Don’t miss the Ann Moore Book Signing at IMAS on Thursday evening from 5:30 – 7:30 pm. Ann is one of the heroes of the Valley Art Scene. She was one of the founders of IMAS in the early 1970s. She has also mingled with great artists of the world. Her book is called The Art of Collecting: The Legacy of Ann Moore.

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The final performance of the opera Tosca will be Thursday evening at 8 pm at McAllen Civic Center Auditorium. Last night’s performance was truly a pleasure! Isn’t it great that South Texas Lyric Opera came to the Rio Grande Valley? http://www.stlo.org/

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At the May 2 McAllen Art Walk, local architects who are members of LRGV-AIA were at Art House showing photos and collecting votes of people’s favorite local and national architecture. See photos of the event, shared by Carmen Perez Garcia:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/75489438@N00/sets/72157605087755518/detail/

And the winning votes were cast for:

Local Winners 1ST Place - UTPA College of Education, Kell Munoz (pictured left) 2ND Place - UTPA Wellness Center, F & S Architects 3RD Place - UTPA College of Engineering, Kell Munoz

National Winners 1ST Place - Walt Disney Concert Hall, Frank Gehry (pictured right) 2ND Place - Falling Water, Frank Lloyd Wright 3RD Place - Cathedral Of St. John the Devine, Heins And Lafarge

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Crowds thrilled at the performances and tasty food samples given out at the 2^nd International Fiesta at Las Palmas Community Center last Saturday. Manager Samm Mercado and Recreation Supervisor Denisha Hernandez had fun managing the two indoor stages.

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Find yourself a UTPA map and get over to the planetarium (located in the Science Building Courtyard) to look at the stars this summer. Here’s two great UTPA maps: http://www.utpa.edu/maps

Get all the starry details in this fine article written by Gail F

agan, one of my favorite journalists: http://www.utpa.edu/news/index.cfm?newsid=3516&curtype=release&curbar=news. And here’s the schedule of public star gazing events: http://www.utpa.edu/dept/physci/Planetarium%20Calendar.htm

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McFun 2008, with multitudinous summer activities sponsored by McAllen Parks & Recreation in cooperation with McAllen Independent School District, McAllen Memorial Library and IMAS has just been released. This booklet has a “wow centerfold map” with a lengthy legend of venues. Take a look at the online version: http://www.mcallen.net/parks/docs/SummerBrochure2008.pdf

And I want to say “Hats off to Larry Pressler” and all the innovative folks in the McAllen Parks & Recreation Department. Did you know that if you are a McAllen resident

17 and under and enrolled in any of the McFun Summer Classes and other programs, then you can get a pass to ride the bus to them for FREE? Keep thinking GREEN! Here’s what the McFun 2008 booklet says:

McFUN BUS TRANSPORTATION

Summer McFun Program participants will be able to travel to recreation sites and swimming pools this year using McAllen Express. Persons 17 years and younger can ride the buses at NO CHARGE using the McFun Fare Bus Pass, if they are enrolled in any McAllen Parks and Recreation Program. Go to your classes, take a dip in the pool, visit the Library, participate in “Operation Imagination” at IMAS, or spend an afternoon at the gym. Check the bus routes for locations and times. Follows regular bus routes. Passes will be issued upon request, at the time of registration.

If you are using mail-in registration, just request a pass, and it will be sent to you in the mail.

AGE: 17 & Under Fee: FREE! (McAllen residents only)

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The National Association of Latino Arts and Culture (NALAC) recently selected Veronica Jaeger from Pharr to receive $2,000 for the 2007-2008 cycle of the NALAC Fund for the Arts (NFA). This award supports the Latino arts community in the United States and has provided 128 grants totaling more than $379,000 to Latino artists, ensembles and small and mid-size Latino arts and culture organizations throughout the U.S. http://www.nalac.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=96&Itemid=146

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If you would like to take a “Summer Safari at Gladys Porter Zoo” in Brownsville, read all about it here: http://www.gpz.org/epdf/summer_schedule08.pdf

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Get ready for the DIY & Zine Fest to be held at South Texas College, Weslaco Campus, on June 6th from noon until 10 pm. The cafeteria will be transformed into the mercado for the diy and zine wares and there will be 5 rooms for workshops and skill shares. Poets and musicians will take the stage too. For more information, contact Noemi Martinez [noemi.mtz@gmail.com]. http://www.csdistro.com/distro

Have a safe and happy Memorial Day Weekend!

-Virginia Haynie Gause

Read complete details in www.ArtsRGV.com to know what is happening in the Rio Grande Valley Art World. Please keep me apprised of what is happening by writing me at artsrgv@aol.com.