Make and Take: Clay Candies
2024-06-29 11:00 - 13:00 UTC | Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler, AZ, 85225
Stop by the Chandler Center for the Arts to make a sweet treat with air-dry clay! While you’re here, check out the Sweet Tooth exhibition in the gallery at the CCA.
This is a free, self-led activity for all ages, and all supplies are provided. Children are welcome to participate with assistance from an adult. It’s helpful for us if you register for an arrival time-slot, but drop-ins are also welcome.
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Make and Take: Collage Postcards
2024-07-13 11:00 - 13:00 (America/Phoenix) | Vision Gallery, 10 E Chicago St, Chandler, AZ, 85225, United States
Stop by Vision Gallery to make a collage postcard! Use magazines, colorful paper, and drawing supplies to make a summery message to send to a friend or family member.
This is a free, self-led activity for all ages. Children are welcome to participate with assistance from an adult. Registering for a time slot helps us plan, but drop-ins are welcome!
Please note the location of this activity has been moved back to Vision Gallery.
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A Million Little Choices: Sami Lange
2024-08-10 - 2024-09-21 | Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler, AZ, 85225
In her intricately colored and textured paper quilts, artist Sami Lange delves into the often heavy, powerful, and beautiful loads women and parents carry. The volume of stitches and thousands of hand-cut, hand-dyed individual paper pieces in each work represent the overwhelming number of choices we each face on a daily basis. The layers of imagery represent the sometimes unconnected and jarring roles in our varied identities. Minor decisions in our everyday lives lead to a woven and quilted life, made whole by the small moments, healthy relationships, and supportive circles we build for our families and communities. In the spirit of finding joy and staying within the boundaries of lightness, the work focuses on the freedom we feel when little decisions allow us to make choices and create paths that resonate with our core identities.
Artist Bio
Sami Lange is a paper dye artist living and working in Phoenix, Arizona. Her artwork consists of hundreds and often thousands of hand-cut and dyed paper circles and shapes stitched together. Each shape is hand-cut by Sami with scissors, dyed multiple times in water baths, and then dried, taped, and stitched together.
Sami has a BFA in Printmaking and advanced degrees in education, library science, and leadership. She weaves together a life of motherhood and academic librarianship, creating paper art and reflecting on the many dual roles in her work. Her work is in permanent collections worldwide, including the Learning Connexion, Wellington, New Zealand; the Kyoto Seika University Print Collection, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto; the Doyle Collection, Santa Rosa, CA; and the International Museum of Collage, Santa Fe, NM. She has had solo shows in Petaluma, CA, and Cookeville, TN, at Santa Rosa Junior College and Tennessee Tech University.
Image: Sami Lange, Life of Colors (Detail), Paper, dye, tape & thread, 36″ x 24″
Closing Reception
Friday, September 13, 6 – 8pm
Help us celebrate the end of A Million Little Choices! Join artist Sami Lange for a closing reception on September 13.
RSVPExhibit Photos

Speak to Me Softly
2024-08-24 - 2024-11-08 | Vision Gallery, 10 E Chicago St, Chandler, AZ, 85225, United States
While some activists advance their ideals using words, the female and non-binary artists in Speak to Me Softly utilize their crafts to address complicated subjects. Using soft materials and methods such as fabric, yarn, and embroidery, the artists spark conversations about queerness, liberation, public health, childhood trauma and other issues we face in our world. Each of these artworks weaves together threads of complicated, often charged, subject matters and calls attention to important, relatable topics that affect us all.
Exhibiting Artists
Amber Doe, Audrey Galat, Amelia LaChance, B Jean Larson, Charissa Lucille, Gloria Martinez-Granados, Laura Rodriguez, Karen Schumacher
Exhibit Photos

Art Social: Mixed-Media Art Journals
2024-08-24 10:00 - 13:00 (America/Phoenix) | Vision Gallery, 10 E Chicago St, Chandler, AZ, 85225, United States
Create your own art journals using recycled and upcycled materials! After constructing their journal, participants will practice several mixed media techniques inside the pages, including print-making, watercolor, and collage. Led by Nicole Austin.
This casual 3 hour class for adults doesn’t require any prior knowledge or skill, and all materials are included in the $35 class fee.
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Art Social: Pumpkin Luminarias
2024-09-14 10:00 - 13:00 (America/Phoenix) | Vision Gallery, 10 E Chicago St, Chandler, AZ, 85225, United States
Get into the fall spirit with this fun ceramics class for beginners! Participants will learn how to make and join pinch pots into closed forms, then shape them into pumpkin luminarias of their own design. All materials included; instructor will glaze, fire, and return completed projects at a later date. Led by Kathleen Escobedo.
This casual 3 hour class for adults doesn’t require any prior knowledge or skill, and all materials are included in the $35 class fee.
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Deities of the South: Marco Albarrán
2024-09-28 - 2024-11-30 | Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler, AZ, 85225
Multi-media artist Marco Albarrán has been creating work in the Phoenix Valley for over 30 years. His consistent focus on pre-Conquest indigenous deities and motifs unites his diverse artistic output, which ranges from prints to large sculptures. Through a contemporary lens, Albarrán undermines preconceived notions and vague interpretations of Pre-Colombian histories and offers alternative interpretations within a modern cultural context. Deities of the South examines the roles of ancient sacred deities in a modern world and encourages viewers to consider indigenous perspectives, modular spirituality, and sacred environments.
Exhibit Photos

