The Missoula Cultural Council newsletter showed up today in my inbox. Some of the interesting highlights are below.

The Montana Museum of Art & Culture, in collaboration with the Missoula Art Museum and the Art Associates of Missoula, present Very Visual: Art Appreciation and Visual Literacy, taught by local art historian Ted Hughes.

This noncredit course is open to the public and designed for adults. It is intended for both personal enrichment and to build on the talents and knowledge of current and potential docents at MMAC and MAM. No prior background in the arts is required and students do not need to be enrolled at UM to attend. Classes will meet in the University Center Room 326 at The University of Montana Tuesdays from 4 - 6pm on February 5, 12 and 19. The class will discuss the following topics:

• February 5: The Formal Elements
• February 12: The Means of Artmaking
• February 19: Developing Visual Literacy

Cost is $ 35. To register, call MMAC at 243-2019 or email museum@umontana.edu.

The University of Montana Gallery of Visual Arts presents two exhibits in February: Michael Barnes: Recent Encounters and Infestations and Tom Huck: The Bloody Bucket, both shows running until February 27.

Mr. Barnes will give a lecture on February 12 at 5:00 p.m., and Mr. Huck will give lecture on February 18 at 4:15. Both lectures are in Social Science Room #356. Call 243-2813 for more information.

Montana Rep presents Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at the UM Montana Theatre, PARTV Center February 5-9. Call 243-4581.

Fact and Fiction presents Susanna Sonnenberg Reading and Book Signing

Susanna Sonnenberg reads from her novel Her Last Death, February 6 at 7:00 p.m. Call 721-2881 or visit www.factandfictionbooks.com

Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi & Suor Angelica

UM Opera Theatre, together with MCT Community Theatre, presents Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi & Suor Angelica, February 7-10 at the MCT Center for the Performing Arts. UM Opera Theater received Best Opera Production from the National Opera Association in 2006. For more information visit www.umopera.org or www.mctinc.org

Zootown Arts presents Dynamic Dinos

February 7 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Rattlesnake School Art Room with artist Hanna Hannan. Open to 1st-5th graders, this workshop revels in all that is monstrous, giant, and part of the past. Participants will use their knowledge and create a real or imaginary dinosaur out of papier mache.

Fee $10.00 Rattlesnake School Art Room. Please call to register: 549-7555 or email zootownarts@yahoo.com

Violin master class featuring Adam LaMotte

The String Orchestra of the Rockies presents a violin master class featuring Adam LaMotte on Friday, February 8 at 2:00 p.m. in the Music Recital Hall. Visit www.sor-montana.org

A Community Project: Missoula Reveals its Newest Riverfront Park and its Oldest Hand-Crafted Traditions

City Club Missoula’s February Forum is A Community Project: Missoula Reveals its Newest Riverfront Park and its Oldest Hand-Crafted Traditions, at the Doubletree Hotel. Ellen Buchanan, Director of the Missoula Redevelopment Agency, presents Silver Park, Missoula’s newest riverfront park.

The 14.5 acre park will border the Clark Fork River and will complete the river front trail linking the Ogren Ballpark and the Kim Williams Trail to the California Street Bridge.

Jennifer Anthony of Fearless Engineers will present a power point about the log and timber frame shelters planned for the park. The Timber Framers Guild will host a workshop in Missoula to teach volunteers the traditional art of timber frame construction and joinery, using recycled materials from the old Champion Millsite building, sinker logs from the Bonner Dam and other local sources.

Reservations for the February City Club Forum can be made by email to ccm@cityclubmissoula.org or by calling 406-546-6643 before Wednesday, February 13. Please indicate if you want lunch: $11 for members, $16 for nonmembers, or the no-lunch option of forum only for $5. Cancellations must be made by the reservation deadline. For more information about City Club Missoula, visit www.cityclubmissoula.org