The art of

Fain Hancock

The Napa Valley College Art Gallery presents an exhibition of paintings and works on paper from Bay Area artist Fain Hancock, opening with a reception for the artist Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. Hancock's work weds non-traditional art materials -- glitter, tiny mirrors, beads, lipstick -- with rich layers of oil paint, often using stencils and repeated forms to create layered works of complex beauty that explore the body's ability to manifest feelings and retain memories.

Hancock is an instructor in the art program at Napa Valley College and has exhibited extensively on the national level. Her work is in numerous private, public and corporate collections. She'll present a public lecture, Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. at the gallery, located at 1360 Menlo Ave., in Napa. Gallery hours are by appointment. Call 259-6087 for more information.

In honor of Valentine's Day, the Napa Valley College Cafeteria will be transformed into a "Singer's Lounge" to open at 7 p.m. Friday. The evening of musical entertainment will celebrate love in song and the audience will also be asked to participate for a few songs, especially "My Funny Valentine." The event is presented by the Napa Valley College Voice Department. Voice students will be performing, also the NVC Singers, the Women's Chorale, and voice faculty, Vaida Falconbridge and Dr. Eve-Anne Wilkes.

There will be appetizers, desserts, beverages and a silent auction. Admission is $10. Seating is limited. Advance reservations can be made by calling 253-3204. This event is not suitable for children.

Opening Saturday at Studio II Gallery is "LOVE?," a juried open call show, featuring works by local artists that interpret the theme of love -- mischievously.

An artist's reception, "The Sweetheart's Ball," will be held Saturday from 7:30 to 10 p.m. People's choice awards ballots will be cast during the opening day.

An exhibit of vintage black and white photographs of James Dean, Marilyn Monroe and Steve McQueen by Roy Schatt will be running concurrently.

Studio II Gallery is at 570 Soscol Ave., Napa. Gallery hours are Thursday through Monday from 11a.m. to 5 p.m. The phone number is 257-0900.

Continuing at the di Rosa Preserve through Feb. 25 is a salute to emerging artists, with the MFA Selections exhibition, featuring 2005 Masters of Fine Arts graduates from Northern California universities. Growing out of relationships established by art collector Rene di Rosa with regional art schools, this exhibition reaffirms the di Rosa Preserve's significance as a resource for emerging artists, galleries and collectors.

The di Rosa Preserve Gatehouse Gallery is located at 5200 Carneros Hwy (121). It's open Tuesday through Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. or on a reserved tour Saturdays

Entrance is $3 per person, free every Wednesday. For more information call 226-5991 www.dirosapreserve.org

Through April 23, the Napa Valley Museum presents "Romance of the Bells: The California Missions in Art," an exhibition featuring paintings of California's historic missions.

Twenty-one California missions and a number of branch missions (asistencias) were founded between 1769 and 1823, yet that brief period of barely 54 years would have a lasting effect on the artistic and social fabric of the Golden State. After the 1840s, many of the missions fell victim to neglect and abandonment. Controversial as their use was, the romantic beauty of the buildings has inspired scores of artists.

"Romance of the Bells" presents 60 paintings by 30 of the best-known artists from the California Impressionist period. The exhibition covers 18 of the 21 missions and includes a rare series of etchings by Henry Chapman Ford from 1883.

The museum is open daily, except Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $4.50 for adults; $3.50 for students and seniors; $2.50 for youth 7-17; and children under 7 are admitted free. Mondays are free. For additional information, visit www.napavalleymuseum.org or call 944-0500.

Napa Valley Chorale Artistic Director Jan Lanterman has announced auditions for the spring season of the Napa Valley Chorale. Singers of all voice parts are invited to call 261-6165 to make an audition appointment. Napa Valley Chorale rehearses on Monday evenings at the Vintage High School Choir Room in Napa. The spring concert, conducted by Jan Lanterman and associate conductor Mark Teeters, will be on June 4, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Napa.

Repertoire for the spring season features "Neue Liebeslieder" by Johannes Brahms, "Songs of the South" and "Three Quaker Anthems" by Ken Neufeld, "Goin' up to Glory" arranged by Andr Thomas, and "No Time" arranged by Susan Brumfield.

The Napa Valley Chorale is an auditioned, inter-generational community chorus studying and performing great works of choral literature. Singers range in age from teenagers through senior citizens.

Artists of the Valley will host an art demonstration "Through the Eyes of the Artist" at Mondavi Winery on Saturday, from 2 to 4 p.m. The public is invited to enjoy wine and observe the styles and methods of individual artists using differing media as they each provide their unique rendition of the same scene. The completed pieces will be on exhibition at the Artists of the Valley Gallery in the St. Helena Premier Outlets, 3111 N. St. Helena Highway, two miles north of downtown St. Helena on Highway 29.

For further information, contact Sherrell Harper, 265-9050.