Jay Potter

Learn about the 'Winter Red' Aquifoliaceae, aka winterberry, and other plants keyed to winter traditions in 'Plants of the Winter Solstice' at Plantations Dec. 21.

A seasonal scissoring

Kids and adults in the Cornell community are invited to see a modern-day fairytale on the big screen, when Bailey Hall hosts a free holiday screening of Tim Burton’s “Edward Scissorhands” Dec. 13 at 7 p.m.

Open to all ages, the movie is rated PG-13 and stars Johnny Depp, Vincent Price and Winona Ryder. Doors open at 6 p.m. for a reception with light refreshments in the lower lobby.

“‘Edward Scissorhands’ is a tale of misunderstood gentleness and stifled creativity, of civilization’s power to corrupt innocence, of a heedless beauty and a kindhearted beast,” New York Times film critic Janet Maslin wrote. 

New galleries

The Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art shows off its renovated permanent collection galleries and new displays of Greek, Roman and European art, at an opening reception Dec. 13 from 6 to 8 p.m. Free and open to the public.

The second-floor galleries feature art from ancient Greece through 1800 including paintings, coins, works on paper, decorative arts and sculpture, some never before on view at the museum. Curator Andy Weislogel will lead a gallery walk, and Susan Sandman of Elizabethan Conversation will accompany with “An Earlie Musik Show and Tell: Musical Instruments in European Art.”

The ongoing renovation and reinstallation project for American and European art is supported by the National Endowment for the Arts and by museum members and donors. A preview for members is from 5 to 6 p.m. For membership information, contact Jennifer Ryan at jjr29@cornell.edu or 607-254-4586.

Ongoing fall exhibitions are on display at the Johnson Museum through Sunday, Dec. 22. Admission is free. The museum is closed Mondays and will be open Christmas Eve (Tuesday, Dec. 24) from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and closed for the holidays until Thursday, Jan. 2. Information: http://museum.cornell.edu

Concerto competition

Eight Cornell undergraduate musicians and their accompanists will perform in the 10th annual Cornell Concerto Competition, Dec. 15 in Barnes Hall.

Open to the public, the first round of the competition is from 1 to 3:15 p.m., and final round is at 8 p.m.

The competition is for all orchestral instruments, guitar, saxophone, piano and voice. Currently enrolled undergraduate students in any major from any Cornell college may participate if they study with a Cornell music faculty member or visiting lecturer.

The winner will perform with the Cornell Symphony Orchestra in March.

Bold new work

Cornell Cinema presents an evening of premieres from students in the Department of Performing and Media Arts, Dec. 15 at 6 p.m. in Willard Straight Theatre.

“Sub-Basement Cinema” will feature short films by students working in 16mm film, digital video and sound design.

Also, the 2012 animated fantasy “The Painting” screens Dec. 14 at 2 p.m., as part of the IthaKid Film Festival; admission is $4 for adults, $3 for children age 12 and under. Recommended for ages 6 and up.

Also showing Dec. 13-14: Ron Howard’s “Rush” and Lake Bell’s “In a World…” See http://cinema.cornell.edu for times and prices. Cornell Cinema is on break from Dec. 16 to Jan. 20; resuming Jan. 21 with Woody Allen’s “Blue Jasmine.”

Solstice plant lore

Cornell Plantations demystifies the folk and mythic traditions of plants associated with this time of year – holly, ivy, mistletoe, oak and evergreens – in “Plants of the Winter Solstice,” Dec. 21, 2-5 p.m. in the Nevin Welcome Center.

“A lot of our familiar holiday celebrations have ancient origins,” adult education and volunteer coordinator Kevin Moss said. “Plants have always been a big part of those traditions. For example, evergreens were considered sacred by many ancient peoples because they were the plants that never died.”

 The event includes a tour of the Mullestein Winter Garden, making a simple evergreen wreath to take home, traditional Wassailing and an outdoor solstice ceremony. Refreshments and all materials are provided; advance registration required. There is a $36 fee; $30 for Plantations members and Cornell students. Information: www.cornellplantations.org, 607-255-2400.

Current exhibitions: “Les Arbres,” large watercolors of trees by Plantations art instructor Camille Doucet, through December; and “Winter Landscapes,” photographs by Carl Schofield, in January and February. The Nevin Welcome Center is open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; and will be closed Dec. 21 through Jan. 1. The Botanical Garden and F.R. Newman Arboretum are open daily, dawn to dusk.

Inspiration, served hot

The 2014 Soup & Hope series begins Thursday, Jan. 16, at noon in Sage Chapel, with featured speaker Alexis Santi, Cornell Abroad program coordinator.

Biweekly Soup & Hope events are free and open to the public and sponsored by Cornell Dining, Cornell United Religious Work and Gannett Health Services. Connect with friends and colleagues over free hot soup and bread (provided by Cornell Dining) and hear a personal story of hope from a Cornell community member with a unique tale to tell. Over the past six years, their stories of strength and resilience have reflected sheer will, humor, perspective, faith, community-building, hard work and dedication to a greater cause.

Also in the seventh annual winter speaker series: Gretchen Ryan, Jan. 30; Ayuen Ajok, Feb. 13; Lauren Chambliss and David Wolfe, Feb. 27; Atticus DeProspo, March 13; and Alicia Torrey, March 27. More information about the speakers will appear in Pawprint and at curw.cornell.edu in early January.