row1
OLLI will host visiting artists in partnership with the Alabama State Council on the Arts, the Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts & Humanities, the College of Liberal Arts at Auburn University, and the Alice M. Leahy Memorial Endowment Fund for Excellence. Each artist is expected to offer a public presentation along with a hands-on workshop experience. Final schedules and registration links will be available here as details are finalized - beginning in February.
OLLI Presents – Textile Artist Aaron Sanders Head
Anticipated Dates: March 24–25, 2026
Artist Website: http://www.aaronsandershead.com/textiles
Aaron Sanders Head’s work centers on Southern textile traditions, hand-stitching, and natural dyes, drawing from rural Alabama heritage and lived experiences. Plans include a public presentation and a quilting-focused workshop.
OLLI Presents – Fiber Artist Nadene Mairesse
Anticipated Dates: April 8–10, 2026
Artist Website: https://www.idyllwilde.co/about
Fiber artist Nadene Mairesse blends natural dye practices, handcraft, and sustainable studio methods. Plans include a public lecture and a hands-on workshop introducing plant-based dyes and historic textile processes.
OLLI Presents – Photographer Will Jacks
Anticipated Dates: June 22-26, 2026
Artist Website: https://whjacks.com
Will Jacks is a process artist best known for his photographic work. His research examines the blurred areas between art and journalism, individual and collective, and the impact of each on the other. Plans include a public presentation and a photography workshop and critique.
OLLI Presents – Collage Artist Billy Renkl
Anticipated Dates: August 3-7, 2026
Artist Website: https://billyrenkl.com
Artist and illustrator Billy Renkl is a graduate of Auburn University now teaching drawing and illustration at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, TN. His work highlights his view that art can be made from anything. Plans include a public lecture and a hands-on collage workshop.
