club of America for his achievements in the research and preservation of historic buildings and landscapes. His work has been featured in the Magazine Antiques, The New York Times and Martha Stewart Living. Among his publications are Newport: The Artful City (Giles, Ltd. 2020) and the forthcoming America’s Eden: Newport Landscapes Through the Ages (Giles, Ltd, 2021). He is also the author of historical fiction, such as Gods and Girls: Tales of Art, Seduction and Obsession (Amazon, 2019). His work and writings may be viewed at www.johnstories.com

My newly published book Newport: The Artful City is #1 on Amazon in it's category. Thank you to those who have already acquired the book and to those who will enjoy it in the future. See the link below for details.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/new-releases/books/16244611/ref=zg_b_hnr_16244611_1?fbclid=IwAR1Lpa7I_tK7GExKtYm8p1tWtX5oYmpC8bCwQSg9PKtdRwpiOtjtMyLlFAc

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!

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.

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.

“The World of Biologics”

Don’t miss this great opportunity to learn up to date information on the new innovative medications being marketed. Learn what a “biologic” is and how it’s different from other drugs; effectiveness and risks; why they are so expensive and  get a chance to ask your questions.

Moderator: John Stevenson, Professor Emeritus, Department of Psychology, University of Rhode Island

Presenters:
Noemi Ramos-DeSimone, PhD; Pharm D; CDOE; CVDOE
Coordinator of the Pharmacy Outreach Program

Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor 
Department of Pharmacy Practice
URI College of Pharmacy

Ryan Patrick Vecchitto, N’deye Yacine Dado and Irene Fallon 

Doctor of Pharmacy Candidates 
Department of Pharmacy Practice
URI College of Pharmacy 

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.

A Regathering of Poets with Jon Berenson - Mini Series - Thursdays at 9 am - March 18, 25, April 1, 8, 15

In this five session Regathering of Poets, Jon invites us to come together to share with each other by bringing a favorite poem (your own or someone else's), and to read it and share what the poem means to you in your life. Dr. Jon Berenson is a clinical psychologist in solo private practice in Providence, Rhode Island. He has been a senior leader of the Opening the Heart workshop for 37 years at Kripalu Institute for Yoga and Health. Jon has loved what he calls sacred, or divine poetry for a very long time, sometimes called 'Mindfulness Poetry.’ Class Limit: 8  Email Hamilton House to register.

“Meandering Through a Memoir” with Maggie Miles - Four Week Series - Thursdays at 10 am - March 11, 18, 25, April 1 

“Four Seasons in Rome” By Anthony Doerr

Oh, to be able to travel!  If you like first-person accounts that contain beautiful writing, humor and intellectual wanderings, then this class is for you. Doerr, the author of the Pulitzer Prize winning novel, All the Light We Cannot See, has given us a true gift as he describes his year in Rome with his wife and twin baby boys.

One minute he is describing the Sistine Chapel and the next he is learning the word for “diaper” in Italian. Each week, we will discuss a season or chapter. Participants will be encouraged to keep a notebook nearby to record phrases or sentences that appeal to them.  The complete title of the book is Four Seasons in Rome - On Twins, Insomnia and the Biggest Funeral in the World. It was published in 2007 and is available at local libraries and used on Amazon and other distributors. Class Limit: 15  Please email Hamilton House to register.

The book is available at local libraries and used on Amazon.  Class Limit: 15  Please email Hamilton House to register.

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!

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 - Fridays at 10 am - February 5, 12, 19, 26

Beginners and experienced artists are welcome in this painting workshop. Assignments for beginners will include tonal studies, exercises on mixing colors, and becoming acquainted with working with paint. More advanced students will be working on more complex still life setups and further developing their eye. Having all levels working in the same class is a beneficial experience. New students can learn from the more experienced students and more experienced can reconnect with the excitement of the beginners. Zoom painting classes are a great choice for learning. Students can see each other working, and have a dialogue as class goes on. I can comment and help each student during the class, in the same way that I would in person. Students should contact me for a list of supplies.

$48 for December – Payable directly to Ida Schmulowitz  Register by emailing: hamiltonhouse276@gmail.com

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).

