Visual and Performing Arts
GARY BERGREN - ART
Acalanes Adult Education
LETTIE BURNS - TAP DANCE
Acalanes Adult Education is pleased to welcome Lettie Burns to our program. "It all started at Mrs. Bonner's dancing school." Born in San Antonio, TX, her training includes study at professional studios in Texas as well as New York and San Francisco. She combined her dancing with a career in the fashion world. A professional model at 19, she has worked throughout the United States, Mexico, and Canada. She has had many years' experience as a teacher - of modeling as well as dance. She has written, choreographed, and performed in many shows, including "Be a Performer" and "Performers on Tour."
BILL HELSEL - PHOTOGRAPHY
Bill Helsel earned his college degrees in architecture and urban planning, but was always interested in art and fell in love with photography along the way. This led Bill to launch a long career as a free-lance photographer, specializing in architecture and travel, plus a bit of everything from weddings to wildlife. His work has been represented by three major stock photo agencies and has appeared in hundreds of publications worldwide, including: Audubon, Bay Nature, California Living, California Scenic, Condé Nast Traveler, National Geographic publications, Ranger Rick, Sierra and Sunset. He was also a contributing editor for Darkroom Photography magazine. Teaching felt like a natural extension of his work. Bill liked sharing what he had learned about both the technical and aesthetic sides of photography and put a lot of thought into how best to clearly communicate it while also making it fun. He began teaching at Acalanes Adult Education Center in 1980, and has since also taught through Walnut Creek Center for Community Arts, St. Mary's College, the American Institute of Architects, and Pt. Reyes Field Institute. Bill likes encouraging students to try things they have not done before, both in subject-matter and location, and ways of recording their images. Many students have taken multiple classes with him, and, in 2014, Bill received a California Council on Adult Education award for excellence in teaching. Bill is now retired from free-lancing and instead concentrating on teaching and his personal fine-art photography. Bill shoots both digital and film, and processes his images in both PhotoShop and an old-fashioned darkroom. He especially loves the unique tonal quality of black and white infrared and shoots a lot of my landscapes that way. Over the last 20 years or so, Bill's work has been shown in many Bay Area solo and group exhibits.
LYNNE THORNER - FILM APPRECIATION
Lynne grew up and attended school in Teaneck, New Jersey, then earned a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Vermont. Taught classes first in New York City, then New Haven Connecticut, and finally spent 23 years in the English Department at Broward College, an international college in Fort Lauderdale, FL. After retiring from teaching in 2013, she moved from south Florida to northern California in 2014, settling in Rossmoor, Walnut Creek. Many people really enjoy watching movies! Ah, but most folks are unaware of how or why a film impacts the viewer. Reel to Real Talk explores the creative elements of filmmaking in order to enhance the viewing experience. But the course also promotes meaningful post-viewing discussions. Exchanging ideas and listening to one another becomes the underlying purpose of the course. Clearly, we emphasize elements of cinema art in order to create a "reel" community! Lynne's passion for film has expanded exponentially since moving to Walnut Creek. In addition to teaching 2 classes through Acalanes Continuing Education Program, she regularly volunteers to facilitate film programs and leads lively post-viewing discussions for various Rossmoor Clubs. These include: The Black Lives Matter Committee, The Buddhist Study Group, National Council for Jewish Women, The Women's Collective, The Democratic Club, and RAD (Rossmoor Advocates for Diversity) Reels -- to name a few! Lynne deeply appreciates and feels great gratitude for the many opportunities to present select feature films -- narrative and documentary, domestic and foreign -- that touch the hearts and expand the minds of viewers.
SUSAN WARREN - ART
Susan Warren was a high school art, dance and yoga teacher at Freedom High School in Oakley, CA for 25 years. She earend her Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art and a single subject teaching credential from CSU Chico in 1995, and mediation certificate from Saint Mary’s College in 2017. She has 30 years of practicing Non-Violent Communication and 40 years of practicing Vipassana meditation. Creativity and resourcefulness are the most valuable and enduring skills a person can learn. Connection is more important than curriculum. Learning should be meaningful and authentic. Take chances. Make mistakes. Get messy. Foster a life-long love of learning. Voted Teacher of the Year at Freedom High School in 1996 (student choice award) and 1999 (district award). 35 years of experience working with non-artists and artists. Susan survived late stage ovarian cancer during a pandemic. She retired in 2020. Susan is now 5 years cancer free. Former single mother of two, now grown men. Grammy to two grandsons. Still dancing tango.
MINDY ZUCKERMAN - ART
Mindy Zuckerman is a theater professional and an abject hobbyist. She has been creating art since she was a teen, including: knitting, making clothing, quilting, mosaic, gourd painting, cake decorating. Is there anything left? Your creativity is wonderful! You can do anything. Mindy has created mosaics for 4 years.
