INSIDE OLLI -
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A City For Thinking Seniors - Weebly.com
An Interview with Maureen O'Brien DeGeller,
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Editor’s Note: Maureen O’Brien DeGeller received both her B. A. in Art History and her Master’s in the Humanities with an Emphasis in Art History from Dominican University of California in San Rafael. She is an adjunct professor at Dominican University of California where she teaches History, as well as Western and Non-Western Art History, to undergraduates. Her courses at San Francisco OLLI have ranged from “Stolen! Art Theft and Western Culture” to her current spring 2022 course on painter Alice Neel. The interview was conducted by Dina Martin, an OLLI member since 2017 and a current member of our OLLI Council.
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Dina: Good morning, Maureen. So nice to see you. I’ve looked through the voluminous list of courses you’ve taught for San Francisco OLLI. Very impressive! I know that I particularly enjoyed your course on “The Black Death: Pandemic Disease in the Middle Ages.” It was a great course for these times. But you’ve been teaching courses all through Covid.
Maureen: Yes, it’s all gone by so fast. Teaching these courses definitely keeps me busy, which is a good thing because when you are home all the time, what are you going to do? How much dusting and vacuuming can you do? Play with your kitties? I go out every couple of days to do my Pilates reformer class to keep from being stuck in front of the computer at my desk all day long.
Maureen: Yes, it’s all gone by so fast. Teaching these courses definitely keeps me busy, which is a good thing because when you are home all the time, what are you going to do? How much dusting and vacuuming can you do? Play with your kitties? I go out every couple of days to do my Pilates reformer class to keep from being stuck in front of the computer at my desk all day long.
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Dina: Speaking of teaching, when this interview is published in Vistas & Byways, you will be in the middle of your class on 20th Century American artist Alice Neel.
Maureen: Yes, the exhibit at the de Young opened in March. It was organized by the Metropolitan Museum in New York and the de Young is the only West Coast venue.
Neel is a really exciting artist. Of course, she is representational and she was painting at a time when abstract impressionism was going strong. She didn’t fit in with the mold. Her thing was people. People always came first in her life. She was painting people she knew in Greenwich Village, then she moved to Spanish Harlem, then near Columbia University where she painted people who were stars in the art world. She was born in 1900 and died in 1984 so she covered almost all of that century.
Neel had a wide variety of work and a very distinctive style. Her portraits are very lively, and very colorful. Particularly those from the 1960s and ‘70s when everyone wore colorful clothes. She paints her family because she had a very challenging family life.
Maureen: Yes, the exhibit at the de Young opened in March. It was organized by the Metropolitan Museum in New York and the de Young is the only West Coast venue.
Neel is a really exciting artist. Of course, she is representational and she was painting at a time when abstract impressionism was going strong. She didn’t fit in with the mold. Her thing was people. People always came first in her life. She was painting people she knew in Greenwich Village, then she moved to Spanish Harlem, then near Columbia University where she painted people who were stars in the art world. She was born in 1900 and died in 1984 so she covered almost all of that century.
Neel had a wide variety of work and a very distinctive style. Her portraits are very lively, and very colorful. Particularly those from the 1960s and ‘70s when everyone wore colorful clothes. She paints her family because she had a very challenging family life.
(The picture above: Alice Neel, "Jackie Curtis and Ritta Redd", 1970. Oil on canvas; framed: 154.3 x 108.9 cm (60 3/4 x 42 7/8 in.); unframed: 152.4 x 106.4 cm (60 x 41 7/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Leonard C. Hanna, Jr. Fund 2009.345 © The Estate of Alice Neel © The Estate of Alice Neel. Image courtesy the Cleveland Museum of Art.)
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Dina: You’ve also suggested and taught other classes based on upcoming exhibits at local museums. I’ve heard you did a wonderful talk about James Tissot when the exhibit about him was at the DeYoung.
Maureen: Yes, I’ve enjoyed doing things that tie in with exhibits that are coming to San Francisco. Some students will go to the museums and look at the works of art in person. But at least through my showing them the images, they’ll have the benefit of seeing the art and knowing what it’s all about.
Dina: By now, you’re an old hand at teaching OLLI courses. You’ve been teaching classes with SF OLLI since 2012?
Maureen: Actually, I went back through my files and found that I have been with OLLI since 2009. I made a recommendation for an Impressionist class. It’s definitely been a long time. I was teaching a course at Dominican College and this opportunity came up and it was wonderful. I love it because I don’t have to give any homework assignments. I don’t have to grade papers. Students just show up and enjoy themselves. I like that, and they do too, of course. Once you get past the age of 50 and you get a little tired of writing things all the time and trying to get feedback from the instructor. This way they just go with the flow and have fun. And OLLI because it gives me a chance to stretch out and create things that are unusual.
