DIY holiday workshops

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The ReStore is having two do-it-yourself workshops at Habitat for Humanity's Homeowner Education and Community Center, 815 Court St.

A workshop on how to create a succulent wreath will take place from 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 1. All materials are supplied with the $25 per project fee. Registration is limited and required by Nov. 30.

A holiday decoration workshop will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 15. Participants will make holiday decor from paint can lids and other repurposed material. The $5 per person fee covers all supplies. This workshop is appropriate for all ages.

To register for either workshop, call Terry St. Germain at 304-720-8733 ext. 3.

All that glitters

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The Art Store will exhibit "All That Glitters: A Holiday Exhibition," beginning Nov. 30 and continuing through Dec. 22.

The show focuses on small-sized, gift-worthy artwork by the store's represented and invited artists.

The artists are Ellie Schaul, Helen Chilton, Stephen Smigocki, Maggie Starcher, Caryl Toth, Harold Edwards, George Snyder, Jennifer Snyder, Katherine Cox, Jan Griffin, Allen Jonas, Caroline Jennings, Nancy Berlin, Susan Poffenbarger, Katherine Kadish, Barbara Marsh Wilson, Diane White, Grace Martin Taylor, Henry Isaacs, Jason Berger, Helma Groot, Jim Gibson, Susan Petryszak, David Stern, Ed Kellogg, Selina Trieff, Steven Barbash, David Riffle, Sue Wood, Chris Dutch & Robin Hammer and Nik Botkin.

The exhibit will also feature fine crafts, holiday and Hanukkah decor, blown glass, wood, jewelry and ceramics handcrafted by artisans across the country, including pieces from Abra Couture, WGK Glass, Wolford Lamps, Glak Love, Nancy Gardner Ceramics and Mayware by Yanchuk.

The exhibition will continue through Dec. 22.

The Art Store, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, 1013 Bridge Road, Charleston; www.theartstorewv.com or 304-345-1038.

Clay Art Gallery

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- On display at the Clay Center Art Gallery are whimsically designed and decorated trees and original works by emerging West Virginia artists in "Traditions: A Celebration of Heritage."

The exhibit will be on display through Dec. 30.

Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences of West Virginia, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, One Clay Square, Charleston; www.theclaycenter.org, 304-561-3570. Smart Pass (includes galleries, film and planetarium) $14.50 adults and $12 children, teachers and senior citizens; galleries only $7.50 adults and $6 children, teachers and seniors. Members get free unlimited access to galleries and planetarium shows, as well as discounts on films.

Civil War Christmas

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A Civil War Christmas will be presented from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 1 and from noon to 4 p.m. Dec. 2 at the Craik-Patton House, 2809 Kanawha Blvd. E.

The circa-1834 house will be decorated in the period of the mid-19th century.

Christmas in the White House will take place at 11 a.m. Dec. 1, and a presentation on President Abraham Lincoln's role in West Virginia's statehood will take place at 1 and 2:30 p.m.; Lincoln will be portrayed by Jim Getty.

A Victorian Santa will visit on Dec. 2.

The presentation and tour of the house are free. Seating is limited and reservations are suggested; call 304-925-5341.

Paine Gallery

BLUEFIELD, W.Va. -- Richard Shrewsbury is featured in a one-man show at the Paine Gallery in Bluefield.

Shrewsbury was exposed to abstract art and ceramics at the Cleveland Institute of Art, broadening the scope of his work. Drawn west by the deserts of Arizona, he then enrolled in Arizona State's highly competitive School of Art, where he expanded his scope again to include reliefs and three-dimensional figures.

Since 1989, he has displayed his work in exhibitions around the country.

The show will be up until Dec. 14 when it will close with a meet-the-artist reception from 7 to 10 p.m. in the great hall of the Bluefield Arts Center, 500 Bland St.

River Arts show, sale

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Charleston's Unitarian Universalist Congregation will hold its 10th annual River Arts Sale and Showcase in December.

The event offers affordable holiday shopping, with a great variety of unique, locally created fine art and handcrafts.

Hours are 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Dec. 7 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 8 at 520 Kanawha Blvd. W. For more information, call 304-345-5042 or visit www.uucharlestonwv.org.

Holidays at Tamarack

BECKLEY, W.Va. -- Here is the upcoming schedule for artisan demonstrations at Tamarack:

Nov. 25: Andy Sheetz, wooden toys; Mary Nease, fine art; Dewaine Gregory, carved wood.

Nov. 30-Dec. 2: Connie Ridgeway, textiles; Christine Keller, jewelry; Frank Ceravalo, photography.

At Tamarack, artisans work in the onsite studios daily, and additional artisans greet guests on weekends in November and December. Fine art, stained glass, American Indian musical instruments, and weaving are among the scheduled demonstrations.

Tamarack: The Best of West Virginia, Interstate 77 exit 45, Beckley. 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Visit www.tamarackwv.com or call 888-262-7225.

Showcase of military items

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The Archives and History section of the West Virginia Division of Culture and History will present the fourth annual showcase of its unique collections from 7 to 9 p.m. Dec. 4 at the Culture Center.

This year's theme is "Duty and Honor: Archival Materials from West Virginia's History of Military Service." Military documents, diaries, posters, National Guard materials and items from the USS West Virginia will be on display.

There also will be old photographs, distinctive books, manuscripts and newspapers, Civil War letters, architectural drawings, maps and audio and video clips. Visitors have the chance to take behind-the-scenes tours of archive resources.

The event and a reception are free and the public is invited to attend. The library will close at 5 p.m., and reopen for the showcase only.

Joe Geiger, director of archives and history, said, "This year's focus is West Virginia's military history, a fitting topic as we prepare to celebrate the sesquicentennial of West Virginia's creation, a direct result of the Civil War."

For more information, contact Robert Taylor, library manager for archives and history, at 304-558-0230 ext. 163 or bobby.l.tay...@wv.gov.

WVU vs. Marshall art clash

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The fans voted, and members of the WVU art faculty have defeated their counterparts from Marshall in the "Gallery Divided" art exhibit at the Clay Center. Though not on the winning team, Marshall artist Miyuki Akai Cook ran away with the exhibit MVP award.

The first-time exhibit featured paintings, drawings, sculptures, photographs and video. Visitors voted for their favorite team and artist from August through November, and the Mountaineer team of Dylan Collins, Alison Helm, Erika Osbourne, Michael Sherwin and Nijun Zhang came out with the win.

Marshall fibers professor Miyuki Akai Cook took home the MVP award in a landslide victory. Cook had three pieces on display, which were made from everyday objects like coffee filters, paper, Styrofoam and thread. The fan favorite seemed to be "Fly Away," a piece created specifically for the exhibition that included dozens of origami cranes suspended on pieces of thread.

Cook's teammates were Marshall faculty members Ian Hagarty, Daniel Kaufmann, Natalie Larsen and Brent Patterson.

To have your announcement included in Arts Notes, email ea...@wvgazette.com or send it to Arts Notes, The Charleston Gazette, 1001 Virginia St. E., Charleston, WV 25301. Artwork can be submitted electronically or by mail. Deadline for inclusion in the Sunday Gazette-Mail is the Tuesday before Sunday publication.