Festival will dawn with reception Friday at center

January 22, 2009 Last Updated: January 22, 2009 09:10 AM Weekend Entertainment

The annual Age of Aquarius Festival features music and art, like this John Lennon-esque work from last year's event, inspired by the 1960s, '70s and '80s. This year's month-long festival opens Friday with a reception at The Art Center, 344 S. Main St.

The Associated Artists of Butler County opens this year's Age of Aquarius Festival, featuring art and music inspired by the 1960s, '70s, and '80s, with a reception at 7 p.m. Friday at The Art Center, 344 S. Main St.

Opening night events include announcements of the winners of the art exhibit and live musical entertainment by Karmacoustic.

Other opening night events include a best-dressed hippie contest, the "Wall of Butler" exhibit by Ed Nebel of the Butler Eagle featuring vintage 1960's photographs, and free art activities for children, such as origami lessons, Black & Gold and Warhol coloring/painting, and "Jerry's Amazing Maze" in the Underground Gallery.

Admission to the opening night is free.

Through art and music, the festival reflects on the events of the 1960s that affected history: the Cold War, the Civil Rights movement, assassinations of leaders, the first moonwalk, the Vietnam War and Woodstock, among other things.

After the opening reception, the festival continues through Feb. 21 with these events:

Saturday

• Celebrate the 40th anniversary of Woodstock with the six-member band Kardaz, featuring a "mind-blowing" light and video show and cover songs of the 1960s and 1970s, at 7 p.m.

Jan. 30

• Live musical entertainment by Karmacoustic, 8 p.m.

Jan. 31

• Live musical entertainment by Harrisville's own 16 Eyes' rock and blues band, 8 p.m.

Feb. 7

• Lunafest films by, for, and about women, 1 p.m.

• "Beatlemania," featuring musical entertainment by Andy Mangini and Brian Sholes, 8 p.m.

Feb. 14

• "Dare to be Hypnotized" entertainment by hypnotist Bob Hein, 8 p.m.

Feb. 20

• 1980's punk rock cover band S.T.D. performing live, 8 p.m.

Feb. 21

• Kardaz returns for another concert and video/light show in celebration of Woodstock, 8 p.m.

Doors open for all events at 7 p.m. and seating is limited. Call the center at 724-283-6922 for ticket information.

During the exhibit, The Art Center is acting as a collection point for the Butler County Paper Pantry, a nonprofit organization established in 2008 to collect donated paper products to distribute to the needy in Butler. Guests are encouraged to bring paper towels, diapers, bathroom and facial tissues to donate.