Osher Institute is Growing by Leaps & Bounds!
This fall, you can take Osher courses at even more locations, including Hutchinson, Kansas! There will now be Osher courses at Aberdeen Village in Olathe, Kansas City Kansas Community College, Douglas County Senior Services and the Ninth Street Baptist Church in Lawrence, and Hutchinson Community College.
Plus, we have forged additional partnerships to help with our funding, including the Kansas Arts Commission. You’ve probably noticed the new logos on our catalog (below). We would like to acknowledge the support the Arts Commission has given for art courses at the Osher Institute.

In July, we had an exciting day trip to Atchison! Our chartered bus tour began at the Visitor Information Center in the Santa Fe Railroad Depot. There, a guide joined us on the bus and provided an historical narrative about Victorian-era architecture and the thriving commercial and historical importance of Atchison in the 19th century. At Parker House, we enjoyed a home-cooked lunch at this unique home furnishings store and cafe. After lunch, we took a guided tour of St. Benedict’s Abbey Church, noted for its architecture, frescoes and stained glass. Designed by architect Barry Byrne, student of Frank Lloyd Wright, the limestone church was finished in 1958 to replace the first abbey church. As an added treat, we were given a short organ recital and demonstration on the 44-rank Moeller organ before leaving the abbey.

View slide show of our trip.

In June, Osher members explored exceptional natural areas at the KU Field Station and Ecological Reserves (KSR), a 1,800-acre research and education area 20 minutes north of Lawrence, with staff and guest naturalists from the Kansas Biological Survey. Native plants were in full bloom for a wildflower walk at the KU Rockefeller Prairie. At the nearby Kenneth and Katie Armitage Education Center, we had time to visit informally and learn more from local historians Katie Armitage and Nancy Vogel. We concluded our tour with a short walk along the forest nature trail at the Fitch Natural History Reservation.
Coordinating this event was Scott W. Campbell, KBS Research Associate and Associate Director of KSR, who has more than 20 years experience in ecological research and nature education. Along with other KBS scientists and invited leaders, they combined forces to make this an educationally rich and intimate outdoor adventure.

View a slide show of our tour here.

Join us Friday, October 10, on a chartered bus to view Topeka’s special murals, inside and outside, with Lawrence artist, Louis Copt. This trip will feature the "The Great Wall of Topeka: Tribute to Grant Cushinberry," a project by David Loewenstein, and "Aspects of Negro Life," the Aaron Douglas Celebration Mural. Lunch will be a la carte at the Topeka Public Library’s Millennium Cafe. At the library, we’ll view Stan Herd’s mural before proceeding to the Westar Energy headquarters (Anthony Benton Gude mural), and then to the State Capitol building for the unique murals in the rotunda. View more information about the trip here.

Artist Louis Copt has taught at the Lawrence Arts Center for more than 15 years, and has led travel and painting workshops worldwide. He has worked with Stan Herd on a large mural in Emporia and knows Anthony Benton Gude, one of the featured muralists. Louis’ paintings can be seen at www.louiscopt.com

Louis Copt has kindly agreed to take over the tour which listed David Loewenstein as your mural tour guide in the fall catalog.
Additional fee: $30 includes charter bus and tour.
Lunch at members' expense.