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Online through a Zoom webinar. A recording will be available the next day for one week. Enjoy a behind-the-catwalk glimpse into the past and present of fashion. And maybe the future. From the revealing gowns in Minoan times to the iconic Coco Chanel’s “little black dress” to Alexander McQueen’s unconventional designs, the fashion world plays its part in our lives – whether you pay attention or not! Included in your visit will be history and culture of the period, introductions to the most famous designers who created the clothing, explanations of the technologies that changed production, and the impact the great art movements like Expressionism, Post Modernism, Art Deco, Art Nouveaux had on the industry. And along the way will be a little gossip about the divas and rivalries and dramatic events that always accompany creative endeavours. David Chandross holds a doctorate from the University of Toronto, majoring in Philosophy of the Body. He has held academic positions at several universities and at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine and has worked extensively integrating holistic medicine with scientific medicine for a number of institutions across the country. He is also a graduate of the Blanche McDonald School of Fashion in Vancouver and a former national artist for Estee Lauder. He has worked with Elizabeth Arden and Smashbox and was a full-time makeup instructor. He apprenticed in theatre and later commercial print working with cast from Battlestar Galactica, Ginger Snaps and Sons of Anarchy. Dates: Oct. 10 – Nov. 28 (8 sessions)
In-Person Lecture Course. Not Available Online. South Asia is a culturally rich and diverse region that includes India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. The area has a population of over 2 billion people, a quarter of the world’s population. We’ll begin our exploration of the history of the Indian subcontinent with one of the earliest civilizations, the Indus Civilization, move on to survey several impressive empires, include the birth of four world religions, and give special attention to caste oppression and colonialism. Our guides for this fascinating journey are the diverse people of premodern South Asia, who speak to us through inscriptions, texts, murals, textiles, bronze, and stone sculptures. Think this is all ancient history? Think again, since historical figures and claims about the past feature in Indian politics daily even up to the present day. Sudharshan Durayappah teaches Iconography, History and Arts of the sixth to the ninth century Silk Routes, and Hinduism in the Diaspora in the Department of Historical and Cultural Studies at the University of Toronto. He is a published scholar and cultural critic. His publications include Re-Casting Gender in Hindu Rituals in the Diaspora (2013); Edited volume; World Without Walls: Being Human, Being Tamil (2011); and Sacred Play: Nervous laughter and serious playfulness in upstate New York. Co-authored with Corinne Dempsey (2010), Radha and Krishna: Gender-Fluid Portrayal (2004). Dates: Oct. 10 – Nov. 28 (8 sessions)
F25-36P Walks in Nature, Plus Some Birds In-Person Outdoor Course. Not Available Online We will explore some of the many natural spots in Toronto, which has been well described as a “city within a park”. This course is a successor to the many successful birding courses led by our guru Doug Paton. The four co-leaders do not have his knowledge of birds yet, but they are keen to keep learning through experience and to enable the rest of the group to do likewise. We will be keeping our eyes open for birds but will also be looking at other aspects of nature, both flora and fauna, and simply enjoying walking in nature. A list of meeting places, all accessible by TTC, will be provided to all participants before the first walk. There will be opportunities to relax and discuss what we have seen over lunch after each walk. Walks are often on uneven ground, but the pace is leisurely. Wear sturdy footwear, dress for the weather, bring binoculars, and come prepared to enjoy the outdoors. Gary Chang, Christina Prozes, Diana Sernick, and Liane Sharkey have all taken part in a number of birding and other nature-based courses. They are aware that they still have much to learn, but their enthusiasm will enable the group to learn along with them. Dates: Oct. 3 – Nov. 21 (8 sessions)
