107R Seeing Deeply: Slow Looking and Contemporary Art at Tephra ICA
Four sessions
Instructors: Phoebe Avery, Berna Ornat
Thursdays, 10:00—11:30, Sept. 24—Oct. 15
Note time
Class limit: 25
Locations: 1) Tephra ICA, 12001 Market St, Reston 20190; 2) Tephra ICA at Signature, Reston Town Center, 11850 Freedom Dr.
What happens when we slow down and really look at a work of art? This facilitated course at Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art (Tephra ICA) in Reston invites OLLI members into a guided practice of “slow looking” to engage more deeply with contemporary art. Each session, held in Tephra ICA’s main gallery or satellite space at Tephra ICA at Signature, will focus on just one or two works from the current exhibitions. Through conversation and facilitation, participants will explore how color, form, and material can spark memory, curiosity, and connection—without needing prior art knowledge. Together, we’ll reflect on how contemporary artists raise questions, challenge assumptions, and invite new ways of seeing. Sessions will connect looking to broader ideas around art, culture, and philosophy, offering a springboard for continued personal exploration beyond the gallery walls.
Phoebe Avery is advancement officer at Tephra ICA, leading fundraising initiatives with a deep background in visual arts. She has taught across the DMV and holds a BA in Art History from Smith College, an MA in Northern Baroque Art from the Courtauld Institute, and ABD from the University of Maryland.
Berna Onat is programs director at Tephra ICA, with nearly two decades connecting people to science, art, and culture. She has worked at NMNH, LACMA, and founded Voice Within Art Consultancy. She holds a BA from Dickinson College and an MFA from ArtCenter College of Design.
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