Now that taxes are finished it's time to head on over to the Valley Art Center for some springtime creative fun!  Spring classes start April 15. Call today--space still available in. 

            Busy with spring cleaning?  Don't have a lot of time?  Why not sign-up for a workshop!  Patty Rogers can help you spruce up your garden with one-of-a-kind HAND STAMPED SILVERWARE GARDEN MARKERS.  Using silver or silver-plated silverware, you will learn how to stamp your own personalized message to create unique garden markers.  Sunday, April 28 from 1-5pm.  Ages 10+. Cost $50.  Bring your own spoons!

             Joan Rusek will keep you busy with wire, tufa and tea!  THIS WEEKEND!!  HANGING WIRE "BIRD'S NEST" is created using copper and aluminum colored wire threaded with glass beads, semi-precious stones or your own beads and found objects.  Saturday, April 20 from 2-5pm. Cost $50.  TEA LEAF READING will teach you about this ancient art form while you design your own tea cup.  Two da workshop--April 27 (2-4pm) & May 11 (11:30am-1:30pm).  Cost $50.  TUFA TOUGHS & PLANTERS is a make and take workshop where you get to experience the magic of "tufa", a light-weight and porous material.  Get ready to make 2-3 planters on Saturday, May 18 from 1:30-4:30pm OR Saturday, June 15 from 9am-Noon.  Cost $55.  All of Joan's workshop are for adults and teen. 

      

           Opening Night for "Creatures Featured" found the Valley Art

Timy Sullivan of PetFix with Rosie

  Center "crawling" with all kinds of amusing animal happenings.  Gallery goers were greeted at the door by Rosie the dog then entered the building to find our own version of Pooh Bear with his "Hunny" pot.  

           Once inside guests were treated to a 

Jeremy Galante of Sandpiper Animation

short animated film of "Sniffles" finding his lost nose along with director Jeremy Galante handing out free autographed CDs.  Also on hand was local author, Sandy Philipson accompanied by her sweet dog Penny.  She signed her Max & Annie books throughout the evening leaving

Author Sandy Philipson with Penny

  some autographed books for sale in our Bell Street Shop until May 17!  Be sure to get your copy! 

           For this show, we also partnered with PETFIX NORTHEAST OHIO to create awareness and raise money for their mobile spay/neuter clinic.  Our goal is to raise $1000 for PETFIX and after Opening Night we are halfway there!  Please consider helping us reach our goal.  We have created several programs to allow people of all ages to support PETFIX! First,  PET PIN-UPS, a special board at VAC for you to show-off your favorite pic of your pet(s).  CLICK HERE for details.   SPAY IT FORWARD is another opportunity to help by donating  money to cover the additional cost to spay/neuter animals in the mobile clinic.  Donation cards available at VAC throughout exhibit.  Finally, a DONATION BOX will be at VAC collecting the five most needed items for the clinic-Bounty paper towels, hand sanitizer, Clorox bleach, used & clean bath towels and 30 gal black garbage bags.

           Exhibit runs through May 16.  Gallery hours:  Mon-Fri 10am-4pm & Sat 10am-2pm.