On Sunday, May 10,"We will be painting images of ourselves in acrylic on a 12' x 5' canvas beginning at 2 pm in the Center's back gallery; we imagine a canvas covered with images reflecting the diversity of our lives in western Massachusetts," says Claudia Lefko, founder of the Iraqi Children's Art Exchange and organizer of this event. You don't have to be an artist to join the project; all women over the age of 18 years old are welcome to participate. The event will begin at 2 p.m., and Lefko expects the mural to be completed by 6 p.m. or earlier.

At 6 pm there will be a shared light dinner. Women can invite guests to join in the after-painting celebration. RSVP for the dinner by 5 pm on Friday, May 8, by email or by telephone, (413) 584-0068. (Space is limited)

The mural is part of The Art Miles Mural Project; it will join the Women's Mile --murals created by women around the world--in the gala celebration/exhibition in Egypt, 2010. Other murals for this project are being painted as far afield as India, South Korea, Philippines, Pakistan, Syria, Mexico, Japan, Austria, Egypt, Palestine West Bank and Afghanistan.