Think there won't be an arts festival this October?

Think again. Just because the city changed the date of its second annual arts festival to coincide with the November opening of the Taubman Museum of Art doesn't mean plans for an October festival are dead.

In fact, several local arts and cultural organizations are planning to just do it. What's more, they hope to stretch out their celebration of the arts all the way from the first weekend in October to the art museum's grand opening Nov. 8, in a new, grass-roots festival to be called "40 days and 40 nights: An arts and culture explosion."

"We're making lemonade," said Laura Rawlings, executive director of the Arts Council of the Blue Ridge. "They threw us a curve ball, and this is what came out of it. This is awesome."

Arts festival manager Rick Salzberg said last month that changing the arts festival's date to coincide with the museum's opening "is just a practical way to do things at this point. We want to be a part of the excitement of that weekend."

The city's festival also has been cut back from four days to two. Salzberg said the budget has been cut by 60 percent.

For some in the arts and cultural community, however, two days was not enough. Others had already made plans for an October festival, said Rawlings and Beth Pline, executive director of the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra. Among the performances scheduled for the original October dates were Mill Mountain Theatre's "Cyrano," the RSO's "Brunch with Bach," Opera Roanoke's "Falstaff" and "Swan Lake" by the Southwest Virginia Ballet, they said.

The way Pline tells it, she attended a meeting of local arts and cultural directors earlier this month and many were lamenting the change of date. "My thought was, 'Well, we have all these things we planned to do in October.' I did some quick math, and said, '40 days ought to cover it.' "

Others have run with the idea. Artists Beth Deel and Wendy Schuyler have been hired by the arts council to help create Web sites, a 48-page pamphlet, posters, cards, buttons and T-shirts, Rawlings said. She said the "40 days and nights" theme will also help "build up momentum for the opening of the art museum."

Pline said there is plenty going on in October and early November to make the concept work. "We've got two or three things going on just with us." She also said the Virginia Museum of Transportation might contribute some kind of transportation up and down Campbell Avenue.

"It's cultural communalism," said Salzberg, when asked about the 40 days idea. "It can only benefit everybody." He said plans for the city-run festival in November have not been completed. "There's a lot of reorganization going on."

Watch those mosquitoes

Christopher Jason Reid, a graphic arts student at Virginia Western Community College, has won a national Addy award for his animated public service film about malaria awareness. The Addy awards Web site describes the Addys as the world's largest advertising competition.

The short film was done for a charity serving impoverished communities. To see Reid's film, visit www.worldreliefnow.org/wrn.-web/Malaria.html

Reid's Web site is www.christopherjasonreid.net.

Mexican visitor

Mexico City artist Juan Astianax was in town this month for the opening of his one-man show, "Invasion," at Pamela Jean Gallery, across Salem Avenue from the new Taubman Museum of Art. A few dozen people sipped wine, talked to the artist with the aid of translator Juan Urrea and ate "Tres Leche" (or "three milk") cake at the May 16 opening.

A smaller exhibit of Astianax's work debuted at Mexican-born artist Claudia de Franko's Gala Studio on Campbell Avenue late last year.

Astianax has been an artist since the age of 4, when, inspired by a book his mother gave him, he sculpted a pterodactyl out of plastic. He loves "that part of nature man can't control," according to his artist's statement. His "Invasion" exhibit probes the relation between people and machines, according to a gallery release. In some of his most arresting images, the two seem almost to have merged.

The artist's etchings, sculptures from found objects and bright mixed-media canvases will be featured at the gallery through mid-June. The gallery had already sold two of his works as of Tuesday, a spokeswoman said. Call 904-7797 or visit www.pamelajeangallery.com.

Then help us illustrate our upcoming School's Out! Guide, filled with money-saving ideas to help your parents keep you entertained all summer long.

What we need: A photo of your sidewalk chalk creation. If we choose your design, it will be used on the cover of Extra/Inside Out on June 12.

What kind of design? It can be as simple as using the words "School's out!," or another appropriate drawing to celebrate the beginning of summer.

Age restrictions: Open to eighth graders and younger.

Photo requirements: Digital images are preferred. In order to ensure we can publish the photo, it must be in color and of high quality (1 MB or more).

Deadline: All submissions must be received by 5 p.m. Monday, June 2. E-mail extra@roanoke.com or mail to Sidewalk Art Challenge, The Roanoke Times, 201 W. Campbell Ave., Roanoke VA 24011.

Don't forget to include the child's name, age and school (plus a mailing address and daytime telephone number, which will not be published).