Have you ever wondered how artists produced such exquisite manuscripts during Medieval Times? The process to acquire the required materials was much more difficult and laborious than for contemporary artists. Elizabeth Sandoval will provide explanation and insight into the various steps, including but not limited to preparing the parchment, chasing geese in springtime for the best quills, plunging the sea for ink, and pigment gathering and grinding to see some beautiful finished products.

We start the Spring film series with one of the most influential movies about World War I. All Quiet on the Western Front is the story of a group of friends who join the Army during World War I and are assigned to the Western Front, where their fiery patriotism is quickly turned to horror and misery by the harsh realities of combat. The movie is based on a novel by Erich Maria Remarque, German author and a veteran of World War I. The film is directed by Lewis Milestone and won Oscars for Best Picture and for Milestone’s direction. Steve Hunt will present and lead a discussion after the movie.

We would discuss the 17th century artist Artemisia Gentileschi’s choice of subjects in relation to the events occurring in her life. Resulting in one of the first trials for sexual assault in Italian history, Artemisia was raped by her artistic tutor. We would discuss how her subsequent works may reveal a kind of ritualistic, therapeutic healing process based on her choices of subject matter.

Presented by Rebecca Howard of the History of Art Department at The Ohio State University.

Join art educator Megan Moriarity and make your own miniature creature with polymer clay. We’ll check out fantastical creatures and design our own complete with details like claws and wings or whatever you imagine! Hero or villian? Mean or nice? You decide! Registration is required and begins December 29th. Related reading: A Practical Guide to Dragons by Lisa Trumbauer

For children ages 3-1/2 to 6 and their caregivers. Children and caregivers will learn pre-reading skills through stories, songs and rhymes to help prepare them for their Kindergarten Readiness Assessment in Literature Test (KRAL). Kindergarteners will continue to strengthen their skills. Skills include answering questions, repeating sentences, rhyming words and identifying sounds and letters.