Make and Take: Clog Shoe Charms
2024-09-28 11:00 - 13:00 (America/Phoenix) | Vision Gallery, 10 E Chicago St, Chandler, AZ, 85225, United States
Stop by Vision Gallery to make some clog shoe charms! Use air-dry clay, sequins, beads, feathers, and more to create one-of-a-kind accessories for your clog shoes!
This is a free, self-led activity for all ages. Children are welcome to participate with assistance from an adult. Registering for a time slot helps us plan, but drop-ins are welcome!

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Make and Take: Halloween Lanterns
2024-10-19 11:00 - 13:00 (America/Phoenix) | Vision Gallery, 10 E Chicago St, Chandler, AZ, 85225, United States
Stop by Vision Gallery to make a spoOoOky Halloween paper lantern! Fold and cut paper to make a jack-o-lantern, witch, ghost, Frankenstein, or any other creepy character you want.
This is a free, self-led activity for all ages. Children are welcome to participate with assistance from an adult. Registering for a time slot helps us plan, but drop-ins are welcome!
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Art Social: Needle-felted Ornaments
2024-11-02 10:00 - 13:00 (America/Phoenix) | Vision Gallery, 10 E Chicago St, Chandler, AZ, 85225, United States
Let your imagination go wild as you explore the wonderful world of wool by creating your own felted ornament. You will learn the basics of 3D needle felting, working with various shapes to create hanging pieces of art. You can choose to create any form you want, including gnomes, mushrooms, cacti, traditional holiday shapes, as well as a variety of animals and birds. Have fun creating something for yourself or to give away – the hardest choice will be what to make during class! Led by Memory Bradley.
This casual 3 hour class doesn’t require any prior knowledge or skill, and all materials are included in the $35 class fee.
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Art Quilts: IMPACT!
2024-11-16 - 2025-01-11 | Vision Gallery, 10 E Chicago St, Chandler, AZ, 85225, United States
Our 29th annual Art Quilts exhibition showcases art quilts that have a bold visual impact and message. High contrast color and graphic qualities make a big statement. Strong design and contrast are key to attracting the eye and leaving an impression with an unforgettable image. Quilting is a perfect medium for high-key hues that create defined lines and strong graphic qualities. Inspiration for these quilts comes from pop art, comics, mass culture, mid-century-modern design, and graphic design.
Fiber artists from across the country and abroad were invited to submit to this annual exhibition of contemporary art quilts, showcasing some of the finest textile art on display in the Southwestern United States.
ABOUT THE JUROR
Wendy Raisanen is a fiber artist living in Phoenix. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in sculpture from Arizona State University. She is the curator of exhibitions and collections for Scottsdale Public Art and a member of Five15 Arts @ Chartreuse on Grand Ave.
Learn more: https://www.wendyraisanen.com/
Opening Reception
Saturday, November 16, 3 – 5pm
RSVPParticipating Artists
Susan Allred, Vicki Bohnhoff, Memory Bradley, Betty Busby, Georgie Cline, Gerrie Congdon, Shannon Conley, Vicki Conley, Denise A. Currier, Heidi Dauphin, Deb Deaton, Linda Engstrom, Sarah Entsminger, Debra Goley, Nancy Green, Candace Gunning, Betty Hahn, Marla Hattabaugh, Jo Ho, Jean M. Judd, Margit Kagerer, Patty Kennedy-Zafred, Shelley Koss, Aryana B. Londir, Charissa Lucille, Joanna Mack, Valerie Maser-Flanagan, Linda McCurry, Amy Menousek, Anne Moats, Anne Munoz, Frances Murphy, Diane L. Murtha, Karena Nelson, Frauke Palmer, Shelley Rothgeb, Brenda H. Smith, Jean Sredl, Linda Stern, Claire Victor, Linda Waddle, Barb Wills, and Ayako Yabuki
Image: Shelley Rothgeb, Chrysanthemum II

