Artful Youth Celebrated in Irvine Exhibit

Once inside the gates of today’s seventh annual Youth Art Day at the Irvine Fine Arts Center, kids (ages seven through 12) may wander about by themselves, taking in workshops, exhibits and entertainment. After paying the $5 admission, all they’ll need is a little pin money for the refreshment stand. (Kids age three to six will need to be accompanied by a parent--admitted free with a paying child.) It’s all Irvine’s way of celebrating National Youth Art Month.

The entertainment schedule includes a magic show at 10:30 a.m., East Indian dancers at noon and a short play (“Aladdin and the Magic Lamp”) at 1 p.m. Exhibits and workshops all revolve around a transportation theme and include a talking police car, fire engine demonstration and a radio-controlled model airplane.

Drop-in workshops are scheduled throughout the day. In one, kids push up their sleeves and help paint a transportation mural. Snacks for sale include hot dogs, ice cream, popcorn and Mexican food. The center is located at 4601 Walnut Ave., Irvine, (714) 552-1078. Hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

FILMS

Three Films--Today’s offerings at the Glendale Public Library are “Waffles” (in which a little girl makes breakfast with the help of barnyard animals), “The New Misadventures of Ichabod Crane” and “The White Seal” (an animated version of the Rudyard Kipling tale of a seal pup who protects his pack from man). The free hourlong program begins at 2:30 p.m. at 222 E. Harvard St., Glendale. (818) 956-2030. SPECIAL EVENTS

Insect Fair--It’ll be bugs, bugs and more bugs Sunday at the Los Angeles State and County Arboretum in Arcadia when the Los Angeles Lorquin Entomological Society sponsors an insect expo in Ayres Hall. On display will be insects from all over the world--some live ones, some dead ones. Visitors will be permitted to pick up glass containers to observe close up some of the live insects in different stages of development. Society members will be on hand to offer advice to beginning collectors, and there will also be books and collecting materials for sale. The arboretum is at 301 N. Baldwin Ave. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $1.50 for adults, 75 cents for kids. Call (818) 446-8251.

“Bet You Thought the Violin Was A Square”--Local violinist Janet Gordon Kaplan takes center stage in today’s presentation of the San Fernando Valley Arts Council’s Family Concert Series. In this hourlong program, Kaplan will talk about the violin to help familiarize kids with the instrument, and perform short pieces. The program is suitable for children age seven and up and parents. The program begins at 11 a.m. at Reseda High School Auditorium, 18329 Kittridge St., Reseda. Tickets are $3 and are available at the door. Call (818) 884-2787.

Kids’ Art Exhibit--Art works from Fullerton-area schoolchildren will be on exhibit now through April 9 at the Muckenthaler Cultural Center. The center is at 1201 W. Malvern Ave., Fullerton. Hours are Tue.-Sat., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday noon to 5 p.m. Free.

Send items at least two weeks before event (Saturday and Sunday events only) to Family Spots, View Section, Los Angeles Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA 90053. Phone calls will not be accepted. Items must include subject, phone number, date, time, exact address and ticket price.