KATHRYN EARNHART | The Butlers Holiday plans abound at The Butler Institute

As temperatures cool, activity heats up at America's museum with activities and entertainment for art lovers of all ages.
At The Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown, an active fall exhibition series continues this month, concluding the first weekend in December with the popular annual holiday fine art and craft show and sale, "An American Holiday."
The highlight of Youngstown Butler exhibitions is the 67th Area Artists Annual Exhibition, which opened Friday with a well-attended preview party.
This show, which is sponsored each year by Bank One, features works in all media by artists who reside within a 40-mile radius of Youngstown.
Juried by retired Youngstown State University art professor Jon Naberezny and organized by Melanie Staley, this year's show is a virtual "who's who" of established regional masters, yet brings to light new names -- young talents who promise to become this region's new art establishment.
This "must see" show boasts many award-winners and a wide-range of media, as well as many art works for sale.
See the 67th Area Artists Annual Exhibition through Nov. 30 in the second-floor galleries of the Butler in Youngstown.
Tour of south wing
A visit to the Butler in Youngstown is not complete without the adventure of touring the Institute's Beecher south wing.
A new holographic exhibition, which opened Friday, showcases recent work by Chicago-based artist Eduardo Kac.
This awesome installation is set to run through the spring of 2004 in the Bermant Gallery (on the upper level of the Beecher south wing).
The show combines words and imagery, creating a kind of "holopoetry" that provides a fine complement to concurrently running Butler holographic exhibitions showcasing works by the United Kingdom's Andy Pepper and Montreal's Philippe Boissonnet.
Butler members and the public are invited to visit the Butler in Youngstown on Nov. 16 from noon to 4 p.m., to enjoy the grand opening of the museum's newest addition, the "Andrews Pavilion."
The afternoon event will take place in the new sculpture atrium, expanded Butler Museum Gift Shop and "Winslow's Caf & eacute;," three spaces housed within the beautiful new glass, wood and marble structure designed by architect C. Robert Buchanan.
The day will feature special discounts on shop and caf & eacute; purchases, refreshments and a holiday flower-arranging demonstration by Jo Reese of Reese Floral Art. (The Andrews Pavilion addition was funded by a grant from the Andrews Foundation.)
Evening event
Invitations have been mailed to Butler members for the Dec. 5 preview of the Butler's annual American Holiday Christmas at the Butler.
The evening gala, a Youngstown holiday tradition, offers a sneak preview of art works for sale by more than 100 artists and crafters from across the nation.
The Dec. 5 evening preview also features holiday entertainment, fine food and a cash bar.
A special display accompanies this year's Butler holiday show, a collection of unique porcelain and fabric angels created by Connecticut sculptor Dianne B. Bernhard, will be seen for the first time outside of the artist's studio at the Butler Institute.
To become a Butler member, call (330) 743-1107, Ext. 124 or 125.
The Butler's holiday show will be open to the public Dec. 6 and 7. Admission to the show these days will be $3 per person; children under 12 are admitted free of charge. Free parking is available in the YSU parking decks. For more information, visit the Butler Web site at www.butlerart.com.
A new show titled "Horseplay," which features both romantic and historic equine imagery, opens this week at the Butler's Salem branch at 343 E. State St. Call (330) 332-8213 for information.
And at the Butler's Trumbull branch, 9350 E. Market St. in Howland Township, the fairy-talelike solo show of paintings by New York artist Claire Khalil continues to draw admiring audiences. Call (330) 609-9900 for information.
The public is invited to give the Butler as a gift this holiday season.
Art classes, Butler memberships and museum shop gift certificates may be purchased at the Institute and its branch facilities. Call the Butler at (330) 743-1711 for information.
XButler hours in Youngstown are: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. Butler Trumbull branch (in Howland Township) hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Butler Salem branch hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission to all three facilities is free. The Butler and its branch museums in Howland and Salem will be closed Thanksgiving Day. Regular hours resume Nov. 28.