2010 Calendar of Dolls - Kathy Cheer created this exhibit of 3D dolls dressed in handsewn fashions with lashes and yarn hair. Through Feb. 28. Free. Santa Cruz Central Branch Library Gallery, 224 Church St, Santa Cruz, 831.420.5700.

Becky Olvera Schultz: Native West/Southwest - An exhibit of vivid Native American & Southwestern themed digital photography, serigraphs & mixed media works. Free admission. Nuevo Southwest Grill, 2-1490 East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, 831.475.2233.

Book as Medium: Holding/Withholding Text - An international invitational exhibition featuring 28 book artists, some of whom use books to present text, some to present image, color and texure. Opening reception at the gallery 5-7pm January 27, opening day. Through March 6. Mary Porter Sesnon Art Gallery, Porter College, UCSC, 1156 High St, Santa Cruz, 831.459.3606.

Cancer Support Groups - The Katz Cancer Resource Center runs seven professionally facilitated cancer support groups for general, breast and ovarian cancer, as well as chemo 101, eating well, gentle yoga and caregiver support; most are midday on weekdays and weekends; call for exact times and locations. Ongoing. Free, 831.462.7770. Katz Cancer Resource Center, Dominican Education Building, Room F, Santa Cruz.

Carol Selter: Personal Hiker - Artist Carol Selter went hiking for people too busy to hike for themselves made photo books of their hikes, photographed them reviewin their books, and this installation exhibits those photographs, the books, the hikes and those she hiked for. Reception and artist¹s talk: Thu Feb 18, 5:30-7:30pm. Through March 5. Free admission. Cabrillo College Gallery, 6500 Soquel Dr, Aptos (Santa Cruz), 831.479.6308.

Center for Conscious Living Events - The CCL offers numerous inspirational workshops including shadow-work, rebirth celebrations, rejuvenation groups, midweek prayer and meditation sessions, and special visiting speakers at Sunday services; call for full schedule and details. 831.462.9383. Center For Conscious Living, 1818 Felt St, Santa Cruz.

Charismatizing Improvising - Melanie Chartoff will be teaching this three hour intro in such skills as spontaneity, seamless collaborating, charismatic presence, intuitive observation, intimate response, and co-creating in the moment on Feb 27, 3-6pm. More info: 650.619.7289. Louden Nelson Community Center, 301 Center St, Santa Cruz, 831.420.6177.

Covering Ground: New Works on Paper by Robynn Smith - Robynn Smith's new work combines her training in both sculpture and painting; she builds surfaces and gouges them to form geographical and archaeological sites. In MAH's Lezin Gallery. Museum open hours. Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History, 705 Front St, Santa Cruz, 831.429.1964, Tue-Sun, 11am-5pm; closed Mon.

Eight 10's @ 8 - The 15th annual 10-minute play fest, featuring material as varied as one can imagine, directed by Brian Spencer. Thu, Fri, Sat at 8pm and Sun at 3pm. $15-$18; all Thu and Sun, 2 for $25. Actors' Theatre, 1001 Center St, Santa Cruz.

Exhibit: Ageless Art Project - This exhibit features works created by residents of health care facilities through out Santa Cruz County, as led by volunteer professional artists and crafts people. Through Feb. 28. Free. Freedom Branch Library, 2021 Freedom Blvd, Freedom (Santa Cruz), 831.763.4141.

Exhibit: Daniel S. Friedman - The local artist's textured, dimensional abstract paintings on wood and canvas are on display starting Feb 2 and for the rest of the month. Artist Reception: (no host bar) Wed, Feb 10 at 5:30pm. Free. Oswald, 121 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, 831.423.7427, Lunch Tue-Fri 11:30am-2pm, Dinner Tue-Sun from 5:30pm.

Hearts for the Arts Two-Week Auction - The county Cultural Council used to run a gigantic version of this event to support SPECTRA artists' inspiring visits to local schools, but that ran out of steam, so gallery owner Linnaea Holgers is bringing it back with a two-week silent auction of works by over 20 artists, all of whom have donated them, and she's donating all above-promo-cost funds, too, to help budding artist kids. Reception Feb 5, 6-8pm; gallery's open late morning through early eve seven days a week. Through Feb. 14. Free. Artisan's Gallery, 1368 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, 831.423.8183 .

Jim Scoppettone and Family - Some are from the archives and some fresh off the easel, but art historian Dina Scoppettone gathers these paintings together to present a collection of jewel-like flowers and uncanny faces, some seen publicly for the first time, painted with flare by James Scoppettone and Lara Scoppettone. In MAH's Art Forum gallery; opens Dec 19. Museum open hours. Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History, 705 Front St, Santa Cruz, 831.429.1964, Tue-Sun, 11am-5pm; closed Mon.

Library of Maps - Moira Roth began the Library of Maps, about an imaginary library, its contents, inhabitants and history, in 2001; since, it's grown to 41 texts including broadsheets, drawings, photographs and a collection of stones. Reception 5-7pm Jan 27, opening day; immediately thereafter, a related talk at the UCSC Media Theater. Through March 6. Free. Porter College Faculty Gallery, UCSC, Santa Cruz, 831.459.2273.

Maggie Renner Hellmann Air and Simple Gifts' - A Museum of Art and History satellite exhibition, this show features luminous paintings created by Hellmann and inspired by John Williams' presidential inauguration composition of the same name. Starts Feb 8. Free admission. Lulu's at the Octagon, 118 Cooper St, Santa Cruz.

Mountains Art Center Art and Music Classes - The center offers ongoing classes in pottery, drawing, oil and acrylic painting and mixed media as well as youth and teen workshops and ukelele and guitar lessons; all are low-cost or free; call for complete schedule. Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center, 9341 Mill St, Ben Lomond (Santa Cruz), 831.336.4273, Wed-Sun, noon-6pm.

Ceramic Lessons - The studio offers wheel and hand building for all levels; Geof Nicastro teaches Wed - Fri 10am-1pm and Rocky Lewycky instructs Mon-Thu 6-9pm; all tools supplied. Varying class times. $100 plus clay for 4 wks. Clay Creation, 1125 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, 831.429.1645.

Rydell Visual Arts Fellows - William “Skip” Epperson, Terri Garland, Felicia Rice and Daniella Woolf, all recipients of the 2008 and 2009 Rydell Visual Arts Fellowship, show their works in a cornucopia of mediums from textiles to photography to handmade paper. In MAH's Solari gallery; opens Dec 19. Museum open hours. Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History, 705 Front St, Santa Cruz, 831.429.1964, Tue-Sun, 11am-5pm; closed Mon.

Spring Baseball Training - The U.S. Baseball Academy and head school coach Joseph Allegri offer sessions in advanced hitting, pitching and catching for grades one through 12; starts Feb 14; register at 866.622.4487. Harbor High School, 300 La Fonda, Santa Cruz.

TriYoga Basic and Intermediate Classes - TriYoga, a method combining sequences of postures, breathing and meditation, offers ongoing classes. Basics: Mon noon with Kim Beecher, DC; Wed 5:30pm with Gabriel Benjamin, and Sat 10:30am with Jamie Andres-Larsen. Intermediate: Sun 10:30am with Kelly Scott, Mon 5:30pm with Kim Beecher, DC, and Thu 9:30am with Mary Montgomery. Drop-ins welcome and the first class is free. $12 per class. TriYoga Center, 708 Washington St, Santa Cruz, 831.464.8100.

WomenCARE Cancer Support Classes - WomenCARE provides 10 separate classes, support groups and workshops for women with cancer and their families, including some in Spanish; all are ongoing, held Mon-Sat, and require preregistration. Offerings include weekly drop-in and bimonthly Friends-and-Family support groups; Entre-Nosotras Spanish Groups; Complementary Treatment Forums; Post-Treatment Groups; Writing, Art and Gentle Movement groups; and yoga and mindfulness groups, including one in collaboration with Land of the Medicine Buddha. Call for exact days and times and to register. Ongoing. 831.457.2273. WomenCARE, 1001 41st Ave, Santa Cruz, 831.457.2273.

Yoga - Jivamukti Yoga classes with Marni Sclaroff. Flow-style yoga with chanting, meditation and philosophy. Tue and Thu, 8:45-10am. $12, 831.234.5439. Om Room School of Yoga, 300 Natural Bridges Dr, Santa Cruz.

Arthritis Foundation Exercise Classes - Certified foundation instructor Lynn Difley teaches two classes designed to reduce the pain and stiffness of arthritis: Tue and Thu, 9am, 45-minute in-water class; 10am, on-land class. More info: 831.454.7946. $6 per class. Simpkins Family Swim Center, 979 17th Ave, Santa Cruz, 831.454.7966.

Man's Best Friend - Joan Blackmer curated, and all five Santa Cruz County Bank branches (Aptos, Capitola, Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley, Watsonville) are presenting, this exhibit of 13 artists' work depicting the playful nature of dogs.  Open until 6pm on Fridays. Santa Cruz County Bank, 720 Front St, Santa Cruz, 831.457.5000.

Pacific Cultural Center Yoga and Meditation Classes - The Center offers 35 wide-ranging, creative yoga classes, seven days a week, with set fees: drop-ins, $12 per class; kids' yoga, $10; discounts and unlimited passes available; also Zen meditation and koan study classes (Mon 6-7pm); call for schedule. Pacific Cultural Center, 1307 Seabright Ave, Santa Cruz, 831.462.8893.