Artifacts 1/20/06

Annual high school art symposium scheduled

Southeast Missouri State University will hold its 28th annual High School Art Symposium starting Jan. 29 at the Southeast Missouri Regional Museum on the university campus. The symposium is a juried exhibition of art work from about 36 regional high schools. Dr. Paul Hemmerla, a 1986 art education graduate of Southeast, will judge the exhibition. An opening reception will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Jan. 29, where awards will be presented. For more information, call Dr. Edwin Smith at 651-2720 or Pat Reagan at 651-2790.

Spring Dance Concert auditions Wednesday

The Department of Theatre and Dance at Southeast Missouri State University will hold open auditions for its Spring Dance Concert to be held March 9 to 11. Auditions will take place Wednesday at the Parker Dance Studio on North Henderson Avenue at 6 p.m. There is no age or skill level required to audition, and those auditioning should wear clothes that allow free movement. For more information, contact the department at 651-2149.

Registration being taken now for spring art classes

The Open Window Studio in Jackson is now taking registration for its spring semester art classes. Classes include drawing and painting wildlife, fabrics and fibers and Kreative Kids -- art from nature. Sign-ups are required by Jan. 31, and classes begin Feb. 6. For more information, call 243-1448.

Annual Show Me Center Rodeo returns today

The 18th annual Show Me Center Championship Rodeo starts tonight at 8 p.m. at the Show Me Center. The program includes national and regional rodeo stars with the PRCA, participating in events like bareback riding, steer wrestling, calf roping, saddle bronc riding, cowgirl barrel racing, team roping and bullriding. The event continues Saturday at 8 p.m. For more information, call 651-5000.

Market House holds auditions for Kipling play

PADUCAH, Ky. -- The Market House Theatre in Paducah will hold open auditions Monday and Tuesday at 5 p.m. for Rudyard Kipling's "Just So Stories," adapted by Joseph Robinette. Five of Kipling's stories are included in the play. Actors from age 8 to 21 are needed to fill parts. Those auditioning will be required to read through a script and participate in creative dramatic activities. Performance dates at March 9 to 12 and 16 to 19. For more information, call the theater at (270) 444-6828.

Missouri Citizens for the Arts to host legislature day

Missouri Citizens for the Arts will host Citizens' Day at the legislature on Feb. 8. The event is an annual event intended to generate support for public arts funding.

For more information, call Cristina Garcia at (877) 516-2787 or visit www.missouricitizensforthearts.org.

Missouri History Museum explores First Ladies

ST. LOUIS -- The Missouri History Museum will host a traveling Smithsonian Institute exhibit called "First Ladies: Political Role and Public Image" from Feb. 12 through May 7.

The exhibit tells the story of America's First Ladies through White House furnishings and china, photographs and portraits and campaign and personal memorabilia.

For more information, call (800) 916-0040.

-- From staff reports