Series: Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI)

Overview

The Exploration of Art and Sound at MMFA

Wednesday, April 1 to Wednesday, May 13 from 10 AM to 12 PM

Join us at the intersection of art and sound as we explore the galleries of Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts. The spring 2026 OLLI class will offer gallery tours, artmaking in the studio, and relevant soundscapes to tie together the experience. These sessions will be led by MMFA staff, docents, and local artists.

This class series is for registered OLLI students only.

2026 Spring Course Schedule

4/1 Exploring the Untamed Canvas with Animal Portraits | Penny Thompson, Docent

Join us for our spring OLLI course! Draw inspiration from the expressive animals in the Untamed Canvas exhibition and create a folk art painting of an animal that represents you. This artwork will be scanned and used as your “badge” for the rest of the class sessions. Students will receive a notebook for their gallery notes and interpretations.

4/8 Is This Land Really Your Land? Exhibition Tour & Discussion | Diane Christy, Docent

Take a deep dive into This Land Is Your Land, an exhibition that invites visitors to explore the many ways artists have interpreted the land over time, from the pastoral and picturesque to the abstract and conceptual. OLLI students can engage with interactive elements in the gallery and discuss their relationships to land via guided questions.

4/15 Art Critique 101 – Formalism vs. Expressionism | Tiiwon Siaway, Manager of Adult Programs

In preparation for the ArtTalk community critique, OLLI students will learn how to critique art using the formalism and expressionism critique theories. These skills will be put into practice as students critique the artwork in our permanent collection.

**4/22 Synesthesia and The Enchanted Melodies of Nissan Engle | Liz Land, Docent**

This exhibition features a series of prints from the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts’ collection inspired by Beethoven’s symphonies. Engel believed music could suggest color and movement, and his compositions often reflect this, with blues and greens evoking tonal harmony. For this OLLI session we will create expressive paintings inspired by the melodies and notes of classical music and explore the curious condition of synesthesia.

4/29 En Plein Air | Ritchie Burdette, Museum Attendant

Inspired by the This Land Is Your Land exhibition, we invite OLLI students to celebrate the beauty and diversity of Alabama landscapes with a plein air session. Attendees will explore outdoor painting techniques while reflecting on personal connections to place, memory, and community. Designed for all skill levels, this relaxed and supportive experience encourages creativity, conversation, and a deeper appreciation of the land around us.

5/6 En Plein Air Pt. 2 | Ritchie Burdette, Museum Attendant

Expound upon techniques learned during the previous class session and take your skills even further with this deep dive into plein air artistry.

5/13 Closing Spring Celebration

Thanks for a wonderful Spring OLLI session! Let’s eat, drink, and be merry while creating a collaborative artwork together and listening to a playlist of all our favorite songs.