The celebration is free. Ray Dempsey of the museum's interpretive staff will compare an 18th- century gentleman's purse with similar items in the collection. The N.C. Museum of Art in Raleigh will open a new installation by the Chinese artist Xu Bing with a free reception from 4 to 6 p.m. today. Xu is considered one of the premier artists of the Chinese avant garde, whose members scattered after the violence in Beijing's Tiananmen Square in 1989. Xu has lived in the United States for several years and creates commissioned works for museums around the world.
Registration is required.
For more information, call 779-6150. Weaverville, which is 10 miles from Asheville, is known as an artists' colony. More than 20 local artists will be showing pottery, fiber arts, jewelry, baskets, woodturnings, works on paper and more. The Randolph Arts Guild invites submissions in all media. There will be cash prizes.