OLLI members have opportunities to travel around town, enjoy special events and explore the world! This summer members have traveled to Kennywood, The Frick Pittsburgh, Pymatuning Laboratory for Ecology, Italy and many other places.
Welcome Back Picnic - "Fear, Loathing and the Modern Newspaper Columnist" with Tony Norman
OLLI at Pitt kicked off the summer term with a welcome back picnic and guest speaker Tony Norman. Over 260 members and guests gathered to enjoy the food, socializing, and intriguing presentation on modern newspapers. National award-winning columnist Tony Norman has been with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette since 1996 and has written extensively about race, religion, local politics, crime, popular culture and national disasters. Tony discussed how the president's shadow looms over every area of American life and how it has, paradoxically, energized the Left and reignited a spirit of patriotic resistance that will not fall into complacency ever again. Mr. Norman read some of his favorite columns and talked about his predictions for where things are headed.
Van Gogh, Monet, Degas: The Mellon Collection of French Art from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
Members gathered at The Frick Pittsburgh to view the masterpieces of Van Gogh, Monet, and Degas. Many of the works have not been seen publicly for a generation and were recently given to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. The exhibition will still be on show through July 8 and anyone can purchase tickets online here.
Pymatuning Laboratory of Ecology
Recently, members traveled to the Pymatuning region of Pennsylvania to explore the Pymatuning Laboratory of Ecology, the University of Pittsburgh's biological field station. The members had the opportunity to meet and interact with researchers and hear about their current research projects. The members also enjoyed a tour of the Jamestown Dam gatehouse, interacting with the park naturalist and visiting the famous Spillway where "the ducks walk on the fish."
Kennywood Memories
For more than 100 years, Kennywood Park has been part of Pittsburgh's children's lives. Members gathered for a behind the scenes tour at the historic park led by Andy Quinn, the great-grandson of one of the park's early owners. Members enjoyed the fun facts and were able to spend the rest of the day in the park to enjoy the rides and food.
Italian Art History Tour
Recently, some Osher members traveled with past Osher instructor, Rachel Miller, to Rome and Florence to explore the museums of Italy. Members had private entries to world-class museums and Rachel led special additional tours to see some of her favorite works of art in the cities. The group also traveled to Tivoli to explore the ruins of Hadrian's villa and saw the spectacular gardens of the Villa d'Este. We are looking forward to seeing the pictures our members took on the trip!