Renaissance in Six Italian Cities with Dr. Rocky Ruggiero - Alternate Fridays at 11:00 am  - January - March (Dates provided below)

Part 1: Assisi: The Little Giant - St. Francis and Franciscan Art and Philosophy - January 8 

At the turn of the 13th and 14th Centuries, a man named Francis from Assisi changed the world. Not only did he begin to reform the Catholic Church by living the example of Christ in taking a vow of poverty, but he also changed the way that medieval Christians saw the natural world. Francis claimed that nature was given to us as a gift from God and therefore was not only good but imbued with God himself. Nature should not be shunned and ignored, but celebrated and revered. Not surprisingly, within a half century of his death in 1226, artists like Cimabue, Dante and Giotto appeared, and each reflected the little giant’s philosophy in his respective art. To honor St. Francis, a basilica was built in his honor and the greatest artists of Europe converged on Assisi to decorate the church, much as they would centuries later at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. 

Part 2: Florence: The Art of Magnificence - January 22

Florence, Italy, was the cradle of the Renaissance and the birthplace of the modern world. From Dante to Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo, this central Italian town produced the greatest concentration of artistic genius in history.  The legacy of this creative explosion is still very much present in the city. Whether it is Brunelleschi’s crowning dome above the titanic cathedral, Ghiberti’s stunning golden doors known as The Gates of Paradise, Botticelli’s beautiful painting of the Birth of Venus or Michelangelo’s unrivaled statue of David, beauty and inspiration are found in every corner of this open-air museum that is Florence. This lecture will tell the story of Florence through its art, architecture and history – a story that is simply magnificent!

Part 3: Padua: Giotto and The Scrovegni Chapel - February 5

Giotto’s 14th-century fresco cycle in the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua, Italy, is perhaps the seminal motion picture in Western Art. The artist transformed the iconic, sacred subjects of his contemporary painting world into a very human story- or what I like to call the “visual vernacular”. This lecture will examine a surprisingly modern aspect of Giotto’s work, that is the cinematic quality. To put it simply, the paintings in the chapel read like a motion picture or a film, in which humanity is the star. Giotto’s mise en scène is full of expressive character types, landscapes, colour and visual arrangements. The sequential arrangement and juxtaposition of scenes, instead, produce a visual narrative of which most modern film directors would be envious. In a purely visual medium, Giotto is able to evoke sounds and smells, emotions and expectations, humor and terror.

Part 4: Siena: The City of the Virgin Mary - February 19

In the first half of the 14th century, the city of Siena was Florence’s main political, economic and artistic rival. Artists such as Duccio, Simone Martini and Ambrogio Lorenzetti were members of one of Europe’s most important school of painting. The striking Gothic cathedral of Siena clearly expresses the city’s devotion to the Virgin Mary; while, the civic architecture of the city is embodied in the city’s most important civic structure known as the Palazzo Pubblico. This late 13th-century building still serves as Siena’s town hall and preserves some of the most important murals of the 14th Century such as Simone Martini’s Maestà in the former room of the “Great Council” and the Allegory of Good and Bad Government by Ambrogio Lorenzetti in the “Room of the Nine”, which was Siena’s medieval Oval Office.

Part 5: Venice: La Serenissima - March 5

Venice was the longest lasting Republic in history. The city’s privileged position as cultural and economic bridge between the Eastern and Western Christian world contribute to the uniqueness of Venice. The art and architecture in Venice clearly display this combination of Islamic, Byzantine, and Classical influences. Artists such as Bellini, Giorgione, Titian and Tintoretto would make Venetian painting perhaps the only school to rival that of the Central Italian Renaissance. We will not only examine the buildings and paintings of Venice, but also the history of perhaps the most singular city in the world.

Part 6: Rome: The Eternal City - March 19

The ancient Romans referred to their city as the “caput mundi”, or the “capital of the world”. Stretching as far west as the Atlantic Ocean, as far south as the Sahara, north to modern-day Scotland, and east to the Euphrates River, the Roman Empire encompassed nearly half of the known world. With the collapse of the Roman Empire, Christianity became the new “spiritual empire”. Renaissance Popes supplanted the emperors and began to compete with them as patrons, appropriating much of their architectural and artistic style in order to create what Pope Julius II called the “New Ancient Rome”. No complex better embodies this tradition than the Vatican. The greatest artists of the day migrated to Rome to contribute their skills to honor St. Peter. The result is one of the greatest decorative complexes on the planet, which includes works like the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. From the Colosseum to St. Peter’s Square, the monuments of Rome still stand as testimony to the greatness of this eternal city.

