Guitarist to play at Art a la Carte

Dorian Michael, an acoustic guitarist, will be the featured entertainer today at the Art a la Carte concert.

The concerts take place at Campbell Plaza, in the 100 block of South Santa Fe, in downtown Salina. The half-hour performances begin at 12:20 p.m. each Friday through May. There is no charge for admission.

Michael is a California artist playing fingerstyle acoustic guitar. He describes his music as "contemporary traditional," original music that reflects his interest in a number of styles of music. These influences come through in his original material, but it is a contemporary music that grows from, rather than mimics those influences.

Art a la Carte is presented by the Salina Arts and Humanities Commission, a department of the city. In case of inclement weather, the performance will be held in the Watson Room of the Stiefel Theatre for the Performing Arts, 151 S. Santa Fe.

Municipal band to prepare for season

The Salina Municipal Band will begin rehearsals for the summer 2008 season at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the Salina Central High School band room.

William McMosley, associate professor of music and director of bands at Kansas Wesleyan University, will direct the band. The season's first concert will be June 10 at the Eric Stein Stage in Oakdale Park. A full schedule of rehearsal times and concerts will be available at the rehearsal.

For more information, call Jim Brown at 823-8248 or 823-9036.

Orchestra to perform at Bethany

LINDSBORG -- The Bethany College/Lindsborg Community Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of conductor Richard Koshgarian, will present its spring concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Presser Hall.

The concert is free and open to the public.

The program will feature works by Rossini, Finzi and Beethoven. Guest vocalist will be Daniel Mahraun, associate professor of music at Bethany College. Mahraun, a baritone, will perform "Let Us Garlands Bring" by Gerald Finzi.

The 40-piece orchestra is made up of Bethany students and members of the community.

Bethany College is on the Web at www.bethanylb.edu.

Music program to accompany exhibit

RUSSELL -- A program on Volga German music will be offered as a companion program for the exhibit "New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music" at 7 p.m. today at the Deines Cultural Center.

Garry Batt will talk about the history of Volga German music and how the music from Russell County influenced the well-known accordion musician Paul Winegard. Batt is a former member of Dutchmasters, Russell's original polka band.

Batt will be joined by Johnny Shwien, the other remaining Dutchmaster, as they perform on dulcimer, accordion and trombone.

Admission is free.

The Deines Cultural Center is open from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.

'Grandma Layton' workshop offered

The Salina Art Center, 242 S. Santa Fe, is offering an adult workshop May 29.

Lucas artist Erika Nelson will lead "Grandma Layton's Art Cure: Opening Your Inner Eye with Blind Contour" from 6 to 9 p.m. Participants will learn about Layton's life and art and create a sketchbook filled with a series of drawings in graphite, pen, colored pencil or an art media of their choice.

To enroll, call Ann Marie Kriss at the art center, 827-1431, or e-mail amkriss@salinaartcenter.org. The workshop costs $35.

Two artists featured at Courtyard Gallery

Lindsborg -- Courtyard Gallery will have its "Third Saturday Meet the Artist" on Saturday. Linda Gebert and Daisy Friesen will be featured from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the gallery, 125 N. Main.

Gebert has taught jewelry making and enameling for a number of years at the Wichita Center for the Arts and at Wichita State University. She shows jewelry and enamels in shows nationally and internationally.

Friesen, who will demonstrate pottery throwing, recently graduated from Bethany College with an art administration degree.

To see their work, go to www.courtyardgallery.com, or call 1-888-268-7893 with questions.

Painting, collage artist featured

LINDSBORG -- Sandy Milroy will be the artist in residence May 15 through 31 at Red Barn Studio.

Milroy, Chapel Hill, N.C., is back for her fourth residency and will work on collage and painting projects while at the studio. She produces medium- to small-scale works for the wall and a wide range of tabletop boxes and other decorative home accessories.

Inspired by ethnic and folk art traditions and a background in art history and weaving, she considers her primary interests as an artist to be intricate re-workings of color and pattern. She wants to expand her work in collage/paintings and make use of many papers that have been altered with paints and stamps, handmade papers, oil pastels and acrylic mediums.

Raymer Red Barn Studio, 212 S. Main, is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.

China on display at McPherson gallery

McPHERSON -- The Visual Arts Alliance of McPherson will feature the McPherson China Highlighters in the VAAM Gallery, 223 S. Main, through June. A high tea for the artists will be served from 3 to 5 p.m. June 1 at the gallery.

The McPherson China Highlights is a member organization engaging in china painting. The group meets weekly for classes taught by Anne Albright.

Albright will offer a china painting workshop from 9 a.m. to noon Thursday and May 29. The workshop is open to all skill levels. Supplies will be provided. For more information, call Albright at (620) 241-3623.

The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Bethany to have annual art sale

LINDSBORG -- The Bethany College Art Department will have its annual art sale from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday in the lower level of Pihlblad Memorial Union.

Proceeds from the sale will be used to purchase equipment for the art department and bring visiting artists to campus. All the artwork has been created and donated by Bethany College students taking ceramics, three-dimensional arts, jewelry and printmaking classes, as well as department faculty and staff.

Bethany College is on the Web at www.bethanylb.edu.