Prodigy painter, for free: In honor of Mother's Day, there is no admission fee today for the Patrick Moore Gallery's exhibition of realist paintings by Akiane, a 12-year-old artist prodigy from northern Idaho. Admission also will be free Friday for Gallery Stroll. On all other days, admission is $5. Will be on display through June 2 at Patrick Moore Gallery, 511 W. 200 South in Salt Lake City. Call 801-521-5999 or visit www.akianearttour.com.
Chalk Art Festival: Starting Wednesday, Bountiful will be buzzing with artists, families and school groups gathering for the Bountiful/Davis Art Center's annual Chalk Art Festival. The featured artist this year is Lester B. Lee, a professional artist and art teacher at Woods Cross High School. More than 60 artists are expected to participate, and the public is welcome to come watch. Sidewalk art squares will be judged in several categories and awards will be given on Friday starting at 6 p.m. near the corner of Main Street and 200 South in Bountiful. The public also will have the opportunity to vote for the "People's Choice Award." Call 801-292-0367 or visit www.bdac.org.
300 Plates: Art Access Gallery's fifth annual 300 Plates Fundraiser and Exhibition will be held Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. at the gallery, 230 S. 500 West #125 in Salt Lake City. The cost to attend is $25 in advance or $35 at the door, and all proceeds will support the Art Access/VSA Arts of Utah's programs for disabled or marginalized artists. For invitations or more information, call 801-328-0703. The 300 Plates show, featuring small metal plates painted in different styles by 72 Utah artists, will continue through June 8.
Art and balloons: "Three Souls," an installation and performance-art piece by Kristina Lenzi, opens Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. at Art Access II Gallery, 230 S. 500 West #125 in Salt Lake City. Lenzi says the performance piece comes from her recurring dreams about balloons being popped. After her performance Friday, her balloons, needles and other props will be left behind for the duration of the installation, which will remain through June 8.
New Case: An exhibition of recent paintings and field studies by Utah artist G. Russell Case opens Friday with a reception from 6 to 9 p.m. at David Ericson Fine Art, 418 S. 200 West in Salt Lake City. The show contains some 70 works, mostly landscapes and small figurative paintings, and will remain through June 1. Call 801-533-8245.
Gallery stroll: The Salt Lake Gallery Association's monthly Gallery Stroll will be held Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. Galleries will stay open late for browsers to meet the artists, enjoy refreshments and shop. For a list of participating galleries and a map, visit http://www. gallerystroll.org.
Rural abstraction: "Rural Abstraction," an exhibition of nature-inspired paintings by Utah native Ron Russon, opens Friday with an artist's reception from 6 to 9 p.m. at Utah Artists Hands, 61 W. 100 South in Salt Lake City. The gallery describes Russon's work as "a cacophony of geometric colors meeting somewhere between abstraction and realism." For more information, call 801-355-0206 or visit www.utahands.com.
Pen-and-ink contest: Cross, America's oldest pen manufacturer, is sponsoring a pen-and-ink competition for college students in the fine arts. The top award is a $5,000 scholarship and there are 50 other runner-up and honorable mention prizes. Students are invited to submit an original pen-and-ink illustration no later than May 31. Winning artwork may be displayed later this year through Cross stores, its Web site and other marketing channels. Visit www.cross.com.
