Artist shows off classic car art in Cocoa Village

Artist Rene Griffith is exhibiting her images of classic cars at Clay Stephens Lifestyles showroom in Cocoa Village. The Indialantic artist's fine art photography and mixed media artwork is represented in private and corporate collections throughout the United States. She works in canvas, paper and large 40 by 40 aluminum panels.

Griffith's father opened the first gas station on Aurora Road in Melbourne in the early '50s.

"All of us kids had to take turns working the station after school," Griffith said.

"That experience led me to have a real fondness for these old cars. I photograph them every chance I get and have been known to follow one home when I see it pass by. I know they are truly loved by the people who own and restore them."

The public is invited to meet the artist from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, and enjoy refreshments at the showroom, 633 Brevard Ave., Cocoa Village.

For more on Griffith, visit renegriffith.com or call 321-676-1956. For more on Clay Stephens Lifestyles showroom, visit claystephens.com or call 321-301-4574.

Jazzed up

Internationally acclaimed concert pianist, composer and music producer Takana Miyamoto visits Atlantic Music Center, 25 S. Wickham Road, Melbourne, for the Center's last concert of the season at 7:30 p.m., Friday.

Based in Atlanta and Tokyo, Miyamoto has performed in more than 30 countries. Her piano sound is featured in multi-Grammy nominated jazz albums. She received the "Rising Star" recognition from the International Jazz Society.

Tickets are $27 for adults and $20 for students younger than 18. Reserve at 321-768-2221.

Suntree serenade

The Central Florida Chamber Winds serenades with the best at a free concert in Suntree this Sunday.

Scheduled for 3 p.m. on April 13, the performance of Mozart's "Serenade in E flat," plus a program of other serenades and dances, will take place at Suntree United Methodist Church, 7400 N. Wickham Road.

Formed in 1999, the Central Florida Winds includes more than 50 musicians from Brevard, Volusia, St. Lucie and Lake counties. Sabino has conducted the National Philharmonic and the State Academic Concert Orchestras of Ukraine. He has managed the Brevard, the Florida Gulf Coast, the Atlanta and the Wichita Symphony Orchestras.

For information, call 321-223-6688 or visit CFWinds.org.

Happy 100th

Join the staff and volunteers of the UF/IFAS Extension Service as they celebrate the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Smith-Lever Act, responsible for the creation of cooperative extension service movement across the nation.

Using the expertise and research of the University of Florida, the local Extension Service helps Space Coast residents live healthier and greener. Extension is responsible for the Brevard County Fair, the Wickham Park farmers' market, Brevard Botanical Garden and more than 50 4-H clubs for Brevard students.

Extension will celebrate from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, at its headquarters, 3695 Lake Drive, Cocoa.

Activities include a mock 4-H Fair competition, fishing demonstration, bat box demonstration, My Brevard Yard display, Brevard County Fair display, Brevard Farmers Market display, cooking demonstrations, and food trucks such as Ice Twister, Coastal Kitchen and Slow and Low Barbecue.

For information, visit brevard.ifas.ufl.edu or call 321-633-1702.

Good Vibes

Art Gallery of Viera, 2261 Town Center Ave., will host the opening reception for "International Vibe" from 6 to 9 p.m., Saturday.

The new show, which celebrates cosmopolitan flair, pays homage to the late Robert Lebron, who taught at the gallery and had earned a well-deserved international reputation for his oils done with palette knife.

One of Lebron's students, Laura Kucharyson, will demonstrate palette knife painting. Guests will have the opportunity to win one of Kucharyson's prints.

The works of guest artists will join those of Lebron's for the show.

In addition to "International Vibe," the gallery features the nature photos of Rebecca Gomme.

For more, call 321-504-4343 or see artgalleryofviera.com.

Also at Art Gallery of Viera are "Fun with Fabrics" classes by fiber artist Dij Pacarro, who will lead a "Fabric Critter Collage" workshop from 9:30 to noon, Thursday, April 10.

No sewing machine is required to create a whimsical animal portrait from fabric scraps. Class fee is $25. An optional $10 kit includes all materials. Pacarro will also lead a "Free-Form Cityscape" class from 9:30 to noon on Saturday, April 26.

Again, no sewing machine is required to create the cityscape wall hanging. Cost is also $25, with an additional $10 for the optional materials kit.

To register, call 321-806-5550.

Budding sale

The Titusville Men's Garden Club will hold its spring tree and plant sale from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m, Friday and from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, at the Searstown Mall parking lot in Titusville.

Prices start at 50 cents. Master gardeners will provide growing information on the wide variety of plants available. Children will receive a free tree seedling to support Titusville Tree City's designation.

Bring pots and containers for recycling.

For information, call 321-385-9051 or 321-480-8807.

Party for the Planet

Brevard Zoo parties for the planet from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, so guests can learn about important wildlife and environmental conservation efforts, with emphasis on the Indian River Lagoon. The event, free with zoo admission, features music, children's activities, crafts and giveaways. The Zoo's Party for the Planet is part of the largest combined Earth Day celebration in North America.

For information, call 321-254-9453 or see brevardzoo.org.

In Camelot

Strawbridge Art League, 2011 Melbourne Court, Melbourne, will host the opening reception for its newest show, "Camelot, Fantasy and Fairytales," from 5 to 7 p.m., Friday.

Visit ridgeartleague.org or call 321-952-3070.