Paintings by Georgian artist Tiko El Outa will be on display at the Chenango Arts Council from November 18 to December 2. An opening reception for the gallery will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, November 18. The opening is free to attend, and Outa will be in attendance. (Submitted photo)

NORWICH — The Chenango Arts Council is kicking off November with a bang this year with Film and Strings: Robin Hood, a performance by string trio Opus Black accompanying a screening of the 1922 Douglas Fairbanks silent film Robin Hood.

The show begins at 7 p.m. on Saturday, November 5 in the Martin W. Kappel Theater in the Arts Council, located at 27 West Main Street in Norwich. Tickets are on sale now at ChenangoArts.org, and discounted tickets are available for children, seniors, and members.

On November 12, the biannual Chenango Arts Council fundraiser returns to the Canasawacta Country Club. This year's theme is Old Glory Gala: A USO-style salute to veterans and the red, white, and blue.

"It’s going to have the band Brothers and Friends playing swing music, there’s a full dinner, a cocktail hour, a silent auction, and tickets are also available for that event now," said Chenango Arts Council Administrative Assistant Mary Beth Miller.

The evening begins with a cocktail hour at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $75 per person, and available at ChenangoArts.org or by calling the Arts Council at 607-336-2787. For sponsors of every level, two tickets are reserved for themselves and a guest. It's not too late to request an invitation or sign up as a sponsor and receive two free tickets. Sponsorship details and sign ups are available on the Chenango Arts Council website as well.

Miller said invitations and RSVP cards were mailed out to sponsors, and all they need to do is send them back in with the names of who will be attending the gala. The deadline to RSVP for the Old Glory Gala is November 5.

"We’re excited about this year’s fundraiser. It’s a USO-style event, and we feel that the Veterans’ Day weekend is the perfect timing for our theme, which honors active military as well as our veterans," said Chenango Arts Council Executive Director Alecia ONeill.

In addition to great food, drinks, and music, the gala will also feature a 50/50 raffle, an auction of a crate of various types of alcohol called the "Bucket of Booze," and a live painting done by local artist Brian Warner, which will also be auctioned off during the evening.

"It was really interesting to watch when we had him the last time at the country club," said ONeill. "We’re not quite sure what the theme of the painting is going to be quite yet, but I’m sure it’ll be amazing just watching the progress."

There will also be a silent auction where attendees can bid on their favorite items. Auction items include a hot air balloon ride, various gift certificates to local eateries, free rounds of golf, theater tickets for the Norwich Theater Company, gift baskets, a Norwich Family YMCA membership, a night's stay at the Colgate Inn, and more.

Following the gala at 5:30 p.m. on November 18 is the opening reception of the art exhibit "Identity Crisis," by Georgian artist Tiko El Outa.

Her paintings, which utilize saturated colors and pronounced brushstrokes, aim to explore "the deeper truths of the individual" and "raises questions of identity, authenticity, and realness," according to the Chenango Arts Council.

Outa's paintings will be on display in the Mariea Brown and Raymond Loft Galleries at the Chenango Arts Council from November 18 to December 2. The opening reception on November 18 is free to attend, and Outa will be in attendance.

More information on the Chenango Arts Council and their upcoming events can be found at ChenangoArts.org or on the Chenango Arts Council Facebook page.