December Classes at IMA

Lately, I'm impressed with the Indianapolis Museum of Art. It seems to be offering more classes, promoting more-interesting exhibits and generally doing a better job of connecting with the community. That's good news for continuing education fans!

Coming up in December are two classes of note:

• Felting Featherweight Fashions -- creating wearable art using felt (three Thursday evenings, $70).
• Colorful "Chain Mail" Jewelry -- creating jewelry with plastic and rubber O-rings (three Thursday evenings, $70).

I'm also intrigued by "Museums, Fame and Money," a lecture Dec. 7 about the commercialization of art museums and global competition for high-profile traveling exhibits. The lecturer is Axel Ruger, director of the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. (If you've ever backpacked through Europe, you'll remember the museum's ubiquitous poster tubes.) The lecture is free, but registration is required.

The museum is hosting Alice Waters, a chef and "eat local" advocate, on Dec. 2, but that lecture sold out long ago. Instead, head over to the newest high-profile exhibit, "Power and Glory: Court Arts of China's Ming Dynasty." It's open through Jan. 11.