Dina: What’s it been like teaching on Zoom?
Maureen: I definitely prefer being in person. There’s nothing like interacting with the audience in front of you. That’s the thing that’s really missing. When students want to ask you a question or make a comment, they have to go to the chat section, and that slows everything down. It’s not an ideal situation.
It gets the job done. We are definitely all waiting to go back into the classroom. It’ll be a whole new world.
Dina: Yet people have learned to use it.
Maureen: Oh yes, you have to! You have no choice. I like OLLI at San Francisco State because they make it very easy, fortunately. It’s great to have someone there who is facilitating and making sure that the technical aspect is well taken care of. If there is an issue or a glitch, they are there to resolve it. I’m not required to know all the technicalities.
Dina: You went to Dominican University of California in San Rafael and then taught there.
Maureen: I didn’t go to college until my 40s. My late husband Donald DeGeller and I operated The Gallery, a picture framing business and needlework shop in San Rafael. That was when I learned that Dominican was interested in re-entry students, so I was able to continue the business, take one class a semester and do my homework on my day off! It took about seven years to get my BA in Art History from Dominican and, once we sold our business, I was able to devote myself to full time studies to obtain my MA in Humanities with an Emphasis in Art History, also from Dominican College.
After teaching courses at the College of Marin and Sonoma State University, I was hired at Dominican to teach undergraduate survey courses.
Maureen: Yes, I’ve enjoyed doing things that tie in with exhibits that are coming to San Francisco. Some students will go to the museums and look at the works of art in person. But at least through my showing them the images, they’ll have the benefit of seeing the art and knowing what it’s all about.
Dina: By now, you’re an old hand at teaching OLLI courses. You’ve been teaching classes with SF OLLI since 2012?
Maureen: Actually, I went back through my files and found that I have been with OLLI since 2009. I made a recommendation for an Impressionist class. It’s definitely been a long time. I was teaching a course at Dominican College and this opportunity came up and it was wonderful. I love it because I don’t have to give any homework assignments. I don’t have to grade papers. Students just show up and enjoy themselves. I like that, and they do too, of course. Once you get past the age of 50 and you get a little tired of writing things all the time and trying to get feedback from the instructor. This way they just go with the flow and have fun. And OLLI because it gives me a chance to stretch out and create things that are unusual.
Dina: What’s it been like teaching on Zoom?
Maureen: I definitely prefer being in person. There’s nothing like interacting with the audience in front of you. That’s the thing that’s really missing. When students want to ask you a question or make a comment, they have to go to the chat section, and that slows everything down. It’s not an ideal situation.
It gets the job done. We are definitely all waiting to go back into the classroom. It’ll be a whole new world.
Dina: Yet people have learned to use it.
Maureen: Oh yes, you have to! You have no choice. I like OLLI at San Francisco State because they make it very easy, fortunately. It’s great to have someone there who is facilitating and making sure that the technical aspect is well taken care of. If there is an issue or a glitch, they are there to resolve it. I’m not required to know all the technicalities.
Dina: You went to Dominican University of California in San Rafael and then taught there.
Maureen: I didn’t go to college until my 40s. My late husband Donald DeGeller and I operated The Gallery, a picture framing business and needlework shop in San Rafael. That was when I learned that Dominican was interested in re-entry students, so I was able to continue the business, take one class a semester and do my homework on my day off! It took about seven years to get my BA in Art History from Dominican and, once we sold our business, I was able to devote myself to full time studies to obtain my MA in Humanities with an Emphasis in Art History, also from Dominican College.
After teaching courses at the College of Marin and Sonoma State University, I was hired at Dominican to teach undergraduate survey courses.
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Dina: So you’ve made a rather nice career for yourself. Any thoughts on being a reentry student?
Maureen: Well, you are always learning. It’s what I like about OLLI. Everybody is always learning. I share my bibliography, the students tell me about books they’ve read, places they’ve been, things that they’ve seen. Back when we met in person, we’d have a break and we’d meet in the hall and talk. It’s wonderful to be able to share with each other. One thing about Zoom is that we are missing out on the sharing.
Dina: How do you prepare for your courses? You certainly have covered the waterfront with your classes.
Maureen: It’s true! With Alice Neel I’ve read a dozen books and watched videos. There’s a lot to review and a lot of things to study. My gray cells are constantly energized, which I appreciate.