The Art of Letting Go
2024-12-07 - 2025-02-08 | Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler, AZ, 85225
Artists tend to spend hours conceptualizing and perfecting their artwork. However, what if they work with a medium that only allows them a few hours to create a piece? Does the perfectionism fall off? Are they forced to think differently? For this exhibition, curator and monosilk enthusiast Edgar 8ahau Fernandez invited eleven other Phoenix-area artists to create monosilk prints. Ranging from novice to expert printmaker, each artist brought their various techniques and styles to the process in a series of open studios. During their studio time, they were given one directive– to use a specific type of pencil and crayon to draw on the screen. The result is a unique single edition print. Art of Letting Go Invitational Exhibition highlights a medium that is seldom celebrated while also helping artists find the freedom to let go.

Participating Artists
Marco Albarran, Manny Burruel, Diana Calderon, Monica Crespo, Edgar 8ahau Fernandez Miguel Godoy, Zarco Guerrero, Gloria Martinez-Granados, Miguel Monzon, Martin Moreno, Karen Nazario, John Randall Nelson

Closing Reception
Friday, January 10, 6-8 pm
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Image courtesy of Edgar 8ahau Fernandez

Make and Take: Perler Bead Ornaments
2024-12-07 11:00 - 15:00 (America/Phoenix) | Vision Gallery, 10 E Chicago St, Chandler, AZ, 85225, United States
Get in the spirit with a fun holiday craft! Stop by Vision Gallery on Saturday, December 7 to make an ornament with fusible beads. Enjoy free hot cocoa or cider as you do any last-minute shopping in our gift shop too!
This is a free, self-led activity for all ages, including adults. Children are welcome to participate with assistance from an adult. Registering for a time slot helps us plan, but drop-ins are welcome!
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Make and Take: Origami
2025-01-11 11:00 - 13:00 (America/Phoenix) | Vision Gallery, 10 E Chicago St, Chandler, AZ, 85225, United States
Stop by Vision Gallery to make origami and enjoy our current exhibit! Follow instructions to fold colorful paper to create a variety of animals and objects.
This is a free, self-led activity for all ages. Children are welcome to participate with assistance from an adult. Registering for a time slot helps us plan, but drop-ins are welcome!
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Impermanence: Mark Tan
2025-01-21 - 2025-03-15 | Vision Gallery, 10 E Chicago St, Chandler, AZ, 85225, United States
Ever since Mark Tan was little, he has dreamed of moving to the United States. Tan, a third generation Filipino Canadian, was raised just outside of Toronto. Growing up in one of the most multicultural areas in the world, many of Tan’s friends were from immigrant families not unlike himself. While they all may have looked different or spoken different languages at home, Tan and his friends bonded over their mutual obsession with skateboarding. His passion for the urban sport is what initially fueled Tan’s desire to move to the United States. California was the mecca for him and his childhood friends. However, as Tan grew older, he began to have new passions beyond just skateboarding but his desire to move the US never waned. Eventually Tan was offered a job in the US and was given a temporary work visa–armed with his skateboard and a dream, Tan set out for a new life in the States.
Unfortunately, the move to the US did not come without its difficulties. Like many other folks that are dependent on work visas, Tan has oscillated between the US and his home country. To further complicate matters, Tan had to face many adversities such as ostracization and tokenism. Yet, despite the hardships and struggles, the good still outweighed the bad in his eyes. Searching for some understanding, Tan began researching his own family’s story and he realized their stories were much like his. They were just people looking for a better life.
For Impermanence: Mark Tan, Tan creates site-specific installations throughout the gallery that relate to his and his family’s immigrant experience. From feelings of isolation while living in a monoculture to learning about his grandfather’s journey from the Philippines to Canada to the bliss of getting your work visa renewed, this exhibition emotes the wide range of feelings many people feel as they transition to a new country.
Image courtesy of Mark Tan
Opening Reception
Friday, January 24, 6-8 pm
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Make and Take: Valentines
2025-02-08 11:00 - 13:00 (America/Phoenix) | Vision Gallery, 10 E Chicago St, Chandler, AZ, 85225, United States
Stop by Vision Gallery to make valentines for your sweetheart! Collage, draw, color, and paste beautiful cards for your loved ones while enjoying our current exhibit.
This is a free, self-led activity for all ages. Children are welcome to participate with assistance from an adult. Registering for a time slot helps us plan, but drop-ins are welcome!
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Art of the Everyday
2025-02-15 - 2025-04-05 | Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler, AZ, 85225
Local artists have transformed the ordinary into the extraordinary in this colorful and exuberant exhibit in The Gallery at the Chandler Center for the Arts. Visitors will discover a varied palette of original works in oil, watercolor, acrylic, and mixed media that showcase elements we see every day that often go unnoticed. The juried exhibit is hosted by the Tempe Artists Guild.

