Art museum offers events for 2017Upcoming exhibits include works by Helen Hardin, Nocona Burgess

The Ellen Noël Art Museum has a lot to offer in 2017, with a number of rotating exhibits supplementing the museum’s permanent collection.
Among those exhibits include “Spirit Lines: Helen Hardin Etchings” and “American Indian Cowboy — Works by Nocona Burgess,” which also includes a reception and talk by Burgess and a lecture about the life and work of Hardin.
Both Burgess and Hardin are Native American artists. Burgess’ works capture the modern-day depiction of indigenous men and women from tribal nations of the Southern Plains.
The Hardin reception is at 6 p.m. Feb. 16 and the Burgess reception is at 6 p.m. May 18.
The museum isn’t just known for its art, however. They host many events for people of all ages, and some art-inspired events for children to enjoy.
>> On the first Thursday of every month, Permian Basin handcrafters gather and share ideas, lead discussions and learn new crafts and techniques. This event is free to attend, and anyone interested in crafting, quilting, crocheting, knitting and stitching is encouraged to attend.
Dates: 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Jan. 5, Feb. 2, March 2, April 6 and May 4.
>> On the second Thursday of every month, the museum hosts a trivia night, where anyone can join a team and compete. Teams will be tested in topics such as art, space, culture, music and more. Teams will also participate in lightning rounds, and the winning teams will receive donated prizes and recognition on the website.
Dates: 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Jan. 12, Feb. 9, March 9, April 13 and May 11.
>> On the third Thursday of every month, enjoy a free exhibition and a corresponding lecture by an artist, historian, or critic.
Dates: 6 p.m. Feb. 16.
>> On the fourth Thursday of every month, local student musicians perform acoustic music. This free event features a self-guided tour of the art exhibitions in the Nelda Lee, McKnight and Patrons galleries.
Dates: 7 p.m. Jan. 26, Feb. 23, March 23, April 27 and May 25.
>> Once a week, preschoolers and young children (ages 3-5) can listen to a story and participate in a hands-on art activity at Art Tales.
Dates: 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Jan. 4, Jan. 18, Feb. 1, Jan. 15, March 1, March 22, April 5, April 19, May 3 and May 17.
>> One Sunday a month, children (ages 6-12) are invited to discover and interact with the world of art. Adventures in Art will feature art history, gallery exploration and creative studio art classes. Tuition is $18 per class ($20 for ceramics).
Dates: Jan. 8, printmaking; Feb. 5, painting; March 5, landscape; April 2, ceramics; and May 7, sculpture.
The museum will also be hosting events in the community. On Feb. 11, they will collaborate with the Odessa Crisis Center at their fundraiser, Dancing with the West Texas Stars. On Feb. 27, the museum will host the 31st annual Shrimpfest, which will present all-you-can-eat shrimp and auctions.
For more information about any of these events, please call 432-550-9696 or visit www.noelartmuseum.org.