After Alice Neel there’s going to be an exhibit of ‘Ramses and the Pharaohs’ Gold’ about the Pharaoh Ramses II. They’ll be having some wonderful treasures and the de Young is only one of three museums in the United States where the exhibit will be shown. I signed up to do a series between August 8 and September 19.
Dina: You’ve also been a longtime docent at the De Young?
Maureen: Yes, the Fine Arts Museums basically have a three-year training program so there’s a lot of looking, and writing and talking. I’m still officially a docent but there isn’t much ‘docenting’ going on because of COVID restrictions.
Dina: What about art in the time of Covid? We’ve all been in our houses. Museums were closed. But people are still making art.
Maureen: They are still making art. And the good thing is that with the internet, you really don’t have to go anywhere. You can sit and get whatever you want. For example, if you are interested in Alice Neel, you can find out if she’s coming up for sale and can bid on her work. Museum websites have really increased their capacity for knowledge. They want you to remember them because sooner or later, doors will be wide open.
Maureen: Well, you are always learning. It’s what I like about OLLI. Everybody is always learning. I share my bibliography, the students tell me about books they’ve read, places they’ve been, things that they’ve seen. Back when we met in person, we’d have a break and we’d meet in the hall and talk. It’s wonderful to be able to share with each other. One thing about Zoom is that we are missing out on the sharing.
Dina: How do you prepare for your courses? You certainly have covered the waterfront with your classes.
Maureen: It’s true! With Alice Neel I’ve read a dozen books and watched videos. There’s a lot to review and a lot of things to study. My gray cells are constantly energized, which I appreciate.
After Alice Neel there’s going to be an exhibit of ‘Ramses and the Pharaohs’ Gold’ about the Pharaoh Ramses II. They’ll be having some wonderful treasures and the de Young is only one of three museums in the United States where the exhibit will be shown. I signed up to do a series between August 8 and September 19.
Dina: You’ve also been a longtime docent at the De Young?
Maureen: Yes, the Fine Arts Museums basically have a three-year training program so there’s a lot of looking, and writing and talking. I’m still officially a docent but there isn’t much ‘docenting’ going on because of COVID restrictions.
Dina: What about art in the time of Covid? We’ve all been in our houses. Museums were closed. But people are still making art.
Maureen: They are still making art. And the good thing is that with the internet, you really don’t have to go anywhere. You can sit and get whatever you want. For example, if you are interested in Alice Neel, you can find out if she’s coming up for sale and can bid on her work. Museum websites have really increased their capacity for knowledge. They want you to remember them because sooner or later, doors will be wide open.
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Dina: Any particular favorite topic or period?
Maureen: I’m a fan of the 19th century. I love the Impressionists, the Post-Impressionists, and English art in the 19th century. All of that time period was my favorite because it was a transitional period between representational art and nonrepresentational art. I like the stories they tell and of course, the back stories of the artist.
Dina: What do you think of this new trend of immersive art shows, like the immersive Van Gogh in San Francisco and around the country.
Maureen: It’s why I gave the course on Van Gogh at SF OLLI last summer, because some people were planning to go. I thought ‘let’s just slow things down, let’s look at the art work, let’s look at the back story.’ That’s what’s missing when you are surrounded and, and there are a lot of pulsating things that go on there. For some people at certain ages, it’s probably not good to be in that environment. It’s a money-making venture.
Dina: Anything else you want to say to OLLI students?
Maureen: See you soon. Hang in there. Stay safe.
Maureen: I’m a fan of the 19th century. I love the Impressionists, the Post-Impressionists, and English art in the 19th century. All of that time period was my favorite because it was a transitional period between representational art and nonrepresentational art. I like the stories they tell and of course, the back stories of the artist.
Dina: What do you think of this new trend of immersive art shows, like the immersive Van Gogh in San Francisco and around the country.
Maureen: It’s why I gave the course on Van Gogh at SF OLLI last summer, because some people were planning to go. I thought ‘let’s just slow things down, let’s look at the art work, let’s look at the back story.’ That’s what’s missing when you are surrounded and, and there are a lot of pulsating things that go on there. For some people at certain ages, it’s probably not good to be in that environment. It’s a money-making venture.
Dina: Anything else you want to say to OLLI students?
Maureen: See you soon. Hang in there. Stay safe.
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Vistas & Byways Review is the semiannual journal of fiction, nonfiction and poetry by members of Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at San Francisco State University.
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Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at San Francisco State University (OLLI at SF State) provides communal and material support to theVistas & Byways volunteer staff.
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