Image courtesy of Janet W. Fagan

Opening Reception
Friday, February 28, 5-7 pm
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Art Social: Letting Loose with Abstraction
2025-02-22 10:00 - 13:00 (America/Phoenix) | Vision Gallery, 10 E Chicago St, Chandler, AZ, 85225, United States
Learn to let loose when creating art! For this class students can bring in any object or image that inspires them as reference. Instead of drawing/painting it realistically, they will look at the colors, shapes and textures of the object to create mixed media pieces with no pressure of perfection. Led by Aimee Ollinger.
This casual 3 hour class doesn’t require any prior knowledge or skill, and all materials are included in the $35 class fee.
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M|otherworlds
2025-03-22 - 2025-06-07 | Vision Gallery, 10 E Chicago St, Chandler, AZ, 85225, United States
M|otherworlds is a group exhibition featuring regional Arizona artists who are also mothers. The work in the show centers on the transitional space of new parenthood during the first years of postpartum, also referred to as matrescence, or mother-becoming. The notion of transformation is echoed in the title of the exhibition. M|otherworlds references a surreal and unfamiliar experience. M|otherworlds is also about creation, the creation of a new reality, the creation of a new self. Themes of identity, caretaking and imaginative world building weave throughout the works in this exhibition.
This exhibition is curated by Ashley Czajkowski
Image courtesy of Future Retrieval (Guy Michael Davis and Katie Parker)

Opening Reception
Friday, March 21, 6-8pm
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Make and Take: Painted Rocks
2025-03-22 11:00 - 13:00 (America/Phoenix) | Vision Gallery, 10 E Chicago St, Chandler, AZ, 85225, United States
Stop by Vision Gallery to paint rocks for your spring garden! We will be taking advantage of beautiful springtime weather – this event will take place outside.
This is a free, self-led activity for all ages. Children are welcome to participate with assistance from an adult. Registering for a time slot helps us plan, but drop-ins are welcome!
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Art Social: Monster Dolls
2025-03-29 10:00 - 13:00 (America/Phoenix) | Vision Gallery, 10 E Chicago St, Chandler, AZ, 85225, United States
Create your own monster plush doll! Participants will sew a cute or creepy plushie of their own design using fabric, buttons, beads, embroidery, and more. Led by Abby Aspen.
This casual 3 hour class doesn’t require any prior knowledge or skill, and all materials are included in the $35 class fee.
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Artists in Schools Exhibition
2025-04-09 - 2025-04-19 | Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler, AZ, 85225
Come check out what CUSD and Kyrene students have been up to with our 2025 Community Artists in Schools program! We matched four local artists with four schools across the two districts to work with their students this year. The resulting artwork expresses the new skills, creative methods, and thought processes the students learned with these teachers that enhanced their artistic development.

Opening Reception
Thursday, April 10, 5-7 pm
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Make and Take: Tissue Paper Flowers
2025-04-19 11:00 - 13:00 (America/Phoenix) | Vision Gallery, 10 E Chicago St, Chandler, AZ, 85225, United States
Stop by Vision Gallery to make tissue paper flowers and enjoy our current exhibit! Fold and cut colorful tissue paper to make beautiful blooms to take home.
This is a free, self-led activity for all ages. Children are welcome to participate with assistance from an adult. Registering for a time slot helps us plan, but drop-ins are welcome!
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CUSD Annual Showcase
2025-04-23 - 2025-05-13 | Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler, AZ, 85225
Chandler Unified School District’s most gifted artists put their work on display for the community to experience in this annual showcase. The burgeoning artists from Basha, Hamilton, Perry, Arizona College Prep, Casteel and Chandler high schools display their talents and viewpoints through paintings, ceramics, drawings, sculptures, jewelry, and photographs. With nearly 100 works on display, there is always something for everyone in this exhibition.

Images from left to right: Liliana Gonzales, Hamilton High; Rowan Pass, Chandler High; Brooke Le, ACP High; Mary Crawford, ACP High; Audree Davis, Perry High; Emma Schmidt, Basha High; Abigail Lawrence, ACP High; Isaiah Salazar-Werito, Casteel High.

