Around the Arts

BPP opens spring theater classes\nhe Bloomington Playwrights Project is offering open registration for theater classes offered by the School of Dramatic Arts (SODA). The classes offer various levels of acting, improvisation, playwriting/screenwriting, magic and clowning for all ages -- elementary, middle and high school and adults. Classes begin this week and run through the week of May 17 at the BPP, located at 312 S. Washington St. All classes are $150. BPP staff will teach most of the classes. For more information, visit www.newplays.org.\nLocal group names contest winners\nThe winning artwork from the Your Art Here themed call for entries, Billboard Generation, is now available for viewing on local billboards. One winner in the K-6 category and one winner in the 7-12 category were selected in the course of the competition. Monroe County students were asked to submit work based on the theme "War and/or Peace." The grade school winner's work is located on Sixth and Morton Streets, and the high school winner's art is located on the corner of Fourth and Rogers Streets. \nCheck www.yourarthere.org for more information. \nEarly music group to perform Saturday\nBloomington Early Music Festival (BLEMF) presents a performance by "Musick's Handmaids," a trio sonata ensemble featured in the BLEMF in 2000. The group will present a concert of works by Jean-Baptiste Lully, Matthew Locke, John Jenkins, Henry Purcell, Salamone Rossi, and Johann Heinrich Schmelzer. The ensemble will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday, at the Unitarian Universalist Church on the corner of Fee Lane and the Bypass. Tickets for the concert at $6 at the door. For more information, visit www.blemf.org or call 331-1263. \nBuskirk-Chumley welcomes addition to Textillery Gallery\nNationally acclaimed painter Catherine Burris will present her works at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater's Textillery Gallery through April 14. Burris specializes primarily in acrylic painting on canvas or wood panels. A Columbus, Ind., resident, Burris has exhibited her work in museums and galleries throughout the United States. The Columbus City Hall, Columbus Area Arts Council and Columbus Regional Hospital have commissioned Burris' works for the organizations' offices. As part of the Downtown Gallery Walk, an opening reception for the public will be held from 5 to 7:30 p.m., April 4.