I purchased a one-year Erie Art Museum membership this summer when I signed up for their Advanced Digital Photography class. The class, taught by prolific Erie photographer Art Becker, was a total blast. It mostly consisted of our group going out on location (Dobbins Landing, Presque Isle) to shoot while we received individualized instruction about our technique. Check out these selections from my portfolio! (My favorite is “Ruby”)

Student museum memberships are only $20 – a $15 discount from a regular membership. You get free admission to all exhibits, concerts and performances; discounts on store purchases and framing; reduced tuition on classes and workshops; and invites to social and artist receptions – pretty cool stuff.

I admit that aside from the class, I haven’t used the benefits much – mainly because I usually attend on free-admission Wednesdays anyway, and I’m way too busy to take another class during the school year. But I am planning on attending their Oct. 30 “Nouveau” party – one in a series of museum parties of 20 through 40-somethings. The theme is “Day of the Dead,” and you bet I’ll be there with a friend or two rocking traditional Mexican face paint. I can’t wait – and I’m already planning my costume.