Worth a Look

For the 10th year in a row, a spectrum of gourds created by 30 California glass artists will cluster at the Palo Alto Art Center at 1313 Newell Road, on display outside from Oct. 11 through Oct. 14. There will also be periodic glass-blowing demonstrations.

A benefit party and pre-sale is planned for the 14th, and then the pumpkins will go on sale Oct. 15 and Oct. 16. The fundraisers support the Bay Area Glass Institute and the children's art education programs at the Palo Alto Art Center.

Call (650) 329-2366 or go to www.cityofpaloalto.org/artcenter.

A beginning opening


Palo Alto artist Meryl Urdang, who creates silk paintings, glassware and Judaica, is having her first gallery opening this evening. Urdang began seriously pursuing her art three years ago, after more than 20 years as a health care consultant.

The opening takes place at the Meadowlark Gallery at 516 University Ave. in Palo Alto from 6 to 9 p.m. as part of the city's monthly First Friday Art Walk. Then the pieces will become part of the gallery's regular collection.

For more information, call the gallery at (650) 330-1490 or go to Urdang's Web site at www.merylurdang.com.

Ceramic sculptures


Robert Arneson started his tenure as a professor of design and ceramics in a temporary building at the University of California at Davis in the early 1960s.

These days, the ceramic sculptures of Arneson (who died in 1992) and his students, as well as visiting professors, are on exhibit at the Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University. Many styles are represented, including Arneson's "funk" 1960s style and Kathy Butterly's 1990s post-modernism.

The exhibit opens on Wednesday and runs through Feb. 26. Admission to the center is free, and gallery hours are Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with extended hours on Thursdays until 8 p.m. Call (650) 725-3155.

THEATER

Bus Barn benefit


How better to deal with today's politics than to laugh at them? That's the idea behind "A Red and Blue State of Anxiety," a musical parody show with original lyrics written to the music of Irving Berlin, Johnny Mercer, Cole Porter and others.

The annual follies show benefits the Bus Barn Stage Company. It takes place at 7:30 p.m. tonight and Saturday at the Bus Barn Theatre, 97 Hillview Ave. in Los Altos.

Tickets for Friday's opening night are $75 per person and include an hors d'oeuvres and wine reception. The Saturday gala has a champagne reception and a mini-auction included; tickets are $90.

For reservations, call (650) 941-8353.

FAMILY

Autumn at Filoli


Scarecrows, live music and docent-led tours of the orchard are among the autumn activities planned at the Filoli mansion and gardens this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

"Autumn at Filoli" will also include samples of apples and pears, and barbecue lunches for sale. The event takes place at 86 Canada Road in Woodside. Tickets are $15 for adult members, $20 for non-members and $5 for children ages 5 to 17.

Call the ticket office at (650) 364-8300, extension 508, for more information.

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