AUBURN - The Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art at Auburn University will exhibit a selection of some of the museum's most treasured pieces from its "Advancing American Art" collection Oct. 24 through Jan. 23 in the Chi Omega-Hargis Gallery.

The 36 paintings and works on paper in this collection constitute one of the most significant components of the museum's permanent collection. Acquired by Auburn University in 1948, when Auburn was known as Alabama Polytechnic Institute, they were originally part of a group of 117 oil paintings and watercolors assembled by the U.S. State Department in 1946 to demonstrate the ascendancy of American modern art at the mid-century.

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AUBURN - The 2009 War Eagle Native American Festival will take place on Friday, Oct. 23, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the grounds of the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art at Auburn University.

The Auburn University Multicultural Center and Access and Community Initiatives, both of which are units of the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs, will host the free public event.

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AUBURN - The Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art presents "Elvis at 21, New York to Memphis: Photographs by Alfred Wertheimer," on view in the Bill L. Harbert Gallery from Oct. 10 – Jan. 9. The exhibition is organized in conjunction with Govinda Gallery, Washington, D.C.

The images not only portray what is viewed as a more innocent period in Presley's life that would vanish in the wake of his superstardom, they also constitute an important visual document of post-World War II America.

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AUBURN - The Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art at Auburn University will present the documentary film "Dare Not Walk Alone" on Tuesday, Sept. 15, at 6 p.m. as part of the Southern Arts Federation's Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers. Following the screening of his film, producer/director Jeremy Dean will engage the audience in a discussion about the film and his work as a filmmaker.

The Museum Cafe will offer its lunch menu before the movie from 5 -6 p.m. Go to www.jcsm.auburn.edu for the menu.

"Dare Not Walk Alone" uses interviews and rarely seen news footage about an incident in St. Augustine, Fla. in the mid-1960s that received worldwide publicity and may have influenced passage of the Civil Rights Act into law.

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AUBURN - Leaders of and advocates for cultural and historical organizations across Alabama will meet at Auburn University's Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art at 10 a.m. on Thursday, June 25, for a summit on the future of the arts and humanities in the state.

Participants in the "Advancing Our Cultural Imprint" summit will discuss what the arts and humanities bring to civic life and the impact of current economic conditions on their viability and future. Charles McCrary, president and CEO of Alabama Power Company and a member of the Auburn University Board of Trustees, will present the keynote address.

Hosted by the College of Liberal Arts at Auburn, the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art, the Alabama Museums Association and the Alabama Humanities Foundation, the summit will bring together directors, curators and board members of Alabama museums, historical sites, performing arts centers, libraries and other institutions in public education, culture, the arts and the humanities.

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AUBURN - Metalwork, print making and sculpture are some of the art topics and techniques students ages 6 to 18 can explore throughout the summer as Auburn University's Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Arts presents the Saturday Art Club.

The club, which is free and open to the public, begins this Saturday, May 16, and meets every Saturday at 10 a.m. through Aug. 29, except July 4. Participants may stay as long as they like until 1 p.m.

During the sessions, museum educators will work with students in an open-studio environment to help them learn about everything from shape composition and building up an image using shapes, to bookmaking, journal building and paper making.

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AUBURN – The Creek War and the War of 1812 will be the subject of a two-day public symposium May 22-23 at the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art at Auburn University. Scholars from around the country will talk about how these events changed the course of Creek Indian and American history.

"The gathering will celebrate the upcoming 50th anniversary of the establishment of Horseshoe Bend National Military Park in Daviston and launch a commemoration of the seminal conflict that took place at this site," said Kathryn Braund, a professor of history at Auburn and an expert on Creek Indian history. "In addition, participants will examine new research on the Creek War and the War of 1812."

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AUBURN - The Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art at Auburn University will hold its annual May Day celebration on Sunday, May 3, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The free public event will offer activities for all ages and will feature food, activities and exhibitions with a Mexican theme.

Visitors will enjoy a performance by the Ballet Mexicano Lupita Sosa. Two local restaurants, Acapulco's and Cancun's, will sell Mexican dishes. The museum's galleries will be open to the public and visitors will be able to view various exhibitions including "The Mexican Soul."

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AUBURN – The Auburn University Faculty Exhibition is on display at the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art through May 30. This exhibition reflects the individual interests and skills of the diverse studio faculty in Auburn's Department of Art and features paintings, sculpture, works on paper, ceramics and other media.

Exhibitions of faculty art are held periodically at the museum, and provide opportunities not only for the community to see the art created at Auburn University, but also for art students to see the close relationship between the classroom and application.

In conjunction with the exhibition, Tuesday lectures will be given March 14-May 30 at 2:30 p.m. in the museum auditorium or galleries during which art historians will share their expertise.

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AUBURN – "Polaroid Sketchbook: Photographs by Andy Warhol in the Permanent Collection" will be on display April 18-May 30 in the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art at Auburn University. The exhibition will be in the Chi Omega-Hargis Gallery.

The exhibition of photographs Warhol took as inspiration for his paintings provides viewers with a behind-the-scenes look at his iconic work. Warhol used his Polaroid camera as other artists might use a sketchbook, to quickly record ideas for future use. These snapshots formed the basis for many of his paintings and silkscreen prints, with subjects ranging from superstar portraits to cultural and commercial icons.

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