Auburn University Outreach’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) is hosting the first OLLI Arts Fest on Friday, March 27 at Sunny Slope to celebrate the arts at OLLI and art enthusiasts in the Auburn-Opelika community.
OLLI is a membership organization for people over 50 dedicated to enhancing quality of life post-retirement through affordable course offerings, hands-on learning experiences and community events.
Cindy McGehee, chair of the festival committee, developed the idea for this event to support OLLI’s mission to promote “lifelong learning.”
Many OLLI members first embark on their artistic journey through art classes offered at OLLI. Taking these classes encourages personal growth.
Many members are less experienced with the arts but are excited to explore new creative avenues post-retirement. “We may have been in math or in chemistry, but we can move into the arts,” McGehee explained.
The festival will feature art demonstrations by current art instructors. Scheduled demonstrations include floral arrangement techniques, gel pad printing, architectural sketching & watercolor, knitting and wheel-thrown pottery.
These classes offer OLLI members creative outlets to de-stress from life’s worries.
“When you have the weight of the world, you can do art and focus on art,” McGehee stated. “You have to let go of the stress and strains of the day just for that little bit of time.”
The art classes not only provide a place to relax, but they also help members develop into skilled artists. Works created by art instructors and members in-class will be honored and exhibited throughout the festival grounds. Instructors include acclaimed artists, many of which are former Auburn faculty members.
The festival will also host a silent auction open to the public. Teaching artists Zdenko Krtić, Margee Bright Ragland, Kim Murdock, Curtis Shannon and more are contributing works to the auction. Additional auction items include signed books, event tickets, and restaurant gift certificates. All proceeds from the auction will go to the Build OLLI fundraising campaign.
Whistle Harbor by Scott Melville
*auction item
Local food trucks Butcher Paper BBQ and Holy Bread will be available on-site for guest purchase. Live musical stylings will be provided by the local bluegrass band, the Town Creek Ramblers.
Attendees are encouraged to walk to Sunny Slope or shuttle from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. For more information on the festival, contact Cheri Lumpkin at cheri@auburn.edu or call (334) 844-3146.
For more information about OLLI and OLLI courses visit OLLI at Auburn.
