Events from around the state:

1). Museum of the Albemarle: On Thursday, April 3, 2008, at 7:00 pm, Bill Cody from the United States Coast Guard will be on hand to discuss the history of the US Cutter Service, Lifesaving Service, and the state of today's Coast Guard. This program is part of the museum's Historic Roundtable Series.

2). Asheville Art Museum: North Carolina Poet Laureate Kathryn Stripling Byer will read selections from her work at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, March 30, at the Asheville Art Museum. This event is free to the public and is held in conjunction with the exhibition "Nace Brock: Painter, Poet and Photographer," which will be on view in the Museum's Holden Community Gallery through Sunday, April 27.

3). Reynolda House Museum of American Art invites elementary school-aged children accompanied by an adult to a "Dots on Pots" Family First Workshop on Sunday, April 6 from 2 to 4 p.m. Use paint to brighten even the most ordinary household objects, including plates, baskets, and light plate switches. For information and to make the required reservation, please call 336-758-5389. Cost is $7 per person.

4). McColl Center for Visual Art invites the public to a closing reception for the 2008 Winter Artist-in-Residence and 11-month Affiliate Artists. McColl Center continues to advance artists and community through dynamic residencies and educational programs based in contemporary art as exhibited by this diverse group of regional and international artists. The event is Friday, March 21, 2008 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and is free.

5). Cameron Art Museum: "Robert Delford Brown: Meat, Maps and Militant Metaphysics" opens at the Cameron Art Museum on March 28 and remains on view through August 3, 2008. This is the artist's first solo museum exhibition.

6). The High Point Museum presents a Blacksmithing Demonstration in the Historical Park on April 5th, 10-4 and April 6th, 1-4. Come watch our costumed blacksmith in action as he crafts various iron pieces. All ages welcome!

7). The Bellamy Mansion Museum of History and Design Arts presents a Walking Tour of the Neighborhood and Downtown on Saturday, March 29, 10 a.m. to noon as part of the Spring 2008 Interpretive Guide Training. The tours will meet at the Bellamy Mansion Carriage House. For more information call 910-251-3700 x104.