The Weeks Gallery at JCC’s Jamestown Campus will hold an “ArtBop” at the college and in downtown Jamestown on October 3 to celebrate the opening of Homegrown Excellence: The Weeks Gallery Salutes Regional Artists.

The exhibition, on display through December 8, features artwork by JCC alumni and faculty Nate Arnone, James Colby, Deb Eck, Peter Goergen, Theresa Heinz, Don Hill, Yu Kanazawa, Deb Lanni, Marilyn Martin, Justin Sorensen, Helene Stolzenberg, and William Waite.

Tickets for the event can be obtained through JCC’s box office, 716.338.1187. Admission is $10 for the general public, $8 for area students and senior citizens, and $6 for JCC Faculty Student Association members.

The exhibition is funded by JCC, JCC Faculty Student Association, JCC Foundation, the Arthur R. Gren Company, and the Southern Tier Brewing Company.

The evening begins at Mason Fine Arts Gallery at 318 North Main St. with a wine and cheese reception from 5 to 6 p.m.

Cale Hawkins, a student in the Infinity Performing Arts Program, performs R&B at 6:30 p.m. in JCC’s Weeks/Scharmann lobby as part of the reception for the Weeks Gallery exhibition. The festivities include hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, and wine and beer tasting.

JCC’s Uncommoners and The Unexpected Guests perform at 7:30 p.m. in JCC’s Scharmann Theatre. Last Stop Willoughby’s music performance begins at 8:15 p.m. in Scharmann Theatre.

Forte, The Restaurant brings the action back downtown with a DJ dance party at 10 p.m.

Mason Fine Arts Gallery was opened in 2005 by retired Falconer Central School teacher Tom Mason who has collected artwork for over 30 years. He has acquired over 1,000 works, ranging from contemporary to 17th century art. The collection includes regional, American, European, Asian, Scandinavian, African, and outsider art. Portraits, landscapes, religious scenes, still lifes, and genre scenes produced in realistic, abstract, or surreal styles are featured.

Cale Hawkins, a 16-year-old from Bemus Point, plays for the Infinity Performing Arts Program and the Bluesers, a Toronto-based band. In 2007, he won the Memphis Bound Blues Competition in Buffalo. This competition recognized him as the best solo blues musician in the region and designated him as the western New York representative to the 2008 International Blues Challenge.

Since then, Hawkins was presented with the WNY Blues Society Muddy Award for best upcoming artist, and the Chautauqua Region WORD solo artist of the year and album of the year award (Chrome). His stage presence, songwriting skills, eclectic tastes, and wide-ranging experiences provide a unique combination that is sure to accelerate his career. Visit www.calehawkins.com to learn more about him or to purchase Random Acts of Confusion, his most recent CD.

Justin Sorensen received an associate’s degree in fine art: studio arts from JCC in 2007. He received a bachelor of fine arts degree in print making from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania in 2009, where he graduated magna cum laude and received the Dr. Carlson R. Chamblis Academic Achievement Award.

Sorensen was awarded a graduate assistantship at Bucknell University this fall. Harvey Breverman, a distinguished State University of New York art professor noted, “Sorensen is a gifted mark maker with enormous potential.”

The JCC Uncommoners will sing “We Can Do It” from their upcoming performance of The Producers, a play based on Mel Brooks’ 1968 film classic of the same name. The musical features two conmen who scheme to cheat theater investors by overselling interests. The Producers will be staged November 6-8, 13-15, and 20-21 in JCC’s Robert Lee Scharmann Theatre.

The Unexpected Guests first performed improv comedy at Jamestown’s The Bunbury Theatre Company in 2003. Original troupe members include Gary Peters and Jane Fischer, Tim Smeal joined in 2004, and Alison Barry, Wayne Carlsson, and Mike Sullivan were added in 2008.

Many individuals are familiar with improv comedy through the popular TV show “Whose Line is it Anyway?” Just like that show, The Unexpected Guests rely on audience suggestions and participation; therefore, no two shows are alike. They are regulars at Lucy-Desi Days and hold special shows at other local venues. The Unexpected Guests were featured in Western New York Life Magazine’s fall 2006 issue, and also received awards through the Chautauqua Region WORD “Best of Chautauqua County” readers’ poll.

Last Stop Willoughby, Steven Gustafson’s newest band, includes Dennis Drew, Jeff Erickson (10,000 Maniacs and Zeta Cauliflower), John Merino (The Amazing Dr. Zarcon’s Breathing Machine Jug Band), Rhonda Harp (GAHU Drum Ensemble and Ken Hardley), and Troy McKotch (founder of GAHU Drum Ensemble, and Steve Johnson Band). They play gentle, thoughtful folk/world music that includes originals and selections from some of today’s greatest singer/songwriters, including Leonard Cohen, Randy Newman, Harry Nilsson, Gillian Welch, Paul Simon, Alison Krauss, and Sandy Denny.

Gustafson and Drew are original members of the 10,000 Maniacs who rose to international prominence with their albums In My Tribe, Blind Man’s Zoo, Our Time in Eden, and MTV Unplugged. Over 10 million records were sold. Their career highlights include appearances on "MTV Unplugged," "Saturday Night Live," and the David Letterman and Jay Leno shows, and a performance for President Clinton’s inaugural ball.

The Weeks Gallery is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday; and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Friday. The gallery is closed on college holidays.