Philosophy Discussion Group with Ian Stellar - 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 Italian Villa: Rome Revived

Inspired by the rediscovery of ancient Roman villas, the merchant princes and popes of the Italian Renaissance embarked on the creation of fantastic and whimsical country houses. Architectural invention and landscape innovations resulted in an extraordinary artistic accomplishment known as the “villa.” 

John Tschirch is an award-winning architectural historian and an Honorary Member of the Garden Club of America for his achievements in the research and preservation of historic buildings and landscapes. His work has been featured in the Magazine Antiques, The New York Times and Martha Stewart Living. Among his publications are Newport: The Artful City (Giles, Ltd. 2020) and the forthcoming America’s Eden: Newport Landscapes Through the Ages (Giles, Ltd, 2021). He is also the author of historical fiction, such as Gods and Girls: Tales of Art, Seduction and Obsession (Amazon, 2019). His work and writings may be viewed at www.johnstories.com

My newly published book Newport: The Artful City is #1 on Amazon in it's category. Thank you to those who have already acquired the book and to those who will enjoy it in the future. See the link below for details.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/new-releases/books/16244611/ref=zg_b_hnr_16244611_1?fbclid=IwAR1Lpa7I_tK7GExKtYm8p1tWtX5oYmpC8bCwQSg9PKtdRwpiOtjtMyLlFAc

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!

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.

Join Michael Walczak for stage play readings. More to come.

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.

A Regathering of Poets with Jon Berenson - Mini Series - Thursdays at 9 am - March 18, 25, April 1, 8, 15

In this five session Regathering of Poets, Jon invites us to come together to share with each other by bringing a favorite poem (your own or someone else's), and to read it and share what the poem means to you in your life. Dr. Jon Berenson is a clinical psychologist in solo private practice in Providence, Rhode Island. He has been a senior leader of the Opening the Heart workshop for 37 years at Kripalu Institute for Yoga and Health. Jon has loved what he calls sacred, or divine poetry for a very long time, sometimes called 'Mindfulness Poetry.’ Class Limit: 8  Email Hamilton House to register.

“Meandering Through a Memoir” with Maggie Miles - Four Week Series - Thursdays at 10 am - March 11, 18, 25, April 1 

“Four Seasons in Rome” By Anthony Doerr

Oh, to be able to travel!  If you like first-person accounts that contain beautiful writing, humor and intellectual wanderings, then this class is for you. Doerr, the author of the Pulitzer Prize winning novel, All the Light We Cannot See, has given us a true gift as he describes his year in Rome with his wife and twin baby boys.

One minute he is describing the Sistine Chapel and the next he is learning the word for “diaper” in Italian. Each week, we will discuss a season or chapter. Participants will be encouraged to keep a notebook nearby to record phrases or sentences that appeal to them.  The complete title of the book is Four Seasons in Rome - On Twins, Insomnia and the Biggest Funeral in the World. It was published in 2007 and is available at local libraries and used on Amazon and other distributors. Class Limit: 15  Please email Hamilton House to register.

The book is available at local libraries and used on Amazon.  Class Limit: 15  Please email Hamilton House to register.

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!

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 - Fridays at 10 am - February 5, 12, 19, 26

Beginners and experienced artists are welcome in this painting workshop. Assignments for beginners will include tonal studies, exercises on mixing colors, and becoming acquainted with working with paint. More advanced students will be working on more complex still life setups and further developing their eye. Having all levels working in the same class is a beneficial experience. New students can learn from the more experienced students and more experienced can reconnect with the excitement of the beginners. Zoom painting classes are a great choice for learning. Students can see each other working, and have a dialogue as class goes on. I can comment and help each student during the class, in the same way that I would in person. Students should contact me for a list of supplies.

$48 for December – Payable directly to Ida Schmulowitz  Register by emailing: hamiltonhouse276@gmail.com

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 Stellar - 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.

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!

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.

Join Michael Walczak for stage play readings. More to come.

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.