Art Social: Printmaking Pollinators
2025-05-03 10:00 - 13:00 (America/Phoenix) | Vision Gallery, 10 E Chicago St, Chandler, AZ, 85225, United States
Make the most of our beautiful spring weather! Students will learn the basics of printmaking while making artwork that reflects the importance of pollinators in our ecosystem. Print bees, hummingbirds, bats, and flowers in this beginner-friendly class. Led by Venessa Chavez.
This casual 3 hour class doesn’t require any prior knowledge or skill, and all materials are included in the $35 class fee.
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Shifting to Joy: Mike Margolis
2025-05-24 - 2025-08-02 | Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler, AZ, 85225
As a young man, he dreamt of dedicating his life to art. With a strong passion, he pursued art education and even had the incredible opportunity to create illustrations for Hallmark after college. However, practicality led him to a more stable career in the seafood industry. For over 50 years, Margolis dedicated himself to ensuring fresh seafood was delivered to restaurants across the Valley, working tirelessly from early morning until late at night.
The pandemic brought unexpected challenges to his business, as restaurant operations were disrupted. It was during this time of uncertainty that Margolis rekindled his first love—art. Since 2020, he has explored various artistic styles, each reflecting an underlying joy of life, or “joie de vivre.” In this upcoming exhibition, Margolis presents two collections that radiate a sense of happiness and lightness, expressed through playful gestures and creative use of scale.
Opening Reception
Friday, May 30, 6-8pm
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Make and Take: Mixed Media Bookmarks
2025-06-07 11:00 - 13:00 (America/Phoenix) | Vision Gallery, 10 E Chicago St, Chandler, AZ, 85225, United States
Celebrate Summer Reading! Stop by Vision Gallery to make mixed media bookmarks and enjoy our current exhibit! Color, cut, paste, the perfect bookmark to keep you inspired during your summer reading and we’ll laminate it for you.
This is a free, self-led activity for all ages. Children are welcome to participate with assistance from an adult. Registering for a time slot helps us plan, but drop-ins are welcome!
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Creatures and Cosmos
2025-06-14 - 2025-08-16 | Vision Gallery, 10 E Chicago St, Chandler, AZ, 85225, United States
Cosmos, creatures, and creative features!
For Creatures and Cosmos, we invited artists to submit their most innovative and futuristic works of art. From cosmic creations and abstract interpretations of the unknown, to vibrant depictions of space, these artworks capture the essence of futurism and sci-fi that will transport viewers into new dimensions.
Image: John Chakravarty, The Anunnaki Visit Cathedral Rock, courtesy of the artist
Opening Reception
Friday, June 13, 6-8 pm
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Red Dawn: Germán Benincore
2025-06-14 - 2025-08-16 | Vision Gallery, 10 E Chicago St, Chandler, AZ, 85225, United States
Living in space has captivated human imagination for centuries, inspiring countless works of literature, film, and even fueling space exploration. From childhood fantasies of soaring through the stars to government-funded missions exploring outer space, the notion of living beyond Earth has long been a part of our collective dream. Recently, however, the growing push for commercial space ventures and proposals for terraforming planets, like Mars, has raised important questions about the motivations behind these ambitions.
In his installation Red Dawn, artist, Germán Benincore, reflects on the ethical and philosophical dilemmas tied to humanity’s desire to inhabit other planets. The inspiration for this work arose during a bike ride through Phoenix, where Benincore was struck by the stark urban landscape and its concrete structures, drawing a parallel between the ongoing urbanization of Earth and the potential for transforming Mars into a livable environment. Through a combination of drawings, sculptures, and ready made objects, Red Dawn challenges viewers to consider the implications of terraforming in relation to current social and environmental issues.
In this installation, Phoenix is depicted as a model for terraforming—an experiment in adapting an environment for human habitation. The project intertwines narratives of ecological challenges, space exploration, and the motivations behind large-scale colonization projects. Benincore critiques the disconnection some of society’s elites may feel toward current struggles on Earth, highlighting how this pursuit may overlook pressing issues here at home. Red Dawn encourages reflection on both the technological ambitions of today and the broader ethical implications of pushing humanity into new frontiers.

Make and Take: Alien Headbands
2025-06-14 11:00 - 13:00 (America/Phoenix) | Vision Gallery, 10 E Chicago St, Chandler, AZ, 85225, United States
Celebrate our new exhibition, “Creatures and Cosmos!” Stop by Vision Gallery to make alien headbands and enjoy our summer exhibit. Use pipe cleaners, eyeballs, and markers to make an out-of-this-world accessory!
This is a free, self-led activity for all ages. Children are welcome to participate with assistance from an adult. Registering for a time slot helps us plan, but drop-ins are welcome!
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