Art Exhibits

LIKE THE Liriodendron estate itself, the icehouse built on the mansion's grounds has survived and outlasted its original purpose. At one point, the icehouse was used as a chicken coop. Then it became a bachelors' and bachelorettes' pad for schoolteachers during the 1960s and 1970s. In the past two decades, however, the small structure, which is at least 6 feet underground, has been empty. Now, the icehouse is being transformed into a museum that will permanently house a collection of American Indian artifacts - adding another dimension to the mansion, which sponsors art exhibits, lectures and concerts.

Art exhibits •Slayton House Gallery is exhibiting photographs by Jeff Shi and Xiangfei Fay Shi through Feb. 5 at the gallery, 10400 Cross Fox Lane, Columbia. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. Closed Sundays. Information: 410-730-3987. •The paintings of Marc Boone and Michael Sastre will be on display through March 13 in the Rouse Co. Foundation Gallery at Howard Community College, 10901 Little Patuxent Parkway.

Since it opened a year ago Sunday, the neon lights on the Carroll Arts Center's rebuilt marquee have drawn hundreds of patrons and visitors to the art deco building on Main Street. With art exhibits, classes, concerts and screenings, the former movie house has brought new life to downtown Westminster. The former Carroll Theatre now houses a 263-seat theater, an art gallery, two art classrooms and offices, as well as the nonprofit Carroll County Arts Council. "It's come a long way," Westminster Councilman Robert P. Wack said of the center.

Car show VFW Post 7472 Men's Auxiliary will host its annual Car Show fundraiser with awards in 13 classes, including a special VFW Commander's Choice Award, at noon Sunday, April 14, at 4225 V F West Lane. Vehicle registration begins at 11 a.m. and a VFW dash plaque will be given to the first 100 entries. Food, beverages and desserts will be available. The event benefits veterans programs. Free admission. Car entry fee is $15 and includes lunch. Information: 410-465-4240. Art exhibits The Howard County Arts Council hosts the exhibits "Visual Storyteller: The Narrative in Art" and "No Boundaries" through Friday, April 26, at 8510 High Ridge Road in Ellicott City.

The flap that arose in June over the banning of nudes in an art exhibit at the Columbia Festival of the Arts appeared to have ended silently.But to the Howard County Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, it's not a dead issue yet.In July, members of the local ACLU chapter met with representatives from the Rouse Co. to discuss concerns about restrictions on the New Arts Alliance exhibit at The Mall in Columbia during the festival.Rouse, which manages the mall, asked that the exhibit exclude any work depicting nudity, obscenity or violence.

In Craig Drenning's eighth-grade art classes at Brooklyn Park Middle School, students won't be relying on the typical aid of a mirror to make self-portraits. The third-year teacher intends to integrate digital photography into the project, asking students to enlarge and manipulate digital pictures of themselves on the computer, then paint or draw over them. Besides exposing his students to all types of media before high school, he wants them to pull other disciplines into their art expression.

Sunday Art exhibits Works by the Mid-Atlantic Plein Air Painters and ink and watercolors of Karen Freeman and David Young will be on display through Feb. 14 at the Galleries at Quiet Waters Park, 600 Quiet Waters Park Road in Annapolis. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays-Fridays; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Call 410-222-1777. Family concert Farmer Jason will present a family-friendly sing-along concert at 3 p.m. at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts.