If you haven't picked up The Art Association's 2010 Winter/Spring Schedule, you'll still find plenty of them at the Center for the Arts. And you really ought to pick it up, because besides the usual schedule of classes and exhibits (newsflash: "Whodunit?" returns in May, and Dave McNalley will hang work on the walls of the Theater Gallery in June), there's some news you might not want to miss.

For example, if you sign up for winter/spring classes before Friday, Jan. 8, you'll enjoy an Early Bird 10 percent discount. That's Jan. 8, which is nigh, and getting nigher every day.

If you're unsure of which art class to take, The Art Association will host another Free Art Class Sampler 5:00-6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 13. Come by and sample the many classes offered – meet the teachers, tour the studios and try something new. For free!

Also, when you sign up for a class, you can receive a free Open Studio Pass, good for the duration of the class. That’s a value of up to $125.

You've heard that membership has its privileged, and that's never been truer at The Art Association. This winter and spring, Art Association members can sign up for any of five free classes: a Digital and Photography Lab refresher class, Life Drawing, "A Glimpse of Throwing on the Wheel," oil pastel basics, and "Hand-Build a Clay Drinking Vessel." Registration is still required, so call before classes fill. Nonmembers can sign up, too, for $10.

The Art Association is billing a half-dozen "Do-It-Yourself" classes as recession-busters. Learn home brewing, how to operate your sewing machine, blacksmithing, furniture making or Valentines Day crafts with some of The Art Association's best and favorite teachers, including Jenny Dowd, Annie Miller and Steve Fontanini. Then get ready to do it all yourself.

And then there are the dozens of other classes offered throughout the winter and spring for adults – Beginning Oil Painting with Erin O'Connor, Encaustic Painting with Shawna Moore, Silversmithing with Georgia Mayer, Photoshop with Jon Stuart, screenprinting with Aaron Wallis, and tons more – and for kids.

For all the details, pick up a copy of the schedule at the Center for the Arts, 240 S. Glenwood, or visit ArtAssociation.org.