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It is during the time period of the Middle Ages in which Paris transformed from a small provincial city into an important commercial and religious center and the seat of the royal administration of the country. The Île de la Cité became the site of the royal palace and the new cathedral of Notre-Dame, begun in 1163. In the late 1100s, the collection of colleges on the Left Bank became one of the first and leading universities in Europe, while the Right Bank, where ports, central markets, artisans and merchants were located, became the commercial center of the city. Paris became a center for the creation of illuminated manuscripts and the birthplace of Gothic architecture. Despite civil wars, the plague, and foreign occupation, Paris became the most populous city in the Western world during the Medieval time period. This two-part lecture will focus on the development of art and architecture of the Middle Ages as centered and still visible in Paris.

Katherine E. Zoraster is an Art Historian and a Professor of Art History at several local colleges specializing in Western art from the Renaissance to the 20th century.


The Fifty and Better (FAB) program was designed for people ages 50 and older, seeking intellectual stimulation through university-level courses — without the pressure of grades — for the sake of learning and social engagement.

Get ready for the Ultimate Elvis Presley Tribute show starring Cote Deonath at the Scherr Forum in Thousand Oaks, Ca on Friday April 4th! You don't want to miss this electrifying performance!

On Sunday, April 27th, Studio Channel Islands Art Center is proud to offer exclusive all-day access to Windy Hill Ranch in Hidden Valley for artists to create in response to the environment.

All artists are welcome! Writers, photographers, filmmakers, sculptors, illustrators, painters, printmakers, musicians, dancers +

Friends and supporters are invited to enjoy the art and explore the ranch at the end of the day with drinks and light appetizers.
Windy Hill Ranch is one of the most picturesque ranches in Ventura County, with an array of breathtaking built and natural features, including a pond with a dock and waterfall, hills and oak canyons, several barns, a stone amphitheater, Chumash reed dwelling, and more.

Entrance and Tickets: Attendees will enter through the main gate at 999 W Portrero Road and proceed to the parking lot. The ranch is spread out, so be prepared for portability. Artists do not need to be members of SCIart to participate.

SCIart is grateful to the Gonda Family, Mark Audenino, and the Esper A. Petersen Foundation for the opportunity to host this celebration of our art and ranching community.



Cover image: Gabriel Islas, Brokaw Ranch in February, Oil on ACM Panel, 9" x 12"

The Milkweed, Latent: The Home, Returned, is an intimate installation and guided ceremony led by Chicago-based fiber and installation artist Piper Snowber in response to the destruction of their family home on November 6th, 2024 in the Mountain Fire.

Participants are invited to reflect on loss as a transitional moment in a geologic continuum, and upon the sanctity of fire as a powerful catalyst for reconnecting with the land.

“This piece initiates a conversation around climate grief to deepen our connection with the Earth and process changes that are occurring within it. While acknowledging the devastation fire has caused, this ceremony explores its sanctity and challenges our separation from it.” - Piper Snowber

All 3 Performances Are Free To Attend:
5:45 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
7:15 p.m.

On April 4th, the Ojai Underground welcomes two extraordinary singer-songwriters for a night of soul-stirring music and storytelling.

Kray Van Kirk – A masterful folk troubadour with a voice that echoes the legends of the genre, Kray Van Kirk weaves cinematic tales with his intricate guitar work and poetic lyrics. Often compared to the likes of Richard Thompson and Gordon Lightfoot, his performances are spellbinding, heartfelt, and unforgettable.

Natalie Gelman – A powerhouse performer with a voice as dynamic as her journey, Natalie Gelman brings an undeniable presence to the stage. Raised in NYC and now a California favorite, she has shared stages with icons like Bon Jovi and Jackson Browne. Her music blends folk, pop, and heartfelt storytelling, captivating audiences wherever she goes.

Today, when we think of the United Kingdom, we presume England and gloss over Scotland, especially when considering art. Glasgow, Scotland was a growing industrial city in the 1880s and through that growth produced a group of artists whose rebellious natures catapulted the art world into Modernism.

Many of the artist’s names are unfamiliar but the styles and design elements that were created by their innovations will be recognizable. Curious about who married the Macdonald sisters and were known as “The Four”? Who participated and created suffragette banners?

Discover the Glasgow Boys and Girls who pushed through and ahead of the existing, stale academy mindset and became the catalysts for a barrage of contemporary artistic movements in the 20th century, whose sphere of influence remains with us today.