F25-37OThe Artists You Didn’t Know You Knew NEW Famous Artists and Their Not-So-Famous Artists Siblings and Spouses Online through a Zoom webinar. A recording will be available the next day for one week. Consider this your invitation to the B-list of modern art history -- it’s just as compelling! Art history is full of towering names but behind many of them stood a sibling or spouse with a paintbrush in hand and no seat in the spotlight. We’ll peel back the curtain on the lesser-known artists who lived, loved, dreamed, and created alongside modern art’s biggest stars. You’ll meet Josephine “Jo” Nivison Hopper, the wife of Edward Hopper, one of America’s most iconic realist painters. An accomplished painter in her own right, she played a crucial role in Edward’s career while her own work was largely overshadowed. Or Ida Ten Eyck O'Keeffe, a skilled artist who created striking landscapes and abstract compositions and was the sister of Georgia O’Keeffe, one of the most celebrated American modernist painters. Though Ida exhibited her work and received praise, she struggled to gain recognition—partly due to Georgia’s towering fame and the influence of Georgia’s husband, Alfred Stieglitz, who promoted Georgia’s career but not Ida’s. Through these stories, and many more, we’ll unpack how fame gets built, how credit gets lost, and why art history sometimes has a short memory. We’ll examine the myth of the lone genius, and appreciate the messy, human, often collaborative realities behind great art. And you’ll sharpen your visual and analytical skills along the way! Anika Molnárová Baranyai is a Toronto-based artist, counselor, and community arts facilitator whose work centers on collaborative creation, untold stories, and the healing power of art. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from York University, a Fine Art Studio Diploma from the Art Centre CTS, and is currently completing her postgraduate studies in Expressive Arts Therapy through the Create Institute. This interdisciplinary foundation informs her passion for uncovering the overlooked narratives of artist pairs and collaborators, and for challenging dominant art. Dates: Oct. 10--Nov. 28 (8 sessions) Time: Fridays, 12:30 – 2:30 p.m. Fee: $99 Instructor: Anika Molnárová Baranyai
F25-38P Uncorked: Wine Tasting Around the World Let’s get together again to raise a glass this fall. Back for another popular series of wine-tasting sessions is wine expert and teacher, Michael Pinkus – The Grape Guy – whose courses always offer something for both newbies and aficionados. Add to your wine knowledge of grape varieties and how to purchase a good wine without breaking the bank. This time we’ll visit Canada, Chile, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal to explore their varieties and peculiarities. Get ready for what we have all been missing: a little wine education, a little wine drinking, and a whole lotta fun. Please note: Your $108 fee for this course includes the cost of the wine for all six weeks. Limited to 20 participants Michael Pinkus is a multi-award-winning journalist and national and international wine judge and a freelance wine writer and Podcaster whose articles have appeared in numerous publication both in Canada and internationally. He is also the sole writer for his eponymous website, MichaelPinkusWineReview.com, and past-President of the Wine Writers’ Circle of Canada (2010-2015). Dates: Oct. 10 – Nov. 14 (6 sessions)
F25-39O The World’s Religions NEW Online through a Zoom webinar. A recording will be available the next day for one week. Religion is everywhere. It shapes your neighbours, global politics, and maybe you. This issue is especially pertinent in Canada where our level of religious diversity is magnitudes higher than even the USA or the UK. And yet, many of us know very little about the world’s belief systems. We will survey the world’s major religions to gain a better understanding of their history and ritual. We will explore the deep intersection of religion and culture and politics as we see how faith impacts both private lives and national and international politics. In so doing, we will also learn more about ourselves. Whether religious or not, religion has profoundly influenced our human behaviour from how we use our bodies to how we join and leave groups. And finally, we will examine how religion can both inspire and create terror. Brian Carwana is the Executive Director of Encounter World Religions. He has spent 25 years studying and exploring ethno-religious communities and is a sought-after speaker on religious traditions and religious literacy. He has a PhD in religion from the University of Toronto, consults to governments, police, and for-profit corporations, and is frequently interviewed by the CBC. The highlight of his year is Encounter’s annual Discovery Week where 50 attendees spend a week in Toronto exploring 11 religions with introductory classes and up to 20 site visits to observe ritual, explore architecture, and meet community leaders. He blogs at ReligionsGeek.com and believes religion is one of the most fascinating windows into what it is to be human. Dates: Oct.10 – Nov. 28 (8 sessions)
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The Chang School,
Toronto Metropolitan University
285 Victoria Street
Toronto ON M5B 2K3
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