Mondays, March 17-April 14

Christology: The Study of the Nature of Christ

12:30-2:30 p.m.

Christology is a field of study within Christian theology that is concerned with the nature of Jesus the Christ, particularly with how the divine and human are related in his person. The history of Christology as a field of study will be examined. Some of the topics discussed in this two-session course will center on the history of Jesus, how he came to become God and the relationship between Jesus and the Father, just to mention a few. Sessions may be taken separately.

Instructors: Daniel C. Smith and the Rev. Virginia Heistand. Smith is on the faculty of VCU’s School of World Studies and Heistand is rector of Westover Church in Charles City County, Va.

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Tuesdays, March 18-April 15

Winter/Spring Bird Migrations

9-11 a.m.

Late winter and early spring are wonderful times for observing the seasonal migration of birds. Participants will meet at various locations throughout the area to view and identify birds. A schedule of meeting places will be sent to registrants. Nominal fees may be required for entrance into some venues.

Instructor: Paul Bedell, principal double bass with the Richmond Symphony, is a lifelong birder and naturalist. He formerly served as councilor for the Virginia Natural History Society.

France: The Language, the Country, the Culture

1-3 p.m.

Learning the basics of a traveler’s French — greetings, ordering a meal, checking into a hotel or asking directions — will be just one part of this comprehensive review of all things French. This course will explore the various regions of France and their individual charms and cultures. There also will be a discussion of the country’s art and cinema and how they have evolved over the years. (Please note: This is a 10-week course.)

Instructor: Kathleen M. Gehring teaches French in VCU’s School of World Studies and at St. Christopher’s School in Richmond, Va., and is an avowed Francophile. She has a B.A. from the University of North Carolina and an M.A. from the University of Virginia.

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Wednesdays, March 19-April 16

U.S. Foreign Policy in the Middle East

1-3 p.m.

This class will cover conflicts in the Middle East and U.S. policies relating to this part of the world. Discussions about the possibilities for peace in the Middle East and an examination of the current situation in Iraq and Afghanistan will round out this course.

Instructor: Muhammed Sahli, former president of the Islamic Center of Richmond and an adjunct faculty member in VCU’s Department of Chemistry, has lectured extensively on the history of the Middle East, Islam and the Muslim world.

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Thursdays, March 20-April 17

Learning to Read Art: An Examination of the Artist’s Book

9:30-11:30 a.m.

Artists’ books are exciting blends of art and the printed word. Although artists have been active in printing and book production for centuries, the artist’s book is primarily a 20th-century form. In this course, we will review the history of the book and examine the artistic traditions that inspired modern artists’ books, such as Victorian extra-illustrated books, fine press books and Russian avant-garde graphic design. Taking advantage of VCU Libraries’ world-class collection of artists’ books, we will attempt to understand exactly what an artist’s book is and identify resources for further explorations.

Instructor: Ellen F. Brown is a rare-book dealer and appraiser and an avid collector of artists’ books. She has studied artists’ books at the University of Virginia’s Rare Book School and has published articles about artists’ books, including one on the VCU Libraries’ collection.

Short Story Writing

2-4 p.m.

From the walls of cave dwellers to the pages of The New Yorker, successful storytelling has always relied on drama. In this course we will work through the process of nurturing a dramatic idea into a piece of short fiction. Specific lessons will include portraying believable characters, painting vivid settings and writing natural dialogue. The goal — to end the course with a first draft — will require some outside writing.

Instructor: Nicole Anderson Ellis received her M.F.A. in Creative Writing from VCU. In addition to writing fiction and creative nonfiction, she is an award-winning journalist and the founding editor of Richmond’s City Edition.

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Mondays, April 21-May 19

Christology: The Study of the Nature of Christ, Part II

1-3 p.m.

This is a continuation of the “Christology” class from Session One.

Instructors: Daniel C. Smith and the Rev. Virginia Heistand

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Tuesdays, April 22-May 20

Winter/Spring Bird Migrations, Part II

9-11 a.m.

This is a continuation of the “Winter/Spring Bird Migrations” class from Session One.

Instructor: Paul Bedell

France: The Language, the Country, the Culture

1-3 p.m.

This is the continuation of the “France: The Language, the Country, the Culture” class from Session One. (Please note: This is a 10-week course.)

Instructor: Kathleen M. Gehring

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Wednesdays, April 23-May 21

Richmond’s Collegiate Architecture

9-11 a.m.

On the occasion of VCU’s expansion across Belvidere Street with the opening of Snead Hall (School of Business) and East Hall (School of Engineering), this course will examine the city’s campus architecture. In addition to three lectures, there will be visits to Virginia Union University and the University of Richmond for on-site examination of some of the area’s different types of collegiate architecture.

Instructor: Edwin Slipek Jr., an adjunct faculty member at VCU, is an architectural historian and architecture critic for Style Weekly.

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Thursdays, April 24-May 22

Introduction to Book Collecting

9-11 a.m.

Book collecting is the ultimate hobby — it’s fun, educational and can be enjoyed at any income level. This class is designed for people who have always wondered what book collecting is all about and how to get started. Participants will learn book-collecting lingo, how to identify first editions, where to buy books and how to develop a collection in their field of interest. We’ll also talk about how to care for books and what to do with damaged books.

Instructor: Ellen F. Brown is a rare-book dealer and appraiser and an avid collector of artists’ books. She has written about book collecting for various publications, including Fine Books and Collections magazine.

Memoir Writing

2-4 p.m.

Truth is stranger than fiction, but just as challenging to write. This workshop will address the differences between autobiography and memoir, examine techniques for translating memories into movies in your readers’ minds and explore the ethics of telling stories that are not yours alone. The goal — to end the course with a first draft — will require some outside writing.

Instructor: Nicole Anderson Ellis received her M.F.A. in Creative Writing from VCU. In addition to writing fiction and creative nonfiction, she is an award-winning journalist and the founding editor of Richmond’s City Edition.

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