One exhibit features a selection of watercolor paintings in a rainbow of hues, while the other showcases a collection of boldly colored, mixed-media paintings.
• "Watercolor Unlimited," an exhibit of work by members of the Central Florida Watercolor Society, is on display this month at Steinway Piano Galleries.
A meet-the-artists reception will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the piano store, at 303 E. Altamonte Drive in Altamonte Springs.
Admission is free. The Bernie Lee Quartet will play jazz music at the event.
The Central Florida Watercolor Society, which was organized in 1998, is a mix of novice members and accomplished artists. Artwork by more than 20 members of the group is featured in this exhibit.
For details about Steinway's monthly exhibits, call 407-339-3771 or go to www.steinwayorlando.com. For details about the watercolor group, go to www.centralfloridawatercolor.com.
• "Sights and Sounds of the Season," an annual holiday event, will be presented on Friday in Sanford.
The program, which showcases the talents of Seminole County students, will begin at 7 p.m. at the Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center, at Magnolia Avenue and Second Street.
School groups scheduled to perform include Idyllwilde Elementary chorus, Midway Elementary mime troupe and chorus, Red Bug Elementary chorus, Lake Mary High chorus and holiday band and S.O.D.A. Pops dancers from Miriam and Valerie's School of Dance Arts.
Also, the Sanford Historic Trust will announce the winners of its annual student art contest.
Admission is free, but donations are accepted. Proceeds will be distributed back to the participating schools.
For details, call 407-321-8111.
• The Gateway Orchestra will perform a program of holiday music this weekend in Sanford.
The outdoor concert, presented by the city of Sanford, will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Magnolia Square on First Street. Admission is free.
The orchestra is a volunteer group of musicians from Central Florida who range from professionals to advanced amateurs. Rick Dwyer is the group's conductor.
For details, call 407-688-5004.
• "Making the Seen," a fund-raising event featuring music, comedy and dance, will be presented this weekend in Sanford.
The show will begin at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center, at Magnolia Avenue and Second Street.
Performers will include a comedian, dancers, a drummer and a pianist and vocalist.
Proceeds will support the building of the NuNique Institute Knowledge Engineering, which is described as an international school for inventive types.
Tickets are $22 for general admission and $35 for VIP seating. For details, call the theater at 407-321-8111 or Thomas Fuller at 407-260-6463.
• "Winter Wonders," an exhibit of mixed-media paintings by an artist who goes by the name Wolff, is on display this month at the Casselberry Art House.
A reception will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the Art House, at 127 Quail Pond Circle, behind Casselberry City Hall. Admission is free.
Collectors of Wolff's paintings include baseball player Andre Dawson, poet Billy Collins and author Frank McCourt. To create his signature paintings, Wolff uses mineral pigments and high-gloss, preservative acrylic.
In addition to being a self-taught visual artist, Wolff is a poet whose work has appeared in many literary journals. The artist will read from his poetry collections at the reception.
He is also a member of the Orphan Trains, a folk and Americana music duo, which will perform at the event.
Regular Art House gallery hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. For details, call 407-262-7720, Ext. 1303 or go to www.casselberry.org.
• Xtreme Dance Studio will present a holiday show this weekend in Sanford.
"The Nutty Nutcracker Dancing Through the Decades" will be performed at 1:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Sunday at the Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center, at Magnolia Avenue and Second Street in Sanford.
Xtreme Dance Studio has locations in Longwood and Sanford. Owner and artistic director Sheri Metcalf is directing the Xtreme Dance Company in this second annual production.
Proceeds will benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, which is dedicated to funding blood cancer research and providing education and patient services.
Metcalf plans to hold the event annually in memory of her mother, Diane Corino, who died of lymphoma.
Tickets are $5 for the 1:30 p.m. show, which is geared toward the younger audience. Tickets for the 5:30 p.m. show are $25 for general seating and $50 for VIP seating. A silent auction will be held from 2:30 to 5:15 p.m.
For tickets, call the studio at 407-332-6237 or 407-330-7002 or the theater at 407-321-8111.
• The Altamonte Chapel will present a holiday jazz jam this weekend.
The performance will be from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday at the chapel, at 825 E. State Road 436 in Altamonte Springs. Saxophonist Jeff Rupert and friends will perform. Admission is $8.
The church sponsors the jazz events as part of its community outreach efforts. The talent for the events is organized by WUCF-FM.
For details about the monthly jazz jams, call 407-339-5208.
• The Lake Mary High School Drama Department will present its annual holiday show next week.
"Once Upon A Holiday: A Cheesy Story," will be performed at 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at the school, at 655 Longwood-Lake Mary Road.
The short play was written by Thomas O'Neill and is being directed by Kenneth Barton. Both are Lake Mary High seniors.
The event will include a visit from Santa and his elves and a cookie and cider reception after the show. Admission is $1 or a canned good. Proceeds will be donated to the Second Harvest Food Bank.
For details, call 407-320-9636.
• The Seminole Cultural Arts Council raised about $8,000 at its second annual "Hoooowl for the Arts" event in late October, according to SCAC officials.
The funds will help support art and cultural groups in Seminole County. Last year's "Hooowl for the Arts" raised about $7,000.
The SCAC is a non-profit organization that serves, supports and nurtures the cultural and artistic needs of Seminole County.
For details, call 407-261-2314.
• Central Florida artist Rudy Drapiza will teach a plein air painting class this weekend in Casselberry.
Plein air artists paint outdoors, in the open air. The workshop will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Lake Concord next to the Casselberry Art House, at 127 Quail Pond Circle. The cost is $50, which includes all painting materials.
Drapiza comes from a long line of professional artists, including his grandfather, father and several uncles. Known for large-scale decorative murals, Drapiza works in acrylics, oils and watercolors.
In Casselberry, his work can be seen on the outside wall of the racquetball court at Secret Lake Park and on the wall on Municipal Way at the City Hall Complex.
For details, call 407-262-7720, Ext. 1303.
Items for Arts Alive can be sent to Jill Duff-Hoppes at magicjd@aol.com.