Printmaking exhibit

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- "Tamarind Touchstones: Fabulous at Fifty, Celebrating Excellence in Fine Art Lithography" opened Jan. 11 at the Clay Center.

The exhibit, featuring more than 60 works on paper, is from the University of New Mexico's Tamarind Institute, and showcases the history, methods and techniques used in lithography across the past half century. Some of the most significant American artists and printers of the past few decades are included in the display.

"Tamarind Touchstones" is the second exhibition in the Clay Center's "Celebrating American Printmaking" series of programming.

On Jan. 17, Tamarind Institute director Marjorie Devon will lead a walk through of the exhibit. On Feb. 21, Tamarind master printer Bill Lagattuta and New York City artist Lesley Dill will discuss collaborative printmaking. Both programs are free and begin at 6 p.m. in the art gallery.

Also, a free film screening of "Four Stones for Kanemits," in which an artist and master printer come together to create a four-color lithograph, will be shown at 12:15 p.m. Jan. 16 for the month lunchtime lecture program in the art gallery.

"Tamarind Touchstones" is sponsored by The Elliot Foundation and will be on display through April 21.

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.

Art Store artists

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The Art Store is exhibiting new artwork by its represented artists, oil paintings by Maggie Starcher, pencil drawings by Katherine Cox and metal work by Jim Gibson. New glasswork by Wolford Glassblowing Co. is also on display.

Starcher, of Charleston, received an undergraduate degree in painting from the Rhode Island School of Design and a master's in media studies from West Virginia State University. She is working on a master of fine arts degree at Kansas State University.

Gibson is retired from teaching sculpture at Middle Tennessee State University. He received an MFA from Ohio University. Cox is an Ohio artist specializing in drawing and is the director of education at the Huntington Museum of Art.

High-definition opera

The January schedule for live and encore Metropolitan Opera performances broadcast in high definition at Cinemark in the Huntington Mall, Barboursville, and at Great Escape/Regal, in Nitro, is:

Jan. 16: "Aida" by Verdi, encore, 6:30 to 10:25 p.m. at Cinemark.

Jan. 19: "Maria Stuarda" by Donizetti, a live Met premiere, 12:55 to 4:10 p.m. at Cinemark and Great Escape/Regal.

Jan. 23: "The Trojans" by Berlioz, encore, 6:30 p.m. to midnight, Cinemark.

Tickets are $22 or $20 for adults, $20 or $16 for seniors, $16 or $15 for children.

To inquire about complementary passes for live performances, call Cinemark at 304-763-6488 and Great Escape at 304-342-0316; for encore showings, call Cinemark at 304-344-9091.

Digital photo class

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Laura Moul will teach a three-part beginning digital photography class from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 23, Jan. 30 and Feb. 6 at Paintbrush Studio, 303-A Pennsylvania Ave., Charleston. For more information, visit www.moulphotography.com or call 304-743-8281. Pre-registration is required. There is a fee for the classes that includes reference materials etc.

Comic book art

ATHENS, Ohio -- Ohio University's Kennedy Museum of Art will host an exhibition of artist Sandy Plunkett's comic book art from Jan. 25 through June 2.

"Fantastic! The Comic Art of Sandy Plunkett" will feature about 50 works, exhibiting the progression from Plunkett's early days in the comic book industry to his recent independent and commercial works.

The Kennedy Museum of Art is free and open to the public, and is located on the Ohio University campus in Athens. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursdays, and 1 to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. For more information, call 740-593-1304 or go to www.ohio.edu/museum.

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.