Explore Your Artistic Talents!
Have you always wanted to explore your artistic talents? Perhaps improve upon your skill set with regards to art, floral design, photography, and so much more? Allow Acalanes Adult Education (AAE) to explore this journey with you.
AAE offers a variety of art courses, floral design, photography, and much more. Visit our classes page for current offerings.
Adventures in Creative Photography
Are you already familiar with your camera's essential controls and want to expand your photographic vision with some new subjects and techniques? This intermediate-advanced level class includes assignments in shooting landscapes, city scenes, moonrise/moonset, night photography, close-up, and people, plus some fun low-tech in-camera ways to give your photos a different look. Class meetings will include advice and inspiration for doing the assignments and critiques of your work.
Art
Acrylic & Oil Painting
Learn basic skills: how to mix colors, start a painting, and choose the best brushes for each area or subject. We will discuss design and composition and how to fine-tune your work for the best results. Prerequisite: Some painting experience.
Artist Lab
Welcome to an in-person Artist lab with no instruction. Work at your own pace at your own table, with the camaraderie of fellow artists. Artwork is not critiqued, although fellow artists are welcome to ask for informal feedback from each other. This is a fun, friendly space to work on your own projects. All mediums are welcome.
Drawing Made Easy
If you can hold a pencil and write or print your name, you CAN learn to draw. Have you been putting aside the urge to create? Well, NOW is the time! In this class, students will learn very clever and do-able techniques to make drawing easier than you ever imagined. Your own results will amaze you on the very first day. Drawing is the basis of all art. This course will give you the fundamentals: basic shapes, tone, value, perspective. All the skills and confidence you want! Open to all levels. Have fun while you learn. Bring an 8 x 10 or larger sketchbook and pencils to start.
Mosaic Art Workshop - 4 classes
There is something for everyone in this workshop. While working at your own pace, on the projects of your choice, experienced mosaic artists explore their craft and find inspiration from others. The class is monitored by an instructor who provides direction for newbies and support for the experienced. While most of us work with glass or tile, experiments with new and creative materials and techniques are encouraged. Open a world of possibilities in mosaic! A $30 materials fee is paid to the instructor. Guests will have additional costs depending upon their projects.
Watercolor - 10 classes
Spark your creativity through watercolors. In this course, we will share inspiration, remember that we are all creative and capable of making unique marks, and build on our artistic practices. Demonstrations, individual help, and critiques are offered in each class. We will review essential techniques: various brush strokes, wet vs. dry brush, color mixing, and designing a painting with a variety of subjects. Emphasis is on design elements and the development of individual projects. Open to all levels. Hone your craft within a community of artists!
Basic Digital & Film Photography
Want to understand and fully control your camera for better, more creative photos? Learn to make stronger compositions and use natural light more effectively for landscape and people pictures in color and black-and-white. You will need an SLR or other type of camera that allows full manual control, and you must be able to spend some time outside of class working on assignments. Digital or film cameras may be used. Space is limited to 15 Guests.
Basic Floral Design
An introductory class for those who want to learn floral arranging for personal enjoyment or as a beginning class towards a floral design certificate. Covers principles of floral design, use of materials and tools, and identification of flower and plant use. All levels welcome. A $25 material fee is paid to the instructor. Guests will have additional material costs depending on their weekly floral arrangements. Note: The instructor is bilingual (English and Spanish).
Improv
Laugh, Learn, Think on your Feet!
Improv classes for all levels are offered at Acalanes Adult Education! Learn how to make it up as you go, be more comfortable onstage, with your own voice. Skills are useful in every facet of your life. Gain confidence in speaking and bring some light and fun laughs into your week! Friends and family performance will take place at the end of each session.
Multi Level Floral Design
This class includes basic, advanced, modern, and wedding floral design courses. Guests wanting to learn Ikebana (Japanese flower arrangements) are welcome. A one-time lab fee of $25 will be due on the first day of class for class supplies. Guests will have additional costs depending on weekly floral arrangements.
Reel-to-Real Talk: Creative Film Forum
Reel-to-Real Talk is a film appreciation course that combines literary elements and cinematic techniques to develop a better understanding of cinema art. The focus for the 2022 Spring Term will be to view a chronology of movies directed by a variety of Directors/Auteurs who earned acclaim for their body of work including select film noir movies and films from classic directors including: Billy Wilder, Sidney Lument, Elia Kazan, Stanley Kramer, Norman Jewison, and Roman Polansky.
Tap Dance
Dance to great music! In this adult beginning Tap Dance class, you will learn the basic tap dance skills: how to put steps together to make and create a dance - flaps, shuffle, timesteps, rifts, etc., and how to count rhythm.