FEATURED EVENTS

Creative Communications Art Studio
in conjunction with
Alternatives' Arts and Culture Program
Presents the
Monday Night Exploration Workshop
for beginning and intermediate art enthusiasts

Celitc Art II
an ornate drawing workshop.

A $40 registration fee applies and includes all materials. Finished works will be matted and ready for display.

To register, contact Michelle Benjamin, (508) 459-7317 or michelle.benjamin@alternativesnet.org

This renowned comedy recounts the story of Frank, a tutor of English in his fifties whose disillusioned outlook on life drives him to drink and bury himself in his books. Enter Rita, a forthright 26 year-old hairdresser who is hungry for education. After weeks of cajoling, Rita slowly wins over the very hesitant Frank with her innate insight and refusal to accept no for an answer. Their relationship as teacher and student blossoms, ultimately giving Frank a new sense of self and Rita the knowledge she so craves. The play became a hit film with Michael Caine and Julie Walters.

Friday – Saturday, March 12th - 13th, 8:00 PM; Sunday, March 14th, 2:00 PM

*Wine reception, open to the public, prior to Friday, March 5th's opening, 7:00 - 8:00 PM in the Aldrich Heritage Gallery.

Written by Willy Russell
Presented by Pilgrim Soul Productions;
Directed by Neal Martel
Tickets are $15.00, or $12.per ticket for groups of 25 or more; Tickets available at door

For more information and reservations, call Matt (508) 752-0224

***Please Note: Educating Rita includes brief instances of profanity

Use your experience for inspiration, dictionaries for clarity, and passion for motivation to write your own poetry. Revise previous works or start anew; and share all!

The workshop will end in May with a poetry reading at the Worcester Public Library during Alterntives' Annual Mental Health Awareness Event.

Contact: Michelle Benjamin, Alternatives Arts and Culture Program, (508) 459-7317
Paige Cooper, Workshop Instructor, Worcester State College, (508) 344-1222

Learn this fascinating new art form which is easy and relaxing. Create beautiful images by drawing repetitive patterns.

Cost: $35/per person (includes materials)

For more information and reservations, call Molly at 401.935.3860 or mollysthomas@gmail.com

Life–Magnified
Scultpture, Photography, Paintings and Jewelry
by participants in Alternatives’ Arts & Culture Program

Exhibition continues through March 28th

Spaulding R. Aldrich Heritage Gallery
Alternatives’ Whitin Mill ~ 50 Douglas Road
Whitinsville, MA

Gallery Hours M-F 8:30 AM ~ 4:30 PM
Weekends and evenings by appointment

For more information call (508) 266– 6502

About the Arts & Culture Program
and
Life Magnified

Alternatives’ Art & Culture Program creates opportunities for people with disabilities to make connections they wouldn’t otherwise make. Through inclusive activities ranging from photography, fine art and jewelry making to dance, music and white water rafting, the Arts and Culture Program has significantly increased the number of opportunities for community collaborations for the individuals who participate.

The magnification project is just one of the activities run by Alternatives’ Art and Culture Program. The Art Exploration Workshop was developed in conjunction with Creative Communications Art Studio of Leicester, MA. Owner/Instructor Monique Pappas has guided participants through fun and unique uses of a variety of mediums for over three years.

The sculptural portion of this exhibit is the result of much planning and collaboration between workshop participants. Unexpected financial restrictions brought about an increased effort to conserve materials. For this project, materials were gathered from recycle centers, donations from community members and local companies as well as left over supplies from previous projects. The group truly followed the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle paradigm. 95% of the materials used to create these objects were recycled, reused or donated.

Utilizing this focused approach, participants were asked to choose an item they could magnify. Objects which existed on a large scale in the real world were ruled out. The closed fist of each participant became the measure of whether or not an object could be scaled up.

The results are fun and thought provoking. They are certainly one way to magnify life. Another is to encapsulate that which becomes our life’s passions through more traditional means of photography, painting or through a craft like jewelry making. The scale of the objects may be very different, but the scale of their significance within each individual’s life is the same.

SAORI brings people of all ages and abilities together to enjoy the improvisational art of freestyle Japanese weaving.

No experience necessary. Small class sizes, ensuring personal attention.

Teacher: Katie Stark with Mihoko Wakabayashi

First Series: (Saturdays) January 9, 16, 23, 30; 10:00 - 11:30 AM
Second Series: (Thursdays) February 18, 25, March 4, 11; 6:30 - 8:00 PM
Third Series: (Saturdays) March 20, 27, April 3, 10; 10:00 - 11:30 AM

Cost: $100 (includes supplies)

For more information contact Hùng at (508) 266-6520 or hung.pham@alternativesnet.org

Jack Keough
“Prints for my Pals”
One Man Art Show


Alternatives Community Gallery
5 South Main Street, Uxbridge, MA
Exhibition continues through March 19
Gallery Hours: M-F 9:00 AM ~ 3:00 PM
For more information call (508) 278– 6791

“Along with original works I’ll be taking print orders for recession friendly, museum quality, Giclee prints to raise money for my friends at Alternatives”

- Jack Keough

www.artistJackKeough.com

The Spaulding R. Aldrich Heritage Gallery celebrates the artisans of the Valley with a display of hand work by a diverse group of Valley crafters. Potter Leah Bearce, wood turner Derrick TePaske, jeweler and stained glass artist Kathy Olson and book maker Christi Collari will display their work along side flintlock muskets by Stephen Paulson and hand made knives by Jim Saviano. Although each artisan works in a different medium, each piece is intricate and built to a high level of craftsmanship. The exhibit will also highlight the process of creation by demonstrating the steps which go into the final product.

For more information, call Tom Saupe at 508.266.6502 or tom.saupe@alternativesnet.org

Going Green In The Blackstone Valley:
Alternatives' Poster Contest for Blackstone Valley 6th Graders

Think creatively about Going Green in the Blackstone Valley! Students across the Blackstone Valley submit there posters in this contest with their ideas around Going Green.

April 2: Exhibit Opening Reception
April 28: Top three posters and People's Choice awarded at Alternatives with reception.

Sponsored by Alternatives and ValleyCAST!

Wine and Food Tasting along with vendors from the Blackstone Valley
Donations of $10 to reserve a glass and a gift bag

For more information, call Leslie Reichert at 508.234.4626 or cleaningcoach@yahoo.com

Sponsored by Wiersma Insurance, Friendly Discount Liquors and The Back Door

Back to Some Serious Basics: The Art of Food, Clothing, & Shelter for a Green Planet

Using the Whitin Mill as a basis for activities, approximately 80 students will explore its "green" design through hands-on creative activities that raise awareness of food, clothing, and shelter as they relate to our environment and how we live in our world.

For more information, call Tom Saupe at 508.266.6502 or tom.saupe@alternativesnet.org