Egg decorating contest entries due Dec. 19

And you thought decorated eggs were just for Easter.

The Kansas Poultry Assn. is seeking submissions of decorated eggs for its annual contest. The winning egg will represent Kansas in a display at the White House and become a permanent addition to the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C.

The contest is open to all Kansans. Entries must be received by Dec. 19.

The egg should be decorated to represent features of the state; the contents should be removed; and the small end of the freestanding egg should be facing up.

Past winning entries have included scenes from the Kansas landscape, state history or state mottos.

Entries should be sent to the Kansas Poultry Assn., c/o Scott Beyer, 130 Call Hall, K-State Department of Animal Sciences and Industry, Manhattan 66502.

Lied Center programs nationally recognized

The Lied Center recently received recognition from a national foundation for its educational programs.

The center’s K-12 Adventures in Imagination program, Partners in Education program and its practice of being host to pre-performance lectures and post-performance discussions were mentioned in “Acts of Achievement: The Role of Performing Art Centers in Education,” released Oct. 15 by Dana Press, the publishing division of the Dana Foundation. The 168-page publication provides the first study of K-12 education programs offered by performing arts centers nationwide and showcases 74 performing art center institutions, large and small, partnering with their local schools.

The Lied Center was selected from a field of 130 applicants.

KPR to perform annual holiday show

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Russell Crowe, Liza Minnelli, Courtney Love and the Chicago Cubs will be among the targets at the next installment of Right Between the Ears, Kansas Public Radio’s award-winning comedy show.

The annual holiday show will be at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday at Liberty Hall, 642 Mass. The 8 p.m. show will be broadcast live on KPR stations and online at kpr.ku.edu.

Tickets are $10-$14 and can be purchased at Liberty Hall, 749-1972.

Right Between the Ears was recently named a winner at the 2003 Silver Microphone Awards, in the category Best Audio Program: Entertainment. Earlier this year, the series won a Gold World Medal for Best On-Air Personality and a Silver World Medal for Best Writing at the prestigious New York Festivals.

KU music series brings renowned violinists

Renowned Italian violinist Alberto Bologni will perform at 4:30 p.m. today in Swarthout Recital Hall.

Admission is free. Donations are suggested.

Bologni’s performance is part of the Visiting Artist Series organized by the Kansas University music and dance department. Guest artist Gregory Sandomirsky, a violinist from Russia who serves as the associate concertmaster for the Kansas City Symphony, will join Bologni. KU graduate student Melanie Hadley will accompany the duo on piano.

The program for the concert will feature a variety of works, including “Sonata for 2 Violins op. 56” by Prokofieff and J.S. Bach’s “Double Concerto for 2 Violins.”

For more information, call 864-3436.

Eric Carle stories come to life at Lied Center

The Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia will give school-only performances of “Very Eric Carle” at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Monday at the Lied Center.

“Very Eric Carle” is a collection of Carle stories: “Little Cloud,” “The Mixed-Up Chameleon” and “The Very Busy Spider.”

The puppet-theater performances were preceded in October by an educational workshop, Using Eric Carle Themes in the Classroom, in which Lawrence educators explored the works of the author/illustrator through presentations and lessons in literature, math, science, visual art, puppetry, music, movement and research.

More than 3,000 pre-kindergarten through third grade students from Lawrence area schools will attend the performances, which are funded in part by a Kansas Arts Commission grant.

Museum to have turkey time for tots

Young children will have a chance to learn about Thanksgiving traditions during a program today at the Watkins Community Museum of History, 1047 Mass.

Alison Miller, curator and museum educator, will tell stories — some about the very first Thanksgiving — and help children create their own craft projects, including a thankful turkey.

Snacks will be served, and participants can share their own family traditions.

The program, which runs from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., is open to children ages 3 to 5. Registration is $5 per child, and children must be accompanied by an adult

To register, call 841-4109.

Holiday open house set at museum gift shop

Miss Lizzie’s Gifts, the gift shop at the Watkins Community Museum of History, will have a Christmas Open House Friday, Saturday and Nov. 30.

The shop will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Nov. 30.

Named after its benefactress, Elizabeth Watkins, Miss Lizzie’s gifts carries items for all ages, including books, candles, lamps, linens, paper dolls, stationery, fine china, old-fashioned toys and games, period jewelry, perfume bottles and more.

All proceeds support the museum at 1047 Mass.

Auction to benefit Accessible Arts

Kansas City, Mo. — Accessible Art Inc. will be the beneficiary of a silent auction and reception from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday at the Hallar Gallery, 4540 Main St.

Dan Keplinger, a nationally known artist with a disability, will be the guest of honor, and Kansas City Chiefs players John Tait, Will Shields, Trent Green, Priest Holmes, Dante Hall, Johnnie Morton and Morten Andersen also will be on hand.

A silent auction will feature artwork by Rita Blitt, Mark English, Mike Savage and Bev Gegen.

Admission is $50 per person and includes cuisine and wine. Accessible Arts advocates to provide access to the arts for children with disabilities.

Olive Gallery to offer handmade holiday gifts

Olive Gallery and Art Supply will open its Holiday Shoppe from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday.

The gallery, 15 E. Eighth St., will sell hundreds of unique art items starting at $5.

Among the objects will be works of art for the wall, scarves, purses, jewelry, cards and other gifts. All works are hand-made by Lawrence area artists.

Art kits also will be on sale for the holidays.

Holiday Shoppe items will be on display daily, 11 a.m.-10 p.m., through Dec. 5.