Merced Arts Wrap for Feb. 6. 2015

Valentine’s Day Play

Playhouse Merced is presenting the renowned play “Love Letters” at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 14, featuring David and Holly Zacharias. The $25 charge includes dessert and champagne or cider. Tickets can be purchased at the box office, 452 W. Main St., or by calling (209) 725-8587.

New downtown art exhibit

Mariposa Art Company will be hosting “Love Reigns” an art exhibition by Eddie and Jes Garcia. Opening night will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday until close at 1637 M St. in Merced. This is a free event and is for all ages. Paintings and handmade items will be available for purchase. For information or future events, visit www.Mariposaartcompany.com or follow us in Instagram @mariposa_art_company.

Exhibit reception

A reception for the new exhibit “Potpourri” is scheduled for 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Arbor Gallery. The exhibition features an eclectic assortment of paintings and fabric art created by Arbor Gallery Members. Arbor Gallery is a co-operative art gallery that displays works by 25 of the area’s best-known artists. In addition to paintings, the gallery offers jewelry, fabric art, metal sculptures and an extensive selection of greeting cards. Arbor Gallery is inside the Multicultural Arts Center at 645 W. Main St. Call (209) 384-8338 for more information.

Shakespearefest: ‘Winter’s Tale’

Merced Shakespearefest will present “The Winter’s Tale” on Feb. 20-22, Feb. 27-28 and March 1 at the Merced Multicultural Arts Center, 645 W. Main St. in Merced. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and at 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $12 general, $8 students; they can be purchased at the door or at the arts center during business hours, or be reserved by calling (209) 723-3265. For more information, visit mercedshakespearefest.org.

Black History Month program

Liberty Fellowship in Atwater has planned a Black Month History Program for 5 p.m. on Feb. 22. The event will include a community choir under direction of Gwen Amey, praise dancing by Liberty Fellowship, and more. The church is at 1900 Shaffer Road in Atwater and the event is free to the public.

Human Rights Film Festival

University of California, Merced, in February will hold a Human Rights Watch Film Festival, with a different film shown every Friday. The films will be shown at 7 to 9 p.m. in Classroom Office Building (COB) 120 at the campus. For questions or more information, email professor Nigel Hatton at nhatton@ucmerced.edu.

South Pacific dance lessons

The South Pacific Dance Company is teaching traditional dance and music from the cultures of Hawaii and Tahiti. The school is now enrolling for the spring semester, ages 4 through adult, beginners and advanced. Males and females are both welcome. Classes are held at Creation Station, 2408 Martin Luther King Jr. Way. In addition, the Soul Power Dance Crew is now taking enrollment for an eight-week session in hip-hop dance for ages 7 through teens. For more information, email kikiraina@hotmail.com or leave a message at (209) 383-1435.

Exhibits at the Arts Center

The Merced Multicultural Arts Center has opened an exhibit titled “Emergency/Emergence: Art After War.” Curated by Eli-Jelly Schapiro, it features the work of artists Aaron Hughes, Ehren Tool, Mark Pinto and Drew Cameron, who are all Iraq War veterans. A reception is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Feb. 12 at the center, 645 W. Main St. For more information, visit artsmerced.org.

Merced Camera Club Meets

The Merced Camera Club invites all who are interested in photography to its meetings on the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at Merced County Farm Bureau, 646 S. Highway 59. Call (209) 382-0222 or (209) 761-0260.

Photography classes

Jay Sousa is offering a three-day intensive wedding photography workshop Feb. 20-22. He’s also offering a class that will combine beginning backpacking and a nighttime full-moon photography workshop in the 20 Lakes Basin, Aug. 28-30. For more information, call Sousa at (209) 617-1384.

This story was originally published February 5, 2015 at 2:12 PM with the headline "Merced Arts Wrap for Feb. 6. 2015."