Creatures of the Zodiac

You know those paper place mats you always see on the table at the neighborhood Chinese restaurant – the ones with little illustrations of animals and a list of birth years they correspond to? Well, they represent the Chinese Zodiac, and there’s a lot more to it than stir-fry and fortune cookies. It depicts the 12 years in the Chinese lunar calendar cycle, with a different animal representing each year. 2006 is the Year of the Dog, and in celebration of that, the Norton Museum of Art is featuring a special installation called “Signs of Time: The Twelve Animals of the Lunar Calendar.”

The exhibition features numerous works of art depicting the symbols for each year of the lunar cycle, some of which date back several hundred years. “Signs of Time: The Twelve Animals of the Lunar Calendar” is on display now through June 30 at the Norton Museum of Art (1451 S. Olive Ave., West Palm Beach). Admission is $8 for adults, $3 for ages 13-21, and free for Members and children under 13. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday thru Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Call 561-832-5196.
March 31-June 30