Christine Maasdam holds a Master in Humanities and a B.A. in Cultural Geography. Her art studies include The Courtauld Institute of Art in London, The Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center in D.C. and Post Graduate studies in Antiquities Trafficking and Art Crime at the University of Glasgow.

The Fifty and Better (FAB) program was designed for people ages 50 and older, seeking intellectual stimulation through university-level courses — without the pressure of grades — for the sake of learning and social engagement.

The Classic Blues style was recorded, defined and spread during the 1920-30s by its two foremost proponents, singers and songwriters Bessie Smith, “The Empress of the Blues” and Ma Rainey, “The Mother of the Blues.” They shaped an expressive, lusty, sobbing, growling ‘opera of the vernacular,’ inscribing their distinctive voices onto America’s musical culture.

This two-part lecture explores the life and times of several extraordinary blues divas including the first woman to sell a million blues records, Mamie Smith, the bawdy Creole chanteuse, Lizzie Miles and cross-dressing singer/pianist, Gladys Bentley. Each lecture features a dozen or more video and film clips including Bessie’s 1929 collaboration with composer W.C. Handy in the landmark movie-with-sound, “The Saint Louis Blues.”

During the last four decades Dave Radlauer has been telling tales of early Jazz, Blues and Swing on the radio, garnering six broadcast awards and authoring 200 articles for online and print publications. For Stanford Libraries, he’s written interpretive online text and donated a large collection of unique music and photos. He teaches lifelong learning courses at UCLA, UC Berkeley, San Francisco State and Dominican University.

The Fifty and Better (FAB) program was designed for people ages 50 and older, seeking intellectual stimulation through university-level courses — without the pressure of grades — for the sake of learning and social engagement.

On February 24, 2022, Russian troops launched a massive full-scale invasion of the Ukraine setting in motion the largest military conflict in Europe since the Second World War. Thousands have been killed and the fighting has displaced more than a quarter of Ukraine’s pre-war population. Although the West rallied to defend the Ukraine, the protracted conflict has strained the Western Alliance and threatens to undermine the world order The United States and its Allies fostered during what Time publisher Henry Luce called “The American Century.” This lecture will explore the core diplomatic, military, and political events that shaped over a century of United States foreign policy and offers insights on how to think about and understand the current crisis in U.S.-European relations.

David Livingstone received BA and MA degrees in History from California State University, Northridge and a PhD in Modern European History from the University of California, San Diego. He has taught at California Lutheran University, Moorpark College, and the United States Naval War College. He specializes in European political, diplomatic and military history with an emphasis on modern Germany.

The Fifty and Better (FAB) program was designed for people ages 50 and older, seeking intellectual stimulation through university-level courses — without the pressure of grades — for the sake of learning and social engagement.

Neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and ALS affect millions, with limited treatment options. But what if we could repair or even replace damaged brain cells? In this lecture, we’ll explore the science of stem cells and their potential to revolutionize the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. Learn how stem cells work, the latest breakthroughs in research, and the challenges of translating discoveries into real-world therapies. We’ll also discuss ethical concerns, clinical trials, and the future of regenerative medicine. This lecture will provide a clear understanding of how stem cell technology is shaping the future of brain health and aging.

Wesley Tierney is currently a PhD candidate in Neuroscience at Arizona State University. He studies the mechanisms of Herpes Simplex Virus infection of neurons. He has worked in various research labs for seven years ranging from social psychology, entomology, regenerative medicine, virology, and neuroscience.

The Fifty and Better (FAB) program was designed for people ages 50 and older, seeking intellectual stimulation through university-level courses — without the pressure of grades — for the sake of learning and social engagement.

Dorothea Lange produced an astonishing body of photographic work in a career that lasted from the 1920s, when she ran the most successful portrait studio in San Francisco, to her death in 1965. Best known for her Depression-era documentary work—including the world-renowned “Migrant Mother”—Lange brought the humanity of the poor into sharp focus.

Avril Angevine is an arts aficionado, teacher, and presenter with an interest in all things California. She has lived in the state since the age of 8 and is a proud graduate of California public schools, including the University of California, Berkeley. As an undergrad at UCLA and Berkeley, she studied English, several foreign languages, and art, and received an MA in Comparative Literature from UCB in 1977. Over a long career, she has alternated between teaching and publications work. She has taught English, French, and Humanities at numerous local colleges and universities, public and private, and in between, worked as a freelance graphics designer and as art director of the State Coastal Conservancy’s magazine, Coast and Ocean.


The Fifty and Better (FAB) program was designed for people ages 50 and older, seeking intellectual stimulation through university-level courses — without the pressure of grades — for the sake of learning and social engagement.