NORMAN.- The Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art is teaming up with the Norman Arts Council to prove that art is more than what can be hung on a gallery wall. As part of the NAC’s new Second Friday Circuit of Art, the FJJMA is unveiling a new monthly series, Art “à la CART,” which combines hands-on art activities, live music and short films.

The new monthly program opens at the museum from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13, at the FJJMA on the University of Oklahoma Norman campus.

The Second Friday Circuit of Art is a monthly Cleveland Area Rapid Transit (CART) route designed by the NAC that connects the Downtown Arts District, outlying galleries, performance halls and Campus Corner to accompany an art walk every second Friday of the month. Tours for the new series begin Feb. 13.

“The Norman Arts Council is excited to incorporate the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art’s Art “a la CART” in the brand-new Second Friday Circuit of Art program,” said Rick Fry, executive director of the Norman Arts Council. “The NAC's partnership with the FJJMA is vital to the success of unifying the OU campus and Downtown Arts District, a goal the NAC hopes to achieve for Norman's cultural growth.”

To take the tour, guests park at the Old Town Centre on Main Street in front of the Cellar and Copelin’s. From there, guests will board one of the city buses or trolleys and begin the Second Friday Circuit of Art. The route will make an approximately 30-minute loop, allowing guests to stop and get on or off the bus at multiple locations in the Downtown Arts District and on Campus Corner. Rides are .50 per person per stop, or riders can purchase $2 passes in the parking lot in front of Copelin’s.

Between each stop on the route, local actors will announce the program for the next venue.

As part of the museum’s new 2009 hours, the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art will participate from 6 to 9 p.m. each month. On Feb. 13, Art “à la CART” will feature hand-made Valentines activities and live music by students and faculty from the OU School of Music. Each month, Oklahoma City-based deadCENTER Film Festival will provide short independent films throughout the evening.

Admission to Art “à la CART” is free and open to all ages. Refreshments will be served.

“The museum has been looking for a great way to integrate multiple art forms while working with the greater OU campus and Norman communities,” said Ghislain d’Humières, director of the FJJMA. “Our new Art ‘à la CART’ program gives us the perfect opportunity to collaborate with the Norman Arts Council, local performers and filmmakers and the OU School of Music.”

The February program at the museum includes piano performances by the Jeongwon Ham Piano Studio, flute and marimba duets by Travis Dunlap and Jennifer Peck and saxophone solos and performances by the OU Wind Symphony Quartet. Future performances include NormanMusicScene.com’s acoustic Singer/Songwriter Showcase, additional university ensembles and an evening of world music.

Selected films for the evening include “The Jump,” in which a pregnant teen must face the difficult issue of abortion. In “The Aviatrix,” a young woman battling cancer imagines an intergalactic heroine rocketing through the cosmos. “A Faery’s Tale” is an animated story of a tooth fairy who encounters a little girl with a unique collection. All films are 10 minutes or less and should be considered for mature audiences only.

Museum visitors also will be able to view the new exhibition, Borderlands: Images of the American West, as well as permanent collections on display.

Art “à la CART” will be held each month in the downstairs Sandy Bell Gallery, Dee Dee and Jon R. Stuart Classroom and Mary Eddy and Fred Jones Auditorium.

The Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art is located on the corner of Elm Avenue and Boyd Street, at 555 Elm Ave., on the OU Norman campus.

New 2009 hours for the museum are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. The museum is closed on Mondays.

The museum’s Web site is www.ou.edu/fjjma. Information and accommodations on the basis of disability are available by calling